888 Poker Review   82/10

Introduction

Previously known as Pacific Poker, 888 Poker is one of the world’s most popular online poker rooms. It has a reputation of having the softest and juiciest games in online poker. It also features guaranteed tournaments and a no-download version.

888 Poker has recently received a major upgrade in all aspects of its game. The new table design focuses around a large playing table and large and colourful playing cards with a range of 3D avatars.


Bonus & Promotions   |   8/10

888 Poker offers a number of tournaments with guaranteed prize pools and there are always new promotions at the site.

As you play at 888 Poker, you collect both Status Points and Reward Points. The higher your status, the more Reward Points you get. Reward points can be exchanged for real cash, tournament entries, merchandise and more.

888 Poker is one of very few online poker rooms to offer an instant bonus on any first deposit. They will add 25% to any first deposit amount up to $100. The bonus is automatic, so you do not need to remember any bonus codes. As well as the instant 25%, all first time depositors are eligible for a further 75% in bonus money, awarded as you play. That means in total they will give you a 100% bonus on your first deposit.

888 Poker offers reload bonuses about every second month. The bonuses are usually good with a 50% deposit match up to $300-$500.

The Refer-a-friend program awards players a $50 bonus for each referred friend, while the referred player receives $25.

The bonus points program features points that can be converted into cash. For ten dollars bet in raked hands the player earns one point, and 100 points correspond to $1 in cash, at conversion.


Software Graphics   |   17/20

The 888 software recently underwent a facelift. The graphics are bright, modern and easy on the eye. The note-taking and statistical functions are good and there’s an impressive search function and a Java client if you can’t download the Windows client.

The software includes:

• Ghost cards – You can opt to have your cards remain in view after you fold, allowing you to refine your decision making processes.
• 3D avatars
• Mini-view functions for multi-tabling
• Instant access to the cashier, bingo and casino games
• Supports play at 16 tables simultaneously with smart functionality for turning off chat massages, changing your table view and in tournaments a player can view the tournament stats without leaving the table.
• “Confirm all-in” feature
• Chat callouts right at the table
• Action hand replay
• Keyboard Controlled Actions – You can use the keyboard to make your playing actions. For example, “B” bets, “R” raises, “C” calls/checks, “F” folds.
• Game History – A fast way to view all your 888 Poker transactions

Tournaments & Freerolls   |   17/20

888poker has a great variety of tournaments, with buy-ins from $1 up to a few hundred. Tournaments are busy, fast and very loose with play at any level among the loosest and juiciest out there.

888poker is also known for its Daily Challenge series, which run approximately every 15 minutes as well as their $75,000 guaranteed tournament every Sunday afternoon. They offer free and low cost seats into this tournament with daily freerolls and satellite tournaments.

888 Poker offers satellites to most of the major live poker tournament events.

Deposits and Cashouts   |   7/10

Cashouts can be a bit slow, which could be a result of the fraud and security checks in place. You will always get your funds, but it can take up to 3 days for your cashout to be processed.

Deposit options include: VISA, MasterCard, EuroCard, Diners Club, Solo, laser Debit Cards, Maestro, Bank transfer, Boleto, Deposito Refrenciado, European checks, E-checks, PayPoint Invoice, Wire transfers, Commerzbank OnlineBanking Web, Deutsche bank 24 Direct Debit, Dresdner bank InternetBanking, ELBA, Direct Debit, eNETS, hansabank, Neteller, InstaDebit, ClickandBuy, ACTeCASH, Moneybookers, ukash, bank transfer, PaysafeCard, EntroPay, PayPoint, Dankort debit card (Denmark), Nordea online bank account (Sweden/Finland), and Paypal (Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and UK).


Withdrawal options include: Visa, Mastercard, Debit Cards, Neteller, Moneybookers, PayPal, wire transfer (direct bank account transfer) and bank draft (cashier’s check). Withdrawals are held for three days before processing.


Service & Support   |   18/20

888 Poker support has a good reputation, with staff that provide e-mail, live chat and phone support, all of which is generally answered quickly and accurately.

They have toll free help numbers for the UK, Germany, Australia and 17 other countries.

Support is offered in many different language options, including English, Danish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Portuguese & Spanish.


Traffic   |   8/10

Around 90% of the players can be found at the holdem tables, but there’s also some action at the Omaha hi-lo and Seven Card Stud high tables.

Peak hours on 888 Poker occurs in the European evening time, usually around 2 PM (PT). Players looking to play long sessions or at varying times of day should be able to match the peak times of 888 Poker with that of other sites, such as Full Tilt Poker.


Game Variety   |   7/10

The following games are available on 888 Poker:

• Limit, pot limit and no-limit holdem
• High and hi-lo Omaha
• Seven Card Stud
• Full-table and short-handed games as well as heads-up tables are all available for most variations.

Summary

888 Poker is a classic poker room known for its soft games. Being such an established room, there is always a good number of players online in the network.

888 provides a great poker room for novices and pros as well as useful information to players through extensive event and promotion information and a community forum.