PokerStars Bonus Code

PokerStars Bonus Code & Review December 2024

9.5/10

In 2020, Flutter Entertainment acquired Stars Interactive, a division of The Stars Group. The merger boosted Flutter into becoming the world’s biggest online gambling company. PokerStars remains a subsidiary and one of the top online poker brands. Read about the PokerStars bonus code, game options, tournaments, and more.

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PokerStars Promo Code Key Takeaways

PokerStars Bonus Play one hand of a cash game, Get $100 in Bonus Play! The bonus applies to as many as three qualifying deposits within 60 days. There’s a $10 minimum.
PokerStars (Poker) Bonus Get a 100% First Deposit Bonus up to $600! 
Wagering Requirements Players earn redemption points to receive their bonus in increments. Get five redemption points for each $1 spent in rake at ring games and tournaments. To unlock $10, you must earn 140 redemption points.
Bonus Terms & Conditions The bonus is available to first-time depositors. You’ll get four months (120 days) to earn redemption points from each qualifying deposit. Make up to three qualifying deposits within 60 days for a total of $600.

Withdrawals within 60 days after an eligible deposit invalidates any other deposits.
PokerStars Legal States MI, NJ, PA
Poker Games Offered Texas Hold’em (No Limit, Limit). Omaha (Pot Limit, Hi/Lo, PL 5 Card). Stud (Limit, Hi/Lo). Razz (Limit). 5-Card Draw (No Limit, Limit, Pot Limit). 2-7 Triple Draw (Limit, Pot Limit). 2-7 Single Draw (No Limit). Badugi (Limit).
Promo Last Verified December, 2024

Promotions for Existing PokerStars Users

For the latest offers, check the Promotions tab from the PokerStars website in your state. Check back each month to see what’s available. In the meantime, here are the ongoing PokerStars promos for existing players:

Sunday Billion

Users can enter the weekly Play Money tournament for a chance to win a PokerStars Prestige Badge if they win against members of Team PokerStars each Sunday. This promo can be found under the "Promotions" tab.

Play one hand at a Cash Game or wager $1 at the casino within five days of opening a new account.

You’ll then get six chests with various prizes totaling $100. They include $50 in Spin & Go tickets.

Check the promotion for terms and conditions.

Knockout Poker

PokerStars offers users the ability to win exciting prizes after eliminating another player. Each player has a chip bounty when they register. Players can participate in Knockout Poker by playing Turbo, Hyper-Turbo and Regular poker.

For all other exclusive events, buy-ins range from $30 to $250,000. Play daily cash games as well.

In the lead-up to the tournament, consider the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) Online. The tournaments take place between January 13th - 30th annually. At $2.5 million, it represents the largest ever guaranteed series in the U.S.

Ongoing PokerStars Offers

PokerStars VR

PokerStars offers a virtual reality experience from downloadable software. Players get access to Hold’em ring games, private tables, exotic locations, and more. You can play Sit & Go tournaments as well.

Download the PokerStars VS from Steam, Viveport, or the Oculus Store.

Spin & Go

Spin & Go’s are hyper-turbo tournaments played with up to three players. Each player starts with 500 chips. Buy-ins range from $1 to $25.

At the start of every tournament, you’ll get a random number for the prize pool. It might reach as high as 1,000x your buy-in amount. Choose your buy-in and the number of games you want to play. Then select ‘Register.’

Check out the Spin & Go page for information on prizes and tournament structure.

If you want to find more about the New online casinos available in 2024, read our extensive review.

Sign Up Process

PokerStars Sign-Up Process

  • Visit the PokerStars homepage to sign up for a new account. Click ‘Join’ at the top right. The first two steps require the following — Username / Email address & password.
  • For the second step, you’ll need to confirm you’re at least 21 years old. There’s also a Privacy Policy (along with the End User License Agreement) confirmation.
  • Click ‘Create Account.’
  • The next pop-up box reads ‘Star Account Created.’ Select ‘Make a Deposit’ to get started.

You’ll also need to download the PokerStars software client. From the homepage, click ‘Download PokerStars.’

Click the setup to begin the installation process. Choose from Standard or Custom installation. Then click ‘Launch PokerStars.’

The ‘Deposit’ option also remains available from the PokerStars homepage. There’s also a ‘Join’ button for the rewards program. Earn 250 points from registering a new account.

Bonus Play Through Requirements

When new users sign up, they earn $100 after playing one hand in a cash game.

You may spread the bonus out through three qualifying deposits within 60 days. For each qualifying deposit, you’ll get four months to earn redemption points. Those points unlock your bonus as withdrawable cash.

Redemption points come from playing ring games and tournaments. For every $1 you pay in rake or tournament fees, you’ll earn around five (5) redemption points. With every 140 redemption points, you’ll get credited $10 toward your deposit bonus.

If you do the math, contributing $10 in rake earns you 50 redemption points. But for the bonus, PokerStars only returns 35% of every dollar you spend.

So, with a $100 deposit, you’ll get four months to earn 1,400 redemption points. Contribute $280 in rake/tournament fees to receive the 100% match. A $100 deposit = $100 match. Earn 5 RPs for every $1. Get $10 for every 140 RPs.

To unlock $100 = 140 x 10 = 1,400 RPs. To earn 1,400 RPs = 1,400 RPs / 5 RPs (per $1) = 280. Pay $280 in rake/tournaments for 1,400 RPs. To earn the entire $600 deposit match, you’d need to contribute over $1,700 in rake or tournament fees.

Other poker sites may offer a simpler payout scheme for their deposit bonus. We recommend capping your qualifying deposits at $200. That way, you’ll get more bang for your buck on these play-through requirements.

You’ll get 60 days from your first qualifying deposit to make up to three. Give yourself 20 days on each deposit—and then go from there. That’s if you want to earn up to $600 in bonus cash. See what works best for you!

Are you in PA or NJ and have already claimed the PokerStars welcome bonus? If so, check out our Borgata Poker bonus code instead!

At this time, PokerStars is legal for online players in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan. 

PA Casino State Icon  PokerStars Pennsylvania

PokerStars PA is licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
Pennsylvania players get access to PokerStars via Mount Airy Casino Resort.
For more on online gaming in the Keystone State, refer to our review on Pennsylvania online casinos.

NJ Online CasinoPokerStars New Jersey

PokerStars is licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJ DGE).
In New Jersey, PokerStars is partnered with Resorts Casino Hotel.
Read our review of New Jersey online casinos to stay informed on online casino gaming in the Garden State.

Michigan Casino State Icon PokerStars Michigan

PokerStars is licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB).

In Michigan, PokerStars is affiliated with Odawa Casino. 

As online casino continues to grow in popularity, we recommend reading our Michigan online casinos review.

PokerStars App Screenshots

PokerStars Mobile App & Website Experience

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  • Logging In
  • Navigation
  • App Speed
  • Data Density
  • Live Game Functionality

Apple App Icon Apple App Store Reviews

PokerStars Poker Real Money Apple App — Stars Mobile Limited provides the PokerStars app in the Apple App Store. Ranked #74 in Casino, it maintains a 4.4/5 rating from over 25.9k ratings.

iOS User Negatives 75373_NegativeThumbsDown.png

  • Users complained about the customer service. They also claimed a previous update had too many issues.

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  • A few users cited that PokerStars is their favorite poker app to play due to it's favorable gaming experience.

Google Play App Icon Google Play Store Reviews

PokerStars Poker Real Money — There’s a PokerStars Poker Real Money app on Google Play. The app has over 100k downloads and holds a 4.0/5 rating from over 6.67k reviews.

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  • One user complained about the newer version being “awful.” Some users also complained about the app’s poor functioning. Others said there were too many bad beats.

Android User Positives 863682_PositiveThumbsUp.png

  • One user said the app was a great way to test your skills and pass the time. Another said they’d stick with the app for “learning purposes.”

PokerStars Website Review

Each state where PokerStars is legal maintains its own website. At the top of the PokerStars NJ homepage, you’ll see the Responsible Gaming section. Below that, choose Login or Join.

You’ll also find links to the FOX Bet sportsbook and PokerStars online casino. To the right, you’ll see links for PokerStars Rewards and Promotions.

Under that, choose from the following:

  • Home
  • How to Play
  • Deposits & Withdrawals
  • Tournaments
  • Live Poker
  • Team PokerStars

The How to Play section is a great resource for beginners. Learn about basic rules, online poker strategy, and hands. Check out the poker dictionary for terms and definitions.

There are also 16 different sections for Poker Games. They include Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, and Draw poker.

Check out the Tournaments page for daily and weekly options. Visit the Live Poker page to see PokerStars in brick-and-mortar overseas locations.

Web Experience: PokerStars vs. World Series of Poker (WSOP.com)

  • Category: Web Experience
  • Comparison: PokerStars vs. WSOP
  • Measured: Software, Interface, Experience

The World Series of Poker (WSOP.com) is a major competitor of PokerStars. WSOP.com also provides a software client for players in MI, NJ, and PA. Nevada gamblers get access to WSOP.com as well. Both brands offer some of the best web experiences in the online poker industry. So, it might come down to personal preference.

For those interested in satellite events, WSOP.com might be the better choice. PokerStars offers its PSPC Online series in January. But the WSOP Main Event remains world renowned. We liked the simplicity of the Play Money tables at PokerStars for beginners. Navigate the poker lobby to find favorable tournaments and cash games. Overall, WSOP has the edge here due to it's global reach and wider selection of tournaments.

Why not give both PokerStars and WSOP.com a shot? See which one you like best!

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Cash Games

From the poker lobby, you may select Quick Seat, All Games, or Favorites. Under ‘All Games,’ choose from Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, Draw, and Mixed games.

Change the View to see tables by Games, Combo, or Group. You’ll get information on players, a waiting list, average pot, and more.

Select an option from the Stakes menu that suits your bankroll. Click the filter to set tables by things like Standard Stack, Deep Stack, and Ante.

Texas Hold ‘em

Play Hold’em games with Stakes ranging from $0.01/$0.02 to $100/$200. Most tables max out at six players. You may find a few nine-player table options.

When you highlight a table, you can choose Play Now or Observe. Give a table a quick glance from the lobby or by entering it. You’ll also see each table’s buy-in range. Limit Hold’em allows players to sit down with as much as $1,000,000!

Many players will be playing with less than a few hundred dollars. So, we recommend finding a table where you feel most comfortable. Go with Micro, Low, or Medium Stakes Hold’em. You’ll find most of the action at No Limit Hold’em tables. These offer plenty of opportunities to prepare for PokerStars Tourney options.

Omaha

Omaha games range from Pot Limit, Hi/Lo, and 5 Card. You’ll find similar Stakes as in Hold’em. The highest table we saw was $40/$80 for Limit Omaha H/L.

That buy-in ranged from $800 - $1,000,000. PL Omaha is the most popular table among Omaha games.

For 5 Card Omaha Poker, check out the PokerStars tutorial to learn how to play.

Stud

Stud games include regular seven-card stud and razz. Choose from Limit Razz, Limit Stud, and Limit Stud H/L. Most tables offer up to eight seats.

You’ll also find a few heads-up options.

Stakes range from Medium ($0.50/$1) to High ($40/$80). Check out the guide for How to Play Razz to get started.

Draw

Draw games include 5 Card, 2-7 Single, 2-7 Triple, and Badugi. Most tables allow up to six players. You’ll also see two, seven, eight, and nine player options.

We saw No Limit 2-7 Single Draw and 5-Card Draw. The rest of the tables were Limit or PL.

Five Card Draw is the most basic draw game. You’ll get dealt five different cards. After a round of betting, you’ll then choose which cards (if any) to get rid of. Then there’s a second round of betting to determine who may win the hand.

For a lowball game, you can try 2-7 Single Draw. The lowest hand in the game wins. (7, 5, 4, 3, 2.) In 2-7 Triple Draw, you’ll get three chances to draw new cards. The lowest hand wins.

Badugi is another form of Draw poker. You’ll get four hands facedown. After a round of betting, you may discard and draw new cards. Then there are two more rounds of betting and draws. The lowest hand wins, with the best being 4-3-2-A (each of a different suit).

For draw poker games, you’ll find plenty of Low Stakes options.

Mixed Games

The tables under the Mixed Games category offer a variety of the games at PokerStars. Games change every six hands.

The 8-Games take place as follows:

T - Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
H - Limit Hold’em
O - Limit Omaha Eight or Better (H/L)
R - Razz
S - Limit Seven Card Stud
E - Limit Stud Eight or Better (H/L)
H - No Limit Hold’em
A - Pot Limit Omaha

Multi-Table Tournaments

Under the Tourney category from the poker lobby, you’ll find a variety of settings. Choose from Game, Buy-In, Table Size, Speed, and Type. Mondays and weekends look to be the busiest days for tournaments. Double-click on any option to see more details.

From the Tournaments section on the PokerStars site, they list 15 different categories. Use the poker lobby to search for Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs). Prize pools range from $100 to $22.5K.

There’s also a PSPC Online section for January. Those prize pools start at $4K and go all the way up to $300K. For MTTs, buy-ins begin as low as $1. (You may also see Freeroll tourneys listed.) The highest buy-ins reach $100.

PSPC Online tourney buy-ins range from $10 to $2,500.

Here’s a quick overview on some of the MTTs at PokerStars.

$100 - $2.5K GTD

You’ll see a variety of low NL Hold’em tournaments with prize pools ranging from $100 - $2,500. Buy-ins range from $1 - $20.

Bounty Builder

Bounty Builder tournaments for NL Hold’em range from $10 - $30 buy-ins. Prize pools go from $2K - $4K.

Change-Up

Change-Up tourneys offer 8-Game, PL 5-Card Draw, or HORSE options. Buy-ins start at $20 and go up to $50. Prize pools range from $300 - $1.5K Gtd.

$25 Max-5 $5 Bounty

Buy-in for $25 to play nightly $25 Max-5 $5 Bounty tournaments. You’ll get at least $2.50 for each player you eliminate. Play for $2.5K on Monday or $3.5K for the rest of the week.

Nightly PLO, $1.5K Gtd

Omaha fans may register for the Nightly PLO, $1.5K Gtd. Buy-in for $25 and start with 5,000 chips.

Mini Nightly Stars, $12.5K Gtd

Play NL Hold’em for a $12.5 Gtd prize pool with a $25 buy-in. Mini Nightly Stars take place six nights a week.

$30 Buy-In Tournaments

With a $30 buy-in, you may choose The Hot $30, $2.5K Gtd or The Big $30, $3K Gtd. There’s also a Mini Battle Royale, $7.5 K Gtd.

There are also Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday options to play for $7.5K Gtd at 8:30 PM EST. Plus you can play the Mini Deepstack Saturday.

The Sunday Warm-Up, $5K Gtd begins at 4 PM. Start with 10,000 chips.

$50 Buy-In Tournaments

Some $50 buy-in options include Nightly Stars and Nightly Stars Knockout tournaments. They begin at 7 PM, five nights per week. Prize pools range from $10K - $15K Gtd.

Choose The Hot $50, $1.5K Gtd on Monday afternoon. Or play at 10:15 PM for $4.5K Gtd. Both tourneys run at Turbo speed.

$100 Buy-In Tournaments

You’ll find six NL Hold’em tournaments with $100 buy-ins. On Monday, play the Battle Royale, $20K Gtd.

Other options include:

  • Super Tuesday, $22.5K Gtd
  • Wednesday Storm, $20K Gtd
  • Thursday Thrill, $20K Gtd
  • Friday Night Fight, PKO Edition, $20K Gtd
  • Deepstack Saturday, $20K Gtd

Each of these tourneys begin at 8 PM.

These tournaments come from the poker lobby. The PokerStars website also lists Daily Poker Tournaments. There’s a section for Sunday Majors.

As of January, Sunday Tournaments get included in the PSPC Online section. They include the following:

  • Marathon, $20K Gtd ($50, 2 PM)
  • Sunday Warm-Up, $12K Gtd ($50, 5 PM)
  • Players Special, $150K Gtd ($100, 6 PM)
  • Mini Players Special, $20K Gtd ($10, 6:30 PM)

High Rollers Player Special, $100K Gtd ($500, 7 PM)

Check the poker lobby for more information on MTTs.

Other Games

You may also choose the Sit & Go category to play single-table tournaments. Play NL Hold’em heads-up or with six people to a table. Buy-ins range from $0.25 to $500.

There may be a few PLO Sit & Go options at heads-up tables, as well.

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How to Deposit

Under Deposits & Withdrawals, you’ll find up to 10 different methods for NJ players. Only five are available for withdrawals.

To make a deposit, log in to your account via the poker lobby. Then click ‘Cashier.’

You’ll see the following options:

  • Debit or Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard)
  • PayPal
  • Skrill
  • Instant Bank Transfer
  • VanillaDirect
  • PayNearMe
  • PokerStars Play+ Card
  • Resorts Cage

READ MORE: Top Online Casino Deposit Methods

PokerStars doesn’t charge any fees for deposits. Your bank provider may charge fees from their end.

VanillaDirect and PayNearMe require barcodes. Use the Store Locator to find participating stores for VanillaDirect deposits. For PayNearMe, you may make a deposit at a nearby 7-11.

For Resorts Cage deposits, visit the Resorts Casino and Hotel, Atlantic City. Provide your account details, a cash deposit, and government-issued ID. You’ll then get asked to confirm the last four digits of your SSN for extra security.

Check the Cashier for limits on each deposit method.

Players who deposit and withdraw often might want to consider a Play+ card. Sign up by making your first deposit via this method.

Instant eChecks may also be available as another way to make a deposit.

Withdrawal Options

The PokerStars Withdrawal Policy says withdrawals must align with a previous deposit method. They get “applied to your oldest deposit first and your most recent deposit last.”

Withdrawals also get limited to the amount that you deposited. Any extra amount may get withdrawn via Instant eChecks, Skrill, or PayPal. Check the Cashier for other withdrawal options.

They may include the following:

  • PokerStars Play+ Card
  • Resorts Cage

That leaves NJ players with five withdrawal options.

To make a withdrawal, go to the Cashier and click ‘Withdrawal.’

Select a method, enter the withdrawal amount, and click Submit.

You may need to first enter your phone number, and verify the code sent to you.

Withdrawals to Instant eChecks get processed right away. It takes anywhere from three to 10 business days to see the funds on your statement. (Withdrawals more than your deposit amount via this method may take up to one hour.)

PayPal and Skrill withdrawals also get processed immediately. They should show up in your account after a few minutes.

Bank or wire transfers take up to 24 hours for processing on weekdays. You’ll see the funds in your account within three to five business days.

Play+ withdrawals get processed within 24 hours on weekdays. You’ll get the funds within three to four business days.

Any Resorts Cage withdrawals take up to two hours. Check your email for approval.

Spending Controls

PokerStars offers a Responsible Gaming section via their website and software client. Learn how to identify the signs of problem gambling. You can also read about spending controls. They include Self-Imposed Deposit Limits and Spend Limits.

To set daily, weekly, and/or monthly deposit limits, go to the poker lobby. On the right hand side, click the three dots where it says ‘More.’ Then select ‘Tools.’

You’ll see Responsible Gaming. From there, click Restrict Deposit Limit. You can Restrict Playing Time, as well. From the mobile app, go to Account > Responsible Gaming Settings > Restrict Deposit Limit.

Other PokerStars Benefits

Free Game Demos

PokerStars offers a Play Money poker lobby. When you start the software, you’ll see the option in the upper right hand corner.

Start with 1,000 chips to play at Low stakes tables. Work your way up to higher levels.

This is a great way to get acclimated to the PokerStars software. After you get some experience, make a deposit, and play at the Real Money tables.

PokerStars Rewards

The PokerStars Rewards program allows players to earn rewards points. For every $1 spent in rake or tournament fees, players get 100 points.

Track your progress bar via the poker lobby or PokerStars website. Unlock chests with personalized rewards.

Click ‘My Rewards’ to see your current status. There are six levels of rewards that restart every 28 days.

Customer Service

Contact customer service by visiting the Help page. You’ll see nine categories including Deposit and Withdrawal and Special Offers. From a desktop, you may also click the ‘Need Help?’ chat box. Find a relevant question for the Virtual Stars Assistant.

You may also ask to talk to someone. Click the ‘Contact Us Form.’ To use the Live Chat, make sure you’re logged in.

From the poker lobby, you may also click ‘More’ and then select ‘Help.’

Online Poker Resources

Confidence is key to be a successful poker player. Take advantage of the following poker guides to help boost your play:

  • Poker Tips
  • Poker Glossary
  • Bluffing in Online Poker
  • Poker Variations
  • Top 10 Poker Mistakes
  • How to Play Online Poker

Online poker is currently legal in MichiganNew JerseyPennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware. For more legal information regarding your state, take a look at our online casino legalization tracker.

Best Online Casinos For You

Not sure which online casino is best for you? Let us help! Action Network has created The Best Real Money Online Casinos to help you narrow down your list of potential casinos to play. 

Be sure to shop around at all of these great online casinos to ensure you're keeping your options open:

Pulsz Casino Promo Code | Stake.us Casino Promo Code | Caesars Palace Online Casino Bonus Code | DraftKings Casino Promo Code | Golden Nugget Casino Bonus Code | BetRivers Casino Bonus CodeFanDuel Casino Bonus Code | bet365 Casino Bonus Code | PlayLive! Casino Bonus Code | 888casino Bonus Code | BetMGM Poker Bonus CodePartyPoker Bonus Code | WSOP Promo Code

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Bryan Myers

Bryan Myers is an Action Network freelance writer who began writing about online casinos in 2020.

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