Pokerstars Chips

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The launch of PokerStars in New Jersey back in 2016 was maybe the most anticipated event in the history of US online poker. Since, PokerStars has brought the heft of its international brand back into the US and re-established itself as a major player in the expanding US poker scene.

Its partnership with Mount Airy Casino in Pennsylvania and the launch of online poker in PA in 2019 brought it one step further into the US market. And PokerStars Michigan became the third state to see the return of PokerStars for online poker players when it launched, in partnership with the Odawa Casino Resort, in January 2021.

Pokerstars chips are now $16.00 per million if you pay with pokerstars REAL money. 100 thousand chips:.$1.80 200 thousand chips:.$3.60 300 thousand chips:.$5.40 400 thousand chips:.$7.20 500 thousand chips:.$9.00 600 thousand chips:.$10.80 700 thousand chips:.$12.60 800 thousand chips:.$14.40 900 thousand chips:.$16.20 1 million chips. Every player receives 35,000 Play Money when they register with PokerStars, but you can buy more chips by purchasing bundles starting from just $2.99. Just follow this link to get started. You can purchase your chips.

Current US states where you can play real-money poker on PokerStars:

Pokerstars cash games

Selling Pokerstars Play Money account 100 mil chips. Price $: 75 cancrushyou, 1/31/21 at 4:23 AM Replies: 0 Views: 13 Last Reply: $75. Contact cancrushyou 1/31/21 at 4:23 AM. Locked Sold Verified PokerStars. Players who lose all their chips in a tournament are knocked out, until there is just one winner remaining. The combined prize pool of all the players’ buy-ins is shared between the players who last the longest. There is no limit to the amount of Play Money chips a player may hold in their account. Play chips are for fun, so we do not want to encourage competition between Play Money players for the largest play chip balance. Play chips are also for practice, so if you have won a lot of play chips, you are obviously doing well at the tables.

How Can I Play on PokerStars in the US?

You can open a new PokerStars account from anywhere in the US (and play play-money poker). But you must be physically within a licensed state’s borders (and be of legal age) to play real money poker.

Below find a complete overview of what PokerStars currently offers poker players in the US; check back to see which new states have been or are soon to be added.

PokerStars marketing code

PokerStars Marketing Code:FREE30
Free Money Offer:Get $30 in free play with a $20 deposit
PokerStars Marketing Code:STARS600
First Deposit Bonus:100% up to $600
Available To:Adults 21 or older, located in NJ, PA or MI
Last Verified:Oct.7, 2020

How to Get Free Money on PokerStars

Players that open a new account at either PokerStars NJ, PokerStars PA or PokerStars MI are welcomed with either $30 free if they deposit $20, or a bonus match up to $600, not both.

Make a deposit of $20 or more using marketing code FREE30 and you are immediately eligible for:

  • $30 in free play

PokerStars Free Play Bonus includes:

  • $20 Bonus Money
  • $10 in Spin & Go tickets
  • Free entry into a $5,000 depositor freeroll
  • 1 million in Play-Money chips

Note:Freeroll ticket and play-money chips are added to your account immediately. The first $10 in bonus money is credited to your account within 36 hours of deposit; final $10 in bonus money credited to your account 7 days after first deposit.

Spin & Go tickets are awarded as follows:

  • Day 1: 3 x $1 Spin & Go tickets
  • Day 2: 1 x $2 Spin & Go ticket
  • Day 3: 1 x $5 Spin & Go ticket

PokerStars Spin & Go’s

Spin & Go’s are PokerStars’ signature Jackpot Sit & Go tournaments which multiply the prize pool randomly before the tournament begins. Buy-ins are from $1-$25 and each tournament then awards from 2x to 1,000 times your buy-in.

Spin & Go’s are three-handed turbo events that play out very fast and can give you amazing opportunities for big scores (up to $25,000 prize pools) compared to the buy-in.

Note that Spin & Go’s are not available in Pennsylvania.

PokerStars Deposit Bonus

The first-deposit bonus for PokerStars US players, using the marketing code STARS600, is:

  • 100% match bonus up to $600

That means whatever amount you deposit (up to $600) will be matched by PokerStars in bonus money.

The bonus releases in $10 increments for every 100 VIP Player Points (VPPs) earned. That is equivalent to an unprecedented 55% rakeback rate.

PokerStars awards VPPs at a rate of 5.5 for every $1 in rake paid at cash games, SNGs and tournaments. Any portion of the bonus not cleared within 120 days expires.

As part of the offer, players also get a $5,000 depositor freeroll ticket.

PokerStars Download

New PokerStars players have two ways to download the PokerStars platform and hit the tables:

  • Full PokerStars download for PC or Mac (Apple)
  • Download PokerStars app for your iPhone/iPad/Android

Both are fast and simple. To start the download on your computer, just click the appropriate link below for your state to get to the main PokerStars download page. Here are shortcuts for NJ and PA:

PokerStars software works for both for PCsand Macs; it’ll self-prompt you to download the proper format for your computer type. Once you’ve downloaded the PokerStars software you’ll finish the registration process by:

  • Creating your Stars ID (your poker screen name)
  • Setting your password
  • Entering the rest of your personal details required (email, age, etc) a
  • Bonus Code (see above)

Your account will be operational in minutes. You can also access your 1 million in play-money chips right away. If you want to play real money poker at PokerStars, you’ll also need to:

  • Download the Geolocation software to confirm you’re within New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Michigan state borders
  • Make a deposit to your account via any of the accepted methods via the “Cashier” tab

More on your deposit (& cashout) options below.

Download the PokerStars App

PokerStars has a slick and easy-to-use poker app for playing both play-money and real money poker. You can open an account via the App alone or create an account on your desktop and then log-in via the App to play.

To download the app for your iPhone, iPad or Android:

  • Download the app to your iOS or Android device
  • Register your account (or log in to your created account)
  • Make a deposit or buy/play with play-money chips

PokerStars App – Game Play

The PokerStars app is made for poker players so its known for its ease-of-use and in-game functionality.

Finding cash games and tournaments is simple with a slide bar to scroll through cash games, MTTs, SnGs and Spin & Go’s; there’s also a tab at the top to toggle between real-money and play-money games.

The Lobby, Cashier, My Stars account, Challenges, Leaderboards and Customizable settings are also easy to find and use. If you want to make a real-money deposit it’s hard to miss the “Deposit” icon – just tap and you’ll be walked through depositing in a few simple steps.

As for the action at the tables, as PokerStars has always been made by poker players the betting slide bars and buttons are well positioned and easily distinguishable to avoid misclicks.

Following the action at the table is clear and straight-forward and the betting bar allows for quick increment changes. Check/fold buttons are also big and visible as are set betting increments. Multi-tabling is also possible via the app.

PokerStars cash games and tournaments

Cash Games

PokerStars offers the widest variety of cash games in US online poker:

  • No Limit Hold ’em
  • Limit Hold ’em
  • Pot Limit Ohama
  • Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
  • Eight Game
  • Limit Stud
  • Limit Stud Hi/Lo

And the list goes on. No Limit Hold‘em games dominate the lobby with popular stakes running from $0.05/$0.10 to $2.50/$5.00. NL Hold ‘em Zoom Poker (fast-fold) games also go off regularly, even more so when there’s a cash game promotion running.

SNGs

SNGs are always popular on PokerStars. The ones that do run are generally low- to mid-stakes No Limit Hold ‘em turbo games. Most of the site’s SNGs are of the 6-max variety, although heads-up games run as well.

Spin ‘n Gos

As mentioned above, Spin & Go’s are arguably the site’s mostpopular format. These three-person, hyper turbo games are known for their randomized payouts and blistering pace.

The format is available at the $1, $2, $5, $10 and $25 buy-in levels, and feature jackpot prizes of 1,000x a player’s buy-in.

Multi-table tournaments (MTTs)

PokerStars is the home for New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan’s biggest online tournament series events. The annual New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan Championships of Online Poker and Spring Championship of Online Poker feature dozens of events and $1 million+ guaranteed prize pools.

PokerStars also host a nice selection of smaller tournament series events throughout the calendar year, and special events like PennsylMania. That’s a recurring special event which had a prize pool of over half a million dollars with just a $200 buy in on its first go.

As for its daily and weekly MTT schedules, PokerStars also makes the grade. The site offers a dozen nightly majors with buy-ins ranging from $5 to $100 and spanning multiple game formats.

Weekend tournaments guarantee as much as $50,000, and often more during special events. Here’s a quick glimpse of PokerStars’ most popular tournament offerings in the US:

  • The Big $5(4 p.m. EST): $5 buy-in, $500 guaranteed
  • The Big $30(5 p.m. EST): $30 buy-in, $1,000 guaranteed
  • The Big $50(6 p.m. EST): $50 buy-in, $2,000 guaranteed
  • The Big $10(6 p.m. EST): $10 buy-in, $1,000 guaranteed
  • The Big $20(7 p.m. EST): $20 buy-in, $1,500 guaranteed

More daily tournaments include:

  • Hot Turbos
  • KO Fever
  • Nightly Stars
  • Moonlight Express for No-Limit Hold ’em
  • Change-up for Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud

Sunday Majors on PokerStars US

  • Sunday Warm-Up(4 p.m. EST): $50 buy-in, $8,500 guaranteed
  • Sunday Storm(5 p.m. EST): $10 buy-in, $4,500 guaranteed
  • SundaySpecial(6 p.m. EST): $200 buy-in, $45,000 guaranteed
  • Sunday High Roller(7 p.m. EST): $500 buy-in, $15,000 guaranteed
  • SundaySupersonic(10 p.m. EST): $75 buy-in, $5,000 guaranteed

PokerStars Home Games

One of the favorite features for some players on PokerStars is the Home Games feature, which allows you to set up your own private poker club. You can then invite your friends to play poker online in any format you like, from cash games to tournaments to SnGs.

If you live or play in PA and NJ you can do so against each other with real money in your accounts. You can also play with play money and settle up outside of the poker game itself.

PokerStars Deposits & Cashouts

Deposits

With fully licensed and legal online poker comes a slew of easy-to-use and secure deposit and withdrawal methods. All transactions, via either the desktop or app, are encrypted, secure and protected.

Once your proper account ID and verification are set-up depositing to PokerStars NJ or PokerStars PA is virtually instantaneous. Popular deposit methods include:

  • Instant e-checks (ACH)
  • Skrill
  • Mastercard/Visa credit or debit cards
  • PokerStars Instant online banking
  • PayNearMe (7/11)
  • Cash at the Live Casino partner’s cage (check with casino to confirm: Resorts Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ; Mount Airy Casino in PA; Odawa Casino in Petoskey, MI)
  • PokerStars Play+ Card

Of these, players should consider Instant e-checks as their first line of offense. The Play+ Card is also a great option for players who have trouble completing ACH transactions. Those who favor in-person transactions are best opting for PayNearMe or cash at the casino cage.

Cashouts

Players are slightly more restricted with regard to withdrawals but still have plenty of options in both states:

  • Instant e-checks
  • Skrill
  • Cash at the cage
  • PokerStars Play+ Card

Generally speaking players must use a method as a deposit vehicle first before withdrawing via the same method.

Poker Stars Promotions

Chipsncrisps Pokerstars

Alongside the Free Play and Deposit Bonuses, PokerStars NJ and PokerStars PA run plenty of ongoing promotions for players. Among the current or past promotions we’ve seen:

  • $10,00 Summer Holidays Challenge
  • Daily $20,000 Golden Button Challenge
  • Monthly MTT Leaderboards
  • Online satellites and Spin & Go’s for live tournament seats and packages

Check PokerStars’ promotions page in a particular state for ongoing promotions.

PokerStars Live Tournaments & Packages

PokerStars hosts some pretty spectacular live events around the world and players in the US can take advantage of low buy-in satellites online to win seats and packages. Players can win seats and full travel packages to live events including:

  • European Poker Tour
  • PokerStars Caribbean Adventure
  • PokerStars Live London

and more. Also expected to return in 2020 was the:

  • PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship (PSPC)

The first edition ran in 2019 and awarded over $26 million in total to players that cashed.

Buy-in is €22,500 (approximately $25,000) but you can win your way there for much, much cheaper via the online satellites. Find the full daily and weekly satellite schedule for live events in the ‘Events’ and ‘Live’ tabs in the lobby.

PokerStars player rewards

All real money poker players at PokerStars are eligible for reward prizes through the Stars Rewards Program. Players get personalized rewards based on their playing preferences across all of the site’s products – casino and sports betting included.

Players who play real money games earn Rewards Points as they play. As you accrue points you’ll fill up an on-screen progress bar. When you reach the end of the bar for that reward level you will earn a Reward Chest to open.

Inside the Chest will be personalized rewards that best suit your level of play. There are six chest levels of increasing size and average value:

  • Blue Chest ($0.25-$5)
  • Bronze Chest ($0.60-$12)
  • Silver Chest ($1.50-$30)
  • Gold Chest ($5-$100)
  • Diamond Chest ($12.50-$250)
  • Black Chest ($35-$700)

Chests can contain StarsCoin — a virtual currency that players can spend at the site’s rewards store — tickets, and goods tailored to players’ preferences. Players can also win Top Rewards, which are massive prizes divided randomly among chests.

Boosts are also available whereby players will earn points at an augmented rate for a limited time.

PokerStars Customer Service

PokerStars offers an extensive FAQ portal divided into four primary sections:

  • Support
  • Deposit and Cash Out
  • Security
  • Account

Most of the common questions people have when creating/using a PokerStars account can be solved right there. Players can also fill out the site’s support form to request a callback or written response from an agent.

Is PokerStars Safe?

Beyond being one of the most reputable online poker brands in the entire world, every PokerStars US poker site is subject to rigorous vetting and regulations by the individual state’s Department of Gaming Enforcement.

  • In NewJersey, PokerStars has been approved and licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE).
  • In Pennsylvania, PokerStars has been approved and licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PCGB).
  • In Michigan, PokerStars has been approved and licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MCGB).

It’s more than accurate to say PokerStars stands apart as one of the safest poker sites online.

PokerStars VR

Virtual Reality has come to poker in the form of PokerStars VR. If you choose to dive in, your perception of live poker will never be the same.

You’ll need the proper VR equipment (and graphics support) to try it out but if you do you’ll be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind, authentic, free poker experience like you’ve never seen before. PokerStars VR offers:

  • Dazzling realism from chip to cards to players to dealers
  • Real opponents in free ring games
  • Immersive, total poker experience with authentic body language, props and accessories
  • Play against your friends on private tables or against other players across the world
  • Streaming media integration
  • Free chips and in-game purchases
  • Exotic playing locales including Macau 2050, Monte Carlo Yacht, Showdown Saloon and Galaxy Space Station
  • New SnGs plus weekly leaderboards

You can download PokerStars VR from:

  • Oculus Store
  • Steam
  • Viveport

PokerStars US FAQ

Is PokerStars Legal in the US?

Yes. PokerStars officially relaunched to players in New Jersey on March 21, 2016. It launched in Pennsylvania on Nov. 4, 2019. It arrived in Michigan on January 29, 2021. These are currently the only 3 states where PokerStars can legally offer online poker games for real-money but more are soon to come.

Can I play at PokerStars in states outside of New Jersey?

PokerStars is currently licensed to offer games in three US states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania & Michigan.

Players from anywhere can sign up and create a new account but to play real money poker online (either cash games or tournaments) you must be physically within the state’s borders. You do not have to be a resident of either state to play.

How does PokerStars know I’m in NJ, MI or PA?

In order to abide by official state gaming regulations PokerStars must guarantee players accessing its real-money games are within state borders. To do so, players on PokerStars must download a geolocation app along with the PokerStars software or PokerStars App.

Can PokerStars US players play against international PokerStars players?

No, PokerStars US only includes players within the US as of 2019. There is a current compact that allows for a shared player pool between online poker players in New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware but PokerStars does not have a site in Nevada or Delaware.

PokerStars PA and MI players are also ring-fenced and only able to play against each other. There is a likelihood, though, that all state player pools will eventually be merged among similarly licensed online poker states.

One day there is hope the full international player pool (or a portion of it) will be available again to US players.

What caused the delay of PokerStars in New Jersey?

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement had concerns about the past legal issues of PokerStars involving the US Department of Justice. The original PokerStars founder had not yet settled with the US Government at the time of the sale to Amaya Gaming.

The sale of PokerStars satisfied any issues New Jersey regulators had with the company.

Are SNG tournaments available ?

Yes. PokerStars has SNGs. Michigan and New Jersey (but not Pennsylvania) have Spin and Go’s as well.

Why does PokerStars have a casino partner in each state?

New Jersey interactive gaming law requires software providers to partner with Atlantic City casinos through their existing license. Casinos can host up to five gaming sites on a brick-and-mortar license.

Likewise, Pennsylvania and Michigan require online poker sites to have a land-based partner.

Which Atlantic City casino is PokerStars’ partner?

PokerStars is partners with ResortsCasino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Which Pennsylvania casino is PokerStars’ partner?

PokerStars is partners with Mount Airy Casino in Pennsylvania.

Which Michigan casino is PokerStars’ partner?

PokerStars is partners with Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey.

Does PokerStars offer casino games?

Yes, PokerStars offers casino games via Stars Casino. You can also sports bet with its sister set, FoxBet.

How big are the Sunday PokerStars tournaments in New Jersey?

Due to the market’s low-population cap, the tournament prize pools on PokerStars New Jersey are not nearly as large as they on the operator’s international site.

At present, the biggest Sunday major is the Sunday Special, which guarantees $50,000. Following that is the Sunday High Roller ($500 buy-in, $15,000 GTD).

There is also a bevy of nightly and weekly tournaments that guarantee a minimum prize pool of $10,000.

PokerStars US Review

PokerStars Quick Review

  • Traffic - 91

  • Depth of Game Selection - 93

  • Software - 98

  • Customer Support - 84

  • Promotional Value - 94

92

Summary

The PokerStars client is nothing short of stellar, matching the quality of its award-winning international platform nearly every step of the way. PokerStars also offers two generous, first-time deposit bonus; one tailored toward recreational players and another to regulars. Biannual tournament events that guarantee over $1.2 million each and an eclectic mix of game formats round out New Jersey's most complete online poker package. Now if only customer service were more accessible.

PokerStars’ History

PokerStars is the world’s largest online poker site. It peaks in the neighborhood of 20,000 players daily, according to PokerScout.

In addition to its international poker site, it also holds licenses in the ring-fenced markets of Italy, France and Spain. It is the largest site in two of these three regulated and ring-fenced countries.

Pokerstars Chipset 500

PokerStars was not always the largest online poker room in the world. PartyPoker held that distinction until October 2006, when it left the US market. PartyPoker has the most cash-game players, but PokerStars had more tournament participants.

Pokerstars Chips To Money

As a result, PokerStars immediately became the largest cash-game site when it announced it would stay in the US market after 2006. It raked an estimated $2 million per day after this decision.

PokerStars’ legal woes

Because of this success, the US Department of Justice took notice. PokerStars became the target of an investigation from the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York.

On April 15, 2011, an indictment was unsealed that named PokerStars and two executives. The charges related to violating the Illegal Gambling Business Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Furthermore, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker were also named on the same indictment.

PokerStars immediately withdrew from the US market, as did Full Tilt and Absolute Poker. Most noteworthy is that PokerStars was able to reimburse account balances for US players within 10 days. Full Tilt and Absolute Poker were unable to pay.

Subsequently, PokerStars acquired Full Tilt through a corporate settlement with the US Justice Department worth $731 million. Part of this settlement went toward paying Full Tilt Poker players that were victims of what the federal government described as fraud.

Once these charges were settled, PokerStars attempted to gain licensing in New Jersey for the state’s new interactive gaming industry that launched in November 2013. They partnered with Resorts.

PokerStars previously attempted to buy the Atlantic Club. They infused the ailing casino with much-needed cash while it attempted to get licensed. Atlantic Club backed out of the deal after the guaranteed closing date passed.

It appeared Atlantic Club was hoping to fetch a higher sales price. That never materialized. Atlantic Club fell into bankruptcy and closed in January 2014. Subsequently, its assets were divided between Caesars Entertainment and Tropicana Entertainment through a bankruptcy auction.

While PokerStars resolved its case through a civil settlement, executives of PokerStars never resolved their charges. This was the reason cited by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for suspending its gaming license application for two years.

PokerStars’ new owner and eventual entry into New Jersey

Rational Group, the parent company of PokerStars, decided the solution was to sell the company. Amaya Gaming was the suitor.

Amaya Gaming acquired PokerStars in July 2014 for $4.9 billion. As a result, PokerStars’ equity holders left the company at the close of the transaction.

It appears that this merger was the catalyst that gave PokerStars the green light in New Jersey. The Division of Gaming Enforcement is satisfied that PokerStars is now suitable.

Amaya Gaming was already licensed in New Jersey. It maintains several casino platforms, as well as Betfair’s poker platform.

The path was more straightforward to PokerStars to get licensed in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and it managed to be the first online poker site regulated by the state gaming control boards to launch in each state.

Amaya Gaming would either need to defeat that language in bills before they become law or prevail in court challenges under the position that the so-called bad actor clauses are unconstitutional.

Additionally, online poker regulations in Nevada include a tainted asset clause. This means that the sale of PokerStars does not clean the brand in the eyes of regulators. Unless current Nevada law changes, or is found unconstitutional, PokerStars will never operate in Nevada.

Delaware has no such language in its online poker regulations.

Private games are not catered for.

Unless otherwise stated, the PokerStars Live tournament rules apply.

Penalties and player etiquette

Players are expected to maintain a reasonable level of decorum at all times. Standard poker etiquette will be enforced. In its sole and absolute discretion, PokerStars Live Staff may impose penalties ranging from a verbal warning escalating up to exclusion from all PokerStars Live Events and PokerStars Live operated Cash Games.

  1. Disclosure – Players are obligated to protect the other players at all times. Therefore, whether in a hand or not, players may not...
    1. Disclose contents of live or folded hands.
    2. Advise or criticize play before the action is completed.
    3. Read a hand that hasn’t been tabled.
    4. Discuss hands or strategy with any spectator.
    5. Seek or receive consultation from an outside source.
    6. The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced.
  2. Exposing and Mucking – Players who show their cards to a player who has already folded and then fold their cards themselves may receive a penalty. Dealers upon seeing this are instructed to hold those cards outside of the muck and show them to the entire table when the hand is completed. Players doing this repeatedly will be penalized.
  3. Collusion – Poker is an individual game. Soft play, chip dumping, etc. will not be allowed and may be subject to penalties.
  4. Etiquette Violations – Repeated etiquette violations will result in penalties assessed by the staff. Examples include, but are not limited to, unnecessarily touching other players’ cards or chips, delay of the game, repeatedly acting out of turn, splashing chips, intentionally betting out of reach of the Dealer, or excessive chatter. In addition, excessive celebration through extended theatrics, inappropriate behavior, or physical actions, gestures, or conduct may be penalized. These violations also include abusive behavior towards other players’ playing styles and/or berating players for how they have played or are playing the game.
  5. Foul Language – The abuse of other players, PokerStars Live staff, venue staff or other personnel will not be tolerated. Foul, obscene or offensive language directed at any player or staff member may result in a penalty. Repeated non-directed foul, obscene or offensive language may also result in a penalty.
  6. All participants must behave in a courteous and civil manner during all games and in all tournament and gaming areas. Any individual who encounters inappropriate behavior on the part of another individual should immediately contact the staff. This shall include, but is not limited to, any player whose personal hygiene or health has become disruptive to the other players seated at their table. The determination as to whether an individual’s personal hygiene or health is disruptive to other players shall be determined by the staff which may, in its discretion, implement sanctions upon any such player who refuses to remedy the situation in a manner satisfactory to PokerStars Live.
  7. Any player who intentionally breaks, rips, or defaces cards will be dealt out immediately. Should the player feel they were dealt out unfairly, the issue must be raised with the staff immediately.
  8. Telephone – Players may not speak on the telephone while at the table, whether playing a hand or not. They must step away from the table to conduct their call.
  9. Phones, tablets and laptops – Players may use these devices at the table, however not while in a hand. Laptops may not be plugged into to an external power source while at the table.
  10. Periscope, Twitch, etc. – The use of Apps or any other type of capability to broadcast the tournament while in play is not allowed.
  11. PokerStars Live staff and venue staff may penalize any act that, in the sole and absolute discretion of PokerStars Live staff and venue staff, is inconsistent with the official rules or best interests of the game.
  12. If a player is permitted to return to a game after disciplinary action, there will be no refund on any missed collections or blinds, the usual missed-blind rules for that game will apply.
  13. PokerStars Live reserves the right to refuse gaming services to anyone at any time.
  14. PokerStars Live reserves the right to refuse the sale of alcoholic beverages.
  15. PokerStars Live is not liable for monetary discrepancies caused by player or dealer error.
  16. There is no transfer of liability. In the case of theft or natural disasters, PokerStars Live will not be responsible for chips, money, or personal property lost.
  17. PokerStars Live is not responsible for the behavior of its patrons or any resulting consequences.

General house rules

Pokerstars Transfer Play Money

  1. All players who want to sign up for any cash game may be required to register for a PokerStars Live account. Further details will be provided on site.
  2. Players may leave the game at any time and bet in any way they choose, within game rules.
  3. A player who has remained away from the table for longer than 30 minutes (or has their table closed down while they are away) will have their chips removed from play and stored by the Floor staff if there is a waiting list for their game. The chips will be counted by the floor person and one other staff member, signed for and stored.
  4. Decision-making procedures:
    1. PokerStars Live management reserves the right to make decisions in the best interest of the game and in the spirit of fairness to all players, even if a technical interpretation of the rules may indicate a contrary decision.
    2. All decisions made by the floor person are made in the interest of fair play and are final.
    3. If an irregularity within the game occurs it must be called to the attention of staff immediately. Any objection must be made before the deck is shuffled for the next hand.
  5. Players are responsible for protecting their own cards at all times. This can be done by keeping a chip, card protector or their hands on their cards. The dealer will assume that any unprotected, abandoned, or discarded hand has been folded. This holds even if a hand is face up, and regardless of whether a player is facing action. Players who fail to take reasonable measures to protect their hand will have no redress if their hand is removed by the dealer. Contact of an unprotected hand with a discarded card will make the hand dead if there is any doubt as to which cards belong to the hand. Dealers can assist in reading hands if required, but it still remains the responsibility of the player to protect the cards.
  6. Players may only speak English while a hand is in progress. If an active player speaks any other language during the play of a hand, his hole cards may be turned up for all to see. If an inactive player speaks in a language other than English while a hand is in progress, a floor person may enforce a penalty.
  7. Players should not splash the pot or generally make any gaming actions designed to hide their intended action.
  8. Deal-making is not allowed and could result in penalties being enforced.
    1. This includes making chops, ‘taking money back’, or otherwise altering the money entering the pot, or won, in an individual hand.
  9. Players may chop the blinds if that situation is applicable.
  10. Rabbit Hunting – In cases where hands are concluded prior to the last card being dealt, the next card to be dealt will not be exposed under any circumstances. The practice of revealing cards that would have been dealt is referred to as ‘rabbit hunting’ and is prohibited.
  11. Playing over is allowed if:
    1. The person wishing to play over is first on the waiting list.
    2. The player who is being played over has up to one hour to re-join the game or his chips will be picked up and his seat will go to the next player on the waiting list.
  12. No person(s) may play another player’s chips.
  13. Players are not permitted to give their seat to another without a floor person’s prior approval.
  14. PokerStars Live uses the following ‘Table Stakes’ rules:
    1. Only chips or cash on the table at the start of a deal will be in play for that pot, except where specified in rule 31.c.
    2. All chips and cash must remain on the table until a player quits the game, except to pay for casino products and services. Players may not pass any chips, except for an ante in stud games, or one ‘lucky chip’ in all other games (smallest denomination for the game only).
    3. Chips that are in transit from the cashier by a house runner are treated as being in play, provided the house has given its consent and the other players have been informed. If a player passes chips to a player who is waiting for ordered chips, the amount being passed will play behind.
    4. A player buying chips is required to declare the amount being bought. If a player requests a hand and looks at it without specifying the amount being played, he/she may not play more than the amount of the minimum buy-in for that game.
  15. In the event of a split pot with an odd chip, large chips will always be split down to the smallest denomination for the game. If there is still an odd chip, the chip goes to:
    1. In Hold’em and Omaha, the hand closest to button, clockwise.
    2. In Stud, the hand with the highest card, using suit rankings to break a tie (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs).
    3. In High/Low games, the high hand.
  16. When players draw cards (for the button in new games, for available seats when a game breaks, etc), and tie in rank, ties will be broken using suit rankings: spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs.
  17. A player, who is called from the waiting list, must present themselves within five minutes, if not, the next player will be given the open seat and the “no show” player will be posted at the end of the waiting list.

Rules of play - The buy-in

  1. A new player must make a full buy-in for that particular game, usually 50 times the Big Blind.
  2. An existing player is allowed to re-buy once for half of a full buy-in.
  3. If the limit is increased in an existing game, thereby increasing the buy-in, existing players are grandfathered; they may play the chips they have on the table at that time. Thereafter, the increased buy-in applies to all players.
  4. A player forced to transfer from a must-move game to a game of the same limit may continue to play the same amount of money, even if it is less than the minimum buy-in. A player who voluntarily changes games or comes from a broken game must buy-in for at least the minimum buy-in amount.

Rules of play - Blinds

  1. New players must post the amount of the big blind before being dealt in. They may post from any position, wait for the big blind, buy the button, or straddle. Should the blinds pass, they will get a missed blind button and be required to wait for the big blind, or post both blinds, or buy the button.
  2. Players may ‘buy the button’. A new player or a player with a missed blind button may enter the game in the small blind position by posting both blinds. The big blind amount plays. On that hand, the dealer button is on the player’s immediate right, and no one else posts blinds. On the subsequent hand, the player who ‘bought the button’ gets the dealer button and the blinds resume as usual.
  3. All blinds are ‘live’. The money plays, and the players posting blinds have the option to raise before the flop (unless the betting is already capped).
  4. Players may ‘straddle’ in the games when they are one position to the left of the big blind. All straddles are double the big blind and are live. Only one straddle per hand is permitted.
  5. A player who misses both blinds must post an amount equal to the sum of the blinds. The excess amount, over the big blind, becomes dead money and is not part of the bet. An owed small blind will be dead money. The only exception is if a player chooses to come in on a straddle. In this situation, they will not be required to post the small blind. Buying the button is allowed.
  6. Missing the blinds in the first round of a new game is exactly the same as missing the blinds in a pre-existing game.
  7. ‘Running it twice’ is allowed on all tables, if all involved players agree.
    1. Should only the players involved in a side pot wish to run it twice, they may do so for the side pot only (the main pot will always go to the winner of the first board).

Seating and table changes

  1. In all new games, players will draw for the dealer button.
  2. When a new game starts, players on the waiting list will be seated first. Players may lock up seats on a first come, first served basis as they arrive at the table.
  3. Seat changes within a game:
    1. A player who moves away from the blinds (clockwise) must wait the number of hands corresponding to the number of positions moved, or post a big blind, before being dealt in again.
    2. A player who ‘deals off’ (by playing a hand on the dealer button and then changing seats) can move and wait for the blinds to pass the new seat once and re-enter the game behind the button without posting blinds.
    3. If a player with a missed blind button changes seats, they must post both blinds, or the player must wait for the big blind.
    4. If two players agree to switch seats, 48.a, 48.b, and 48.c apply to both players.
    5. If an open seat is wanted by more than one player and they cannot resolve the issue, priority will go to whoever has been in the game longest. If that cannot be determined, priority will go to whoever asked first. If that cannot be determined, the players will draw cards for the seat.
    6. When a seat opens in a game with a waiting list, the floor person will ask the seated players if anyone wants the seat before locking it up for the new player. Once chips are placed on the table, the new player cannot be compelled to move to another seat.
  4. A player moving to a different game must have the full buy-in for that game unless he/she is from a broken game and cannot get a seat at the same limit. The game limit must be equal to or lower than the broken game to enter with a short buy-in.
  5. If a player is forced to change tables for whatever reason, it is not required that they post the blinds and instead can choose to wait for the button to pass.
  6. Players who quit a game and return to the same game in less than three hours must return with at least the same value in chips as when they quit, but not less than the minimum buy-in.
  7. In fairness to all players, if a player in a short game (fewer than five players) requests a seat in another game, the floor person may ask if all players desire to draw cards for the available seat(s).
  8. In a game with five or less players, a player who causes a game to break by refusing to ante or take the blinds will not be allowed to draw for a seat in another game.
  9. Third Man Walking - The third man walking will be any player who gets up from their seat in a cash game after two other players are already away from the table. This player will be required to return to their seat within one orbit or else their seat in the game will be forfeited if there is a waiting list for the game.
  10. When a game breaks and there are:
    1. insufficient open seats in other games of the same limit to accommodate all players, the players will draw cards for the open seat(s). The floor person will draw cards for absent players who have no missed-blind buttons or hold buttons.
    2. sufficient open seats in other games of the same limit to accommodate all players, all missed blind buttons accumulated by lobbying players in the broken game will be transferred to the existing game.
  11. All table changes must be pre-approved by a floor person.
  12. Table changes and game changes must be made immediately. This includes players not playing all the remaining hands until the big blind comes around. However, players in the blinds may finish playing the blinds and their button.

Breaks

As a result of players being able to leave a game at any time it is in the best interest of all players to have specific guidelines for players who have taken a break. They are:

  1. Players may leave for up to 30 minutes. If a player is absent for longer than that, the player’s chips will be picked up immediately in a full game with a waiting list. In games that are not full, this may result in the away player’s chips being picked up if a seated player requests the away player’s seat or if the game fills up.
  2. Repeatedly leaving the game may result in a player’s chips being picked up before said time limit is met.
  3. PokerStars Live Cash Games use the ‘third man walking’ rule. If two players are already away from the table, the third player to leave will have only one orbit of the table to return or risk being picked up and replaced by the next available player on the waiting list. Dealers are instructed to notify the player and the floor staff when a third player walks.

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