PokerStars Network - Poker Sites on PokerStars Network
Reviewing the PokerStars.com and Pokerstars.net Network
PokerStars.com and PokerStars.net are the only poker sites online offering the PokerStars software. Released in 2001 as a play money site, and later adding real money games to the mix, the company has become the largest poker room available for online players worldwide. Pokerstars offers the widest mix of online poker games, the largest number of seats to live events and has become a household name, thanks to their b media presence and massive marketing campaigns.
USA Players Please Read - Pokerstars.com no longer accepts players that live in the United States. Please check our list of USA poker rooms for a complete run down of the top US friendly online poker sites.
About Pokerstars.com
The PokerStars Network was officially released in 2001, when the poker room launched the beta version of their software. Isai Scheinberg founded the company under Rational Enterprises, which at the time was located in Costa Rica but later moved to the Isle of Man. The Pokerstars network is licensed by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission and by the Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato in Italy. Over the last ten plus years, the Pokerstars Network has grown into the largest online card room, surpassing Party Poker's records and supporting over 300,000 players during peak hours. They have the largest roster of professional players on Team Pokerstars including five World Series of Poker champions (Chris Moneymaker, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, Joe Haschem, Peter Eastgate, and Joe Cada). In addition to the top professional players, the PokerStars Network is the official sponsor and part owner of the EPT, LAPT, APPT, CSPT, ANSPT, IPT, NAPT as well as their own PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.
The software was developed in-house and is exclusive to the Pokerstars network. This means that all 300,000 players seen at Pokerstars during peak hours are playing on the Pokerstars network. This is an amazing feat in its own as no other poker room or network online has been able to reach these numbers. The software is the best there is in terms of customization, graphics, features and options as the company has built a poker room designed through the feedback received by their players. It is available in multiple languages - 17 in fact and more recently offering multi-currency options. This is great for non-US players who prefer to play in the Canadian dollars, Euros or Pounds. Likewise, the software is compatible for nearly all users with a Windows and Mac compatible program available. The game spreads from the traditional Texas Hold'em and Omaha to Stud, Draw, Razz, HORSE, HOSE, 2-7 Triple Draw, 2-7 Draw, Badugi and 8 Mix.
Difference between PokerStars.com and PokerStars.net
The Pokerstars Network consists of two sites only which are joined into one network. Both of the Pokerstars poker rooms offer the same software and features however, the .net version only allows free money games. This is likely the version you have seen advertised on television. The .com version of the PokerStars network offers the best of both worlds. Players can choose to participate in free money events, such as cash games or tournaments or they can opt to make a deposit and play in real money games.