As one of the oldest and most established poker sites in the world, 888Poker attracts plenty of customers because of its sheer size and presence on the web. The discerning player wants to look beneath the surface and know a little more about games and promotions but it’s good to know that players are dealing with a brand that has been around for over ten years.
Longevity leads to trust and the operator gets plenty of positive reviews from independent sites but beyond that important factor, what else can you look forward to in return for signing up?
A Risk-Free Opening
It’s always nice when a gambling site gives you a free no deposit poker bonus with which to welcome you as a new customer and with 888Poker you can try the site out with £20.00 free play just for downloading the games.
That bonus is instantly converted to $32.00 USD and that’s the currency that is used as a default at the site. It provides $1.00 in free play and an additional $31.00 in tournament tickets for buy-in competitions. There are time limits on when to use these and there are stipulations on withdrawals so do check all terms and conditions to make sure you are happy before going ahead. By offering £20.00 up front with no financial input from the customer, it’s a great way for new players to sign up and have a look around the site before getting more fully committed.
Keep Playing for More Offers
A quick and easy £20.00 is a nice way to get things moving but the offers don’t stop there. The 888Poker website provides a host of ongoing promotions where loyal play is rewarded so there is value available for the life of your account.
These promos start when customers make their first deposit: This must be at a minimum of $10.00 and 888Poker will then match that amount, subject to terms and conditions, up to a healthy maximum of $400.00.
Regular prize draws are also up for grabs each week in return for ongoing deposits so this is a strong reload bonus that encourages players to return. There’s even a Refer a Friend scheme to complete what is a comprehensive list of promotions that adds more value to the 888Poker journey.
What Games are Available?
There are a number of poker variants, some of which are more popular than others, but there is one of the wider list of playing options available at 888Poker. In fact, some of the games available such as Flopomania, are exclusive to this operator and you won’t be able to find them anywhere else.
The choice begins with more familiar versions of the game including Texas Hold’Em, Omaha and Stud. Within each of those games is a choice of versions which can depend on factors such as number of players, stakes and pot limits. Entry level stakes for certain paid tournaments can start from as low as $0.01 while they will climb up to $60.00 in some cases so there are options to suit all budgets and types of players from the curious newbie to the committed high roller.
All good operators should offer a choice of tournaments and that’s certainly the case here. 888Poker offer a range of tournaments including Sit and Go and Heads-Up. There’s also the curiously named Fish n Chips – fish-themed tournaments with several chances to win every day. In summary, you should never be short of a game at 888Poker.
Banking and Customer Service Options
A gambling operator’s independent reviews often focus on the infrastructure to its website. We’re talking about funding options, help facilities and the service they provide if and when something goes wrong.
As an established operator, the 888 brand is able to accept PayPal. This particular eWallet is very fussy about which gambling companies they partner with so their presence here is something of an endorsement. Also available are Skrill and Neteller, which are popular and established options for iGaming brands while 888Poker will also accept all of the major debit and credit cards.
Choice in terms of funding options is therefore obvious but what about customer service? As a first port of call, the website publishes a number of guides ranging from elementary instructions on how to play poker, through to advanced information on specific sections of the website.
These are very thorough and are logically laid out but for players who haven’t got the time or the patience to read through, there are alternatives. Clicking on the online help button at the bottom left corner of the homepage brings up a set of frequently asked questions to common issues
For players who still can’t find an answer to what they need, the Contact Us button leads to a webform where they can send a specific query. Response times to these enquiries have proved to be fast and friendly so this is another plus point for 888Poker, even though it might be nice if the contact button wasn’t quite so hidden away.
The Need for Transparency
Any gambling operator has to meet a strict set of regulations in order for them to trade online. Certain countries’ rules are more rigorous than others but 888 is arguably the hardest working operator when it comes to meeting those regulations which allow them to offer poker services in some of the more tricky territories.
Details of the company’s Gibraltar license can be found in full at the bottom of the homepage and this also confirms that they are approved to take customers from the UK. A separate, About Us link goes into further detail about the company and the safety policy that keeps players safe and secure while online. Also shown are awards won and confirmation of the company listing on the London Stock Exchange.
We mentioned that the length of time they have been trading leads to trust but being transparent about licensing is also important to keep customers reassured at a time when the industry is heavily regulated.
Summary
As we have seen, 888Poker are a very trusted name in the industry and one that has enjoyed a long history but they are a brand that doesn’t rely on reputation alone. That trust is backed by a wide choice of games and some good promotions from start to finish. There’s even a £20.00 welcome offer to get you on board.
All of that is backed up by sound customer service and that’s why they are highly recommended for anyone looking for a new place to play.
Good Points
- Things start off positively at 888Poker with a £20.00 risk free bonus followed by a host of ongoing promotions.
- Great choice of games and tournaments from entry all the way up to pro level
- Wide selection of funding options that includes PayPal
Downsides
- While customer service is fast, effective and efficient, it can be hard to find the contact options.
