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PokerStars New Jersey Review

PokerStars New Jersey Review

PokerStars is the largest poker site in the world.  It offers an international site, as well as ones the ring-fenced markets of France, Spain, Italy and New Jersey.

PokerStars is licensed through Resorts Casino in Atlantic City.  Any interactive gaming site must be licensed through a casino in New Jersey.  Only players located in New Jersey may access real money tables.

The New Jersey site opened to the public on March 21, 2016.  That was the first time the brand operated in the U.S. after April 15, 2011, which is known as Black Friday in the online poker world.

PokerStars New Jersey quickly became the top poker site in New Jersey.  It peaks at just over 300 players daily and averages around 160 cash game seats, according to PokerScout.  This does not include sit and gos and tournaments, where the numbers also beat WSOP.com and Borgata, the only two other poker networks in the state.

Much of this can be attributed to Spin & Gos.  These are jackpot sit and gos where the prize pool is determined by a random number generator.  These are three-seat sit and gos, a perfect fit for the small player pool in New Jersey.

PokerStars New Jersey Game Selection

PokerStars offers the widest poker game selection in New Jersey.  Dozens of tables of No Limit Texas Hold’em run throughout the day.  Limits start at $.01/$.02 and run up to $5/10.  The most popular tables are right in the middle.  This includes $.15/$.30 up to $1/$2.  There is moderate action below that and sporadic action up to $5/$10 blinds.  All No Limit Texas Hold’em games are six-max.

There is a small amount of Fixed Limit Hold’em action.  There may be a couple of games in the $1/$2 up to $5/$10 range during busier times of the day.  Pot Limit Omaha and Pot Limit Omaha High/Low are often available up to $1/$2.  There is also an occasional Fixed Limit Omaha High/Low game.  All of these games are only available in six-max.

Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud High/Low are spread in $.50/$1 and $1/$2.  These are eight-seat games.  There is little action at these tables.  Heads up games are available with those same blinds but we have not seen anybody play them.

There is 2-7 Triple Draw and 8-Game.  PokerStars is the only site in New Jersey that offers those games.  The 8-Game is No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Limit 2-7 Triple Draw, Limit Hold’em, Limit Omaha High/Low, Razz, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud High/Low.

Spin & Gos are lottery sit and gos.  These small tournaments have three seats.  The prize pool is determined by a random number generator.  The maximum prize pool is 1,000 times the buy-in.  The odds of this happening are 1 in 33,333.  More than three-quarters of Spin & Gos will only have a two times buy-in prize pool.  Buy-ins are $1, $2, $5 and $10.  The rake is 7% at Spin & Gos.

Spin & Gos have a negative effect on traditional sit and gos.  There is very little action at sit and gos.  Most are six-max with limits that run from $.25 up to $200 for six-max.  Heads up action is available as high as $500.  The rake on sit and gos is about 8 percent.

PokerStars offers dozens of multi table tournaments each day.  Most are No Limit Texas Hold’em.  There are a handful of Seven Card Stud, Pot Limit Omaha and Pot Limit Omaha High/Low events.  Buy-ins start at $.10 for rebuys and add-ons.  Freezeout tournaments start at just $1.  The two main events are on Sunday.  A $200 tournament has a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool.  A $500 buy-in has a $15,000 guarantee.

PokerStars also has casino games.  Its selection is limited.  It includes slots, video poker, blackjack and roulette.

PokerStars New Jersey First Deposit Bonus

PokerStars New Jersey offers players the choice of two first deposit bonuses.  The smaller one of the two uses the bonus code FREE50.  This requires a deposit of at least $20.  The player is awarded a free $20 within 36 hours of the deposit.  Another $20 is added within seven days.  A free $10 Spin & Go ticket is also awarded.

The other option is the one serious players should choose.  Its bonus code is STARS600.  Players receive a match bonus up to $600 with this offer.  It may be redeemed in up to three deposits within a 30-day period.

The bonus releases in $10 increments for every $18.18 paid in rake at cash games, sit and gos and multi table tournaments.  This is equivalent to 55% rakeback.  That is the best first deposit bonus from PokerStars in any of its markets.  Players have 120 days from the first deposit to clear the bonus.

PokerStars New Jersey Rakeback

PokerStars pays rakeback through its VIP Club.  StarsCoins are earned based on the amount of rake paid and the VIP level of the player.  The rakeback returns start at 8-9 percent for the entry level BronzeStar.  Each of the five higher tiers has an increase of about three percent.  The highest level is SuperNova.  This returns 27-30 percent.

StarsCoins have a variety of uses.  Items may be purchased from the VIP store.  This includes electronics and PokerStars merchandise.  Other options are tournament tickets or cash.

Personal Opinion of PokerStars New Jersey

Has There Ever Been a Scandal at PokerStars?

The biggest scandal in PokerStars’ history was Black Friday.  That is when PokerStars, a couple of its officers and a payment processor were indicted by the U.S. Government.  PokerStars paid all players but its officers are still at large.

In 2014, Amaya Gaming acquired PokerStars.  Amaya Gaming’s CEO David Baazov was accused of insider trading related to the transaction by Quebec financial market regulators in 2016.

In 2015, PokerStars announced that it would not honor Supernova Elite promises it made to high limit players.  It effectively revoked an agreement halfway through the typical two-year qualifying period.

How to Deposit at PokerStars New Jersey

PokerStars offers numerous ways to make a deposit.  The most popular is electronic check.  Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, PokerStars prepaid debit card, cash at the Resorts Casino cage in Atlantic City and PayNearMe are other available deposit methods.  PayNearMe is a way to send up to $500 in cash from a 7-11 convenience store.

How to Withdraw at PokerStars New Jersey

There are five ways to withdraw from PokerStars New Jersey.  Cash may be picked up at the Resorts Casino in Atlantic City.  PokerStars has a prepaid debit card that may be used like an ATM card.  Skrill, Neteller and electronic checks are the other options.

PokerStars New Jersey FAQ