Poker Stars, behind Party Poker, and ahead of the Poker Network is the second largest Online poker card room on the Internet. It is also the largest poker tournament Web site in the world. In 2005, eGaming Review named Poker Stars the “Best Poker Operator of the Year.”

There are a few reasons why Poker Stars ranks so high among Online poker providers.

Poker Stars is most well known for contributing the 2003 and 2004 champions to the World Series of Poker through satellite tournaments. In 2003, Chris Moneymaker became a millionaire in the series and in 2004, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer did the same. These two are now the spokespeople for the Web site and play regularly on the site. 2005 World Series of Poker champion Joe Hachem is also a regular player on the site.

Poker Stars sponsors a stop on the World Poker Tour called the Caribbean Poker Adventure and is also the principal sponsor of the European Poker Tour.

Poker Stars was launched in 2001 and is owned by a Costa Rican company called Rational Enterprises. With a market value of approximately $3 billion U.S. the company is one of the world’s largest privately held gambling companies.

At Poker Stars, you can play six varieties of poker games, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo and Razz. Mixed games, called HORSE and HOSE are also played. You can even play games with real money, starting at $0.01 / $0.02 up to $100 / $200.

Poker Stars is the home of the World Championship of Online Poker, the largest tournament series in the world. Each day, tens of thousands of players play real money ring games or tournaments at peak times and tens of thousands more in free-play games. The Web site dealt its five billionth hand on May 20, 2006.

Poker Stars sponsors several professional players in addition to Moneymaker, Raymer and Hachem, including World Series of Poker bracelet winners Barry Greenstein, Humberto Brenes, William Chen and 1983 World Series of Poker Champion Tom McEvoy.

Poker Stars is also a resource for players of all levels.

People who want to learn about professional poker players and tournaments can keep up on the latest poker news, accessing a wealth of articles written by people in the know. Also, people can access free tutorials and other information regarding odds and strategy to help them improve their game. And, if playing for money isn’t your thing, you can access play money games to learn how or test new strategies with the game.

Whatever your motivation is, playing poker at Poker Stars is always a good time. It will improve your game, earn some money and entertain you at the same time.

By Cyman Harrison
Cyman Harrison. Make Poker Stars your home for online poker. Visit Poker Stars today!