Summary
PartyPoker is one of the largest online poker rooms on the planet and has built its world-famous reputation on the loose, wild action it guarantees its players.
With a range of VIP levels, players earn PartyPoints which can be exchanged for cash prizes and a range of novelty items at the PartyPoker store. To keep custom, PartyPoker bombards players with deposit and reload bonuses and the firm boasts a whopping sign up bonus of $500.
The rooms at PartyPoker attract some of the game’s most famous online players and welcome the most inexperienced of beginners with open arms. Events cater for all and while the flagship "Party Poker Million" will no doubt demand the attention of some of poker’s bigger fish, in terms of tournaments, PartyPoker is still one of the leading networks. Buy-ins range from as little as $1, and the $300k Sunday Guaranteed and the Monthly Million ensure there is plenty of action for the high rollers. Satellites to live events, including the PartyPoker Open and World Cup also run round the clock, giving you the opportunity to mix it up with the pros.
Key Tournaments
PartyPoker is one of the biggest sites in the poker community when it comes to tournament play and the firm can boast a significant number of scheduled and sit and go opportunities.
The site’s sit and go tournaments are available in the lobby 24/7 and begin as soon as the table is full, but it is PartyPoker’s guaranteed tournaments and qualifiers that make the firm one of the internet’s best poker sites.
The jewel in the PartyPoker crown is without doubt the PartyPoker.com Million where some of the world’s best poker players cruise along the Mediterranean battling it out for the lion’s share of the humongous prize pool on offer. Players can win their seat in the tournament through one of the many satellites throughout the year and online poker players could have their dreams come true for a relatively small buy-in.
There are plenty of other tournaments open to PartyPoker regulars and there is $1,000,000 up for grabs in the Monthly Million on the first Sunday of every month. The $250k Guaranteed Sunday tournament ensures that high rollers have a weekly shot at getting their hands on some serious money and there is a whole host of different ways of qualifying for the event.
Game Variety
Texas Hold’em is offered at Party Poker in all incarnations, as well as Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card Stud, and 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo. No Limit Hold’em is still the most popular game, but there is plenty of action at the others, which come in all limit versions.
Heads up tables are available, as are short handed and full sized. Action is plentiful at low and mid stakes, however the exclusion of the U.S. market has left high stakes games looking a bit worst for wear. Many of the players are savvy European regulars who have been prowling the tables since the software's inception over a decade ago.
In terms of tournaments, PartyPoker is still one of the leading networks. Buy-ins range from as little as $1, and the $300k Sunday Guarenteed and the Monthly Million ensure action for the highrollers. Satellites to live events, including the PartyPoker Open and World Cup also run round the clock, giving you the opportunity to mix it up with the pros. PartyPoker still has a strong grip on poker sponsorship, particularly in the UK, so don't expect these opportunities to fade away anytime soon.
One disappointment is the lack of PLO tournament games - there are no SnG heads up PLO games for instance.
Traffic
Party Poker has a very nice cash game community, with traffic topping 9,000 in peak times. Nearly all game types have players around the clock, but the highest concentration will be found in the Hold’em games.
The numerous 'speed' tables also cater for the impatient player. Strangely, Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo seems to be very well represented at PartyPoker.
Rake
The rake at Party Poker is skewed in favor of the higher staked games, and is well above the industry standard in many circumstances. The rake can be as high as 10% in games up to $1/$2. Rakes in higher staked games are slightly better.
The SnG rate is punishing at lower levels - for a $5 heads up SnG Party charges $1 rake - $0.75 more than the majority of sites. This is simply unacceptable for a major online network.
Competition
Party Poker is known for being a “fishy” site, with loose games even in the middle- to high stake arena. The loss of the US market sent many of the fish swimming to murkier waters. Tough games are more frequent at higher stakes, however, so prospective fishers are advised to check out the viewed flop percentages in the lobby.
Support
Phone support is recommended at Party Poker, where the 24/7 support staff responds quickly and accurately. Email support is available as well, as the Party Poker support email is info@partypoker.com
Deposit & Withdrawal Options
Dollars, Euros and Pounds
Deposit Options: Bank Wire Transfer, BPay, Citadel, CLICK2PAY, ClickandBuy, DHL, Diners, EFT, Elektronisches Lastschriftverfahren, EntroPay, Fedex , iDEAL, Laser, Maestro, MasterCard, Moneybookers, NETELLER, NETELLER InstaCash, Solo, Ukash, UseMyBank, Visa, Visa Electron and WebMoney.
Withdrawal Options: NETeller, wire transfer, check, eChecks (by iGM-Pay).
Typical withdrawal time via e-wallets such as NETeller is 48 hours.