PokerStars review
Updated September 28, 2026 · WagerCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
PokerStars suits poker players who put licensing and payouts first: withdrawals run Up to 24 hours and the brand is licensed across several European markets, including the UK. Adults who want a mobile app for the tables, plus a 200% up to $1500 (US) welcome offer, are covered too.
Key facts
- Best for
- Poker players in licensed European markets who care more about quick payouts and a broad licence list than bonus size.
- Welcome offer
- 200% up to $1500 (US)↗
- Regulators
- Malta Gaming Authority (Maltese government licence), Danish Gambling Authority, French gambling regulator (separate government licence), Italian gambling regulator (separate government licence), Belgian gambling regulator (separate government licence), Spanish gambling regulator (separate government licence), Estonian Tax and Customs Board (gaming licence), Servicos de Regulacao e Inspecao de Jogos (SRIJ), UK Gambling Commission↗
- Minimum deposit
- $20↗
- Withdrawal time
- Up to 24 hours↗
- Payment methods
- PayPal, Bank Transfer, Neteller, Paysafecard, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay↗
- Products
- Poker↗
- Withdrawal time (hours)
- 24 hours↗
- Legal entity
- Stars Interactive Limited↗
- Headquarters
- Isle of Man↗
- Founded
- 2001↗
- Features
- Mobile app
- Pricing model
- Welcome bonus
- Official website
- pokerstars.com
Casinos
Sportsbooks
- Live streaming
- Yes↗
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 5 sources
Pros and cons
Pros
- Withdrawals go out in Up to 24 hours, which suits players who want quick access to their balance.
- Regulated across several markets, with the list as Malta Gaming Authority (Maltese government licence), Danish Gambling Authority and French gambling regulator (separate government licence).
- Live dealer games and live streaming are both supported, with the game types listed as slots, live and table.
- A 200% up to $1500 (US) welcome offer aimed at US players, with a $20 minimum deposit to claim it.
Cons
- The $20 minimum deposit sits above the €8.77 median across the sites reviewed, so small bankrolls start higher.
- The 200% up to $1500 (US) offer is limited to US customers, so the headline bonus does not apply elsewhere.
- Play is restricted in Israel, SI and PE, which closes the brand to players resident in those markets.
Ready to try PokerStars?
Scored 9.0 / 10 by WagerCue.
Who it suits
- Poker players who want a long-running licensed brand, a mobile app and quick access to their own balance.
- Players in European licensed markets who would rather deal with a local regulator in their own country alone.
- US customers who can use the 200% up to $1500 (US) welcome offer with card or e-wallet payment methods.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for players in Israel, SI and PE, where the brand is restricted and cannot be used by residents.
- Not for readers after a wider licence spread: Chipstars Affiliates lists Kansspelautoriteit as its regulator, while PokerStars is regulated across several markets.
- Not for players who want sportsbook or lottery markets on the same account, since the only product listed is poker.
Getting paid out
The minimum deposit is $20, which sits above the €8.77 median across the sites reviewed. Withdrawals go out in Up to 24 hours, and payment and payout options run to PayPal, Bank Transfer and Neteller. Card, e-wallet, voucher and bank transfer are all covered on the same account.
Who runs it
The named legal entity is Stars Interactive Limited, with headquarters in the IM. It was founded in 2001, which makes it a long-established name rather than a recent entrant. In the UK it holds the Gambling Commission licence 039108-R-319334-026 for its UK customers.
How PokerStars compares
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 8.0
9.0 vs 8.9
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 8.9
9.0 vs 8.9- 9.0 vs 8.8
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 8.5- 9.0 vs 8.0
- 9.0 vs 8.0
- 9.0 vs 8.0
9.0 vs 8.0
Where PokerStars is available
- Available
- Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Malta, Spain, United Kingdom
- Licence in Malta
- Malta Gaming Authority (Maltese government licence), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in Denmark
- Danish Gambling Authority, checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in France
- French gambling regulator (separate government licence), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in Italy
- Italian gambling regulator (separate government licence), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in Belgium
- Belgian gambling regulator (separate government licence), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in Spain
- Spanish gambling regulator (separate government licence), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in Estonia
- Estonian Tax and Customs Board (gaming licence), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in Portugal
- Servicos de Regulacao e Inspecao de Jogos (SRIJ), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in United Kingdom
- UK Gambling Commission (039108-R-319334-026), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How long do withdrawals take at PokerStars?+
Withdrawals go out in Up to 24 hours. The payment list covers PayPal, Bank Transfer and Neteller, so e-wallets, cards and a bank transfer are available for taking money off the account. Deposits and payouts run through the same balance, which keeps the process in one place.
What is the minimum deposit at PokerStars?+
The minimum deposit is $20, which sits above the €8.77 median recorded across the sites reviewed here. That makes it a higher starting point than many brands in this category, so bankroll size is worth checking before an account is opened.
What does the PokerStars welcome offer include?+
The welcome offer is 200% up to $1500 (US), aimed at US customers. It is structured as a welcome bonus rather than a free bet, and it is tied to the US rather than offered across every licensed market. Terms for your own country are the ones that apply.
Who regulates PokerStars?+
PokerStars is licensed in several European markets, with the Malta Gaming Authority in Malta and the UK Gambling Commission for UK customers among the regulators. Stars Interactive Limited carries the UK Gambling Commission licence 039108-R-319334-026. Play is restricted in Israel, SI and PE.
Is there a PokerStars mobile app?+
Its feature list includes a mobile app, and live streaming is supported. Mobile apps are common across the brands in this poker group, so an app is an expectation rather than a distinguishing point here. Poker play on a phone is the main use for most readers.
What can I play besides poker at PokerStars?+
Poker is the product listed: poker. Alongside the poker tables, the game types are slots, live and table, and live dealer games are available. That library is served by NetEnt, Microgaming and Quickspin, and live streaming lets you follow table and live action on screen.
Where can I play at PokerStars?+
The brand is licensed across several European markets, and the regulators are Malta Gaming Authority (Maltese government licence), Danish Gambling Authority and French gambling regulator (separate government licence). It is restricted in Israel, SI and PE, so check your own country before depositing. Available payment methods are PayPal, Bank Transfer and Neteller, and the UK market is covered by a Gambling Commission licence.
Who operates PokerStars?+
The named legal entity is Stars Interactive Limited, headquartered in the IM. The company was founded in 2001. In the UK it operates under UK Gambling Commission licence 039108-R-319334-026, the licence number attached to that entity.
Sources
- gamblingcommission.gov.uk/downloads/business-licence-regi... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity, Licences
“Account Number=39108; Licence Account Name=Stars Interactive Limited”
- darkwolfslot.com/casino/dark-wolf-at-pokerstars-casino checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Game types, Live dealer games, Payment methods, Game providers
“Live Casino, Mobile Casino, Online Casino”
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PokerStars checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features, Founded, Headquarters, Live streaming, Products, Regulators, Restricted countries
“can be accessed through downloadable poker clients for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS”
- legalsportsreport.com/online-casinos/pokerstars-bonus-code checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Bonus match, Maximum bonus, Minimum deposit, Pricing model, Welcome offer
“200% deposit match up to $1,500”
- pokernews.com/casino/fast-payout-withdrawal-casinos.htm checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Withdrawal time (hours), Withdrawal time
“Up to 24 hours for the fastest payouts”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Related by the facts
PokerStars
Poker players in licensed European markets who care more about quick payouts and a broad licence list than bonus size.