888poker Review

888poker is one of the biggest and most famous poker sites in the world. It's been around since the early 2000s - enough time for 888poker to build up a reputation for great games, amazing qualifiers, and big-money promotions.

Players can try out games for free or hit the real money tables from just 1c. And because of 888poker's tie-ins with established events like the WSOP, players can qualify for Vegas for cheap. Let's take a closer look at 888poker.

About 888poker

888poker forms part of the 888Holdings giant based out of Gibraltar. The firm also offers an online sportsbook, casino, and award-winning bingo site among its arsenal. As such, 888poker holds a Gibraltar license but also operates in the UK under Gambling Commission licensing.

888 launched in 2002, when it was known as Pacific Poker, and has grown to become one of the most respected brands in online gaming. Its online poker room has been revamped in recent years and is regularly second or third in the list of most-visited sites.

In 2013, 888 secured one of the first licenses to operate in the newly-regulated Nevada and New Jersey markets. 888's partnership with Caesars has made it one of the go-to sites in the US.

Software

888poker has a full download client available for both Mac and PC desktop. You can also play a dedicated download app for iOS or Android but instant-play is available too.

The client has undergone a massive revamp recently, and new innovations like webcam poker have come in. The lobby is crowded - as is the case at all popular online sites - but handy filters make it easy to get to the tourneys and cash games you're after.

Player Level

888poker boasts 10 million registered users worldwide, though presumably not all are playing online at the same time. With big sponsored players like Kara Scott, Chris Moorman and Sofia Lovgren, 888poker has succeeded in attracting recreational players to the site in their droves.

That means there is a fairly broad range of skills at 888poker. The daily and weekly MTTs are well-populated - especially the $22 turbos and 6-max - and tournaments run 24/7.

It's generally accepted that players who "aren't quite good enough for PokerStars" go to 888poker to play and make a reasonable living. The pay structures are also fairly top-heavy compared to PokerStars' mantra of sharing out the money as far as it can go. If you're a good player, 888poker is better in the long run for bigger prize shares.

Stakes & Cash Games

888poker sits in a comfortable second spot when it comes to cash traffic (although still some way behind the leader, PokerStars). At peak times, you'll find about 3,500 players at the cash tables, but thousands more at good times hitting the many tournaments and Sit & Gos that play on-site.

Look out for the Royal Jackpot cash games. The Jackpot starts at $5,000 and grows with every raked cash hand. (You'll find the special tables marked with a green 'J'.) A spade royal flush bags you the whole jackpot.

888poker's own fast-fold poker variant - SNAP Poker - is one of the best around and is available at a range of wallet-friendly and wallet-busting stakes.

Tournaments

888poker runs a great range of MTTs and big-money guarantees. The Turbo Mega Deep carries a $215 buy-in with a $40,000 guarantee. That is pretty much smashed each Sunday, but with 10,000 starting chips and 6-minute blinds it's a fun tourney to sit down for.

Look out for The Whale, The Typhoon, and The Twister: each come with big prizepools ($120k in the case of The Whale) and cater for players of all wallets ($600 down to $55 buy-ins). Sit & Gos are available 24 hours a day. The general MTT schedule isn't quite as big as larger sites like PokerStars, so you'll often come across the same regs time and again. The same loose-aggressive players will often go deep.

Fans of jackpot Sit & Gos can enjoy 888poker's own take on the format: BLAST tournaments. BLAST games play with up to 4 players, and a randomly-drawn prizepool is decided before the tourney begins. Once the time runs out, every player is all-in automatically until a winner is crowned. Did someone say 'sick action'?

Because of 888poker's association with Caesars Interactive, you'll find plenty of good qualifiers for the World Series of Poker. For just a few dollars you can take a shot at full packages or one-off Main Event buy-ins. The final qualifier to win a $12,500 WSOP package is priced at $1,050.

Poker Bonuses & VIP Programs

Big-money promos are the name of the game at 888poker. New players can get a £230/$400 welcome bonus upon sign-up that works like a classic match bonus. However, there is also a straight £20 no-deposit offer too if you want to go straight for the cash.

If you're a regular player who's just made a deposit, you can take advantage of two weekly $1,000 Depositors Freerolls. Daily challenges in the Treasure Quest promo give players the chance to fill the special map and win a cool $100,000.

Look out for the odd 'Sunday Sale' which offers half-price buy-ins to some of 888poker's most popular guarantees. For example, there's a $109 buy-in (down from $215) into the $120,000 Mega Deep and $80 buy-in (down from $160) into to the $50,000 Crocodile.

Customer Support & Banking

Banking is made easy with plenty of fee-free deposit options at 888poker. Players can use their debit or credit card, including lots of debit card providers wherever you live. Less common methods like ApplePay (in the UK), Postepay (Italy), and WebMoney (Eastern Europe) are also available. The minimum deposits are pretty low all-round as well.

Support is excellent at 888poker, and is available throughout the day via chat, email or freephone.

Summary

With lots of stakes and innovative games like BLAST poker and Royal Jackpot cash games, 888poker rightfully sits at (or near) the top of the pile. The software is easy to use, whether on download or instant-play, and the mobile client worked perfectly on our Android and iOS devices.

And if you're looking for a top way to qualify for the World Series of Poker, 888poker is the one place to go. Download the software today, make a deposit, and join one of the leading poker sites operating today.