Betsafe Poker Review

Betsafe Poker is an Malta-licensed poker room that forms part of the mighty Microgaming Poker Network (MPN). It's actually part of a larger site that includes an award-winning casino and sportsbook (both accessible from the same website)

About Betsafe Poker

Betsafe is a leading online casino and betting site that launched in 2006. It forms part of the Stockholm-based Betsson Group (although it has an HQ in Malta). Betsson Group is a chain of betting sites that also includes NordicBet, Mr Smith, and Betsson.

Kicking things off with a sportsbook only back in 2006, a poker site was added a year later. While the casino has gone on to win multiple awards for its Live Dealer games and innovations, the poker site still has plenty to offer.

Software

If you've played at Betsafe Casino, you'll know all about its many Microgaming slots and table games. And so Betsafe Poker keeps with tradition by propping up the much-maligned MPN (Microgaming Poker Network).

Because of its place on the Microgaming network, Betsafe shares liquidity with around 27 sites including GrosvenorPoker.com, BetVictor, and Betsson - all major sportsbooks with casinos that like to keep a hand in with their poker offerings. Like half of the MPN rooms, Betsafe has its own mobile app for download.

The MPN has undergone several changes recently, and not all are to the players' liking. Tournament lobbies

Players

Betsafe has several thousand players at peak times but the standard can be fairly good. The MPN actually doesn’t do badly in terms of traffic for cash games - a 1500 peak over a 24-hour period - and games are best-populated in the evenings and weekends.

Due to the site's license, players in the US are not permitted to play on the Betsafe site.

Stakes & Cash Games

Betsafe runs a good range of cash games across its site, and while it can't compete with the likes of PokerStars still offers fun for the low-stakes grinders.

The MPN runs the usual range of No Limit/Pot Limit/Limit Hold'em but also finds space for more uncommon games like 5-card Draw, 5-card Stud, and Razz. Stakes start from just €0.01/€0.02. You can find heads-up, 6-max, and 9-max tables across Betsafe Poker.

Look out too for Blaze Poker, Microgaming's version of fast-fold cash games. There's quite a neat bonus feature - Blazing Cannon - which plays like a wacky version of Angry Birds: fire your chip at the stack of cards to win bonus prizes worth €1, €10, or €100.

Tournaments

Betsafe runs SNGs from just €0.01 in three flavors: Regular, Turbo, and Super Turbo. MTTs can also be played from just €1, and the range includes Bounties, Turbo re-buys, and Deep Stacks with thousands in guaranteed prize cash.

The MPN offers a range of big-money guarantees, including the Monday highlight: the €10,000-GTD Monday Mega Moolah with a €215 buy-in. For the same buy-in, you can play the €25,000-GTD Sunday Showdown at 19.30 GMT.

The recent 'THE CLASSIC' festival is a typical example of Betsafe's regular series. Buy-ins ranged from €11 to a €320 Main Event, with the latter carrying a €70,000 guarantee that was duly smashed. 'Bubble Bursters' freerolls ran throughout the series for players missing out on cashes in any of the tournaments.

On the live circuit, the MPNPT (Microgaming Poker Network Poker Tour) hosts €150,000 guarantee tourneys with €550 buy-ins. Satellites run online from just €0.25.

Poker Bonuses & VIP

Achievements at Betsafe, like at many forward-thinking poker sites, is the name of the bonus game. The '10 Day Challenge' gives new customers 10 days to achieve 10 separate challenges. Tournament tickers and cash prizes are up for grabs for successful promotion-hunters.

A regular welcome package lets new players access a bonus ranging from low to high (you can chart the progress of your selected bonus on the Account page) plus exclusive New Player tournaments every Wednesday. It's worth hitting the larger bonus as you don't need to rake much to release increments of loyalty points cash.

VIP 'Blackgold' Rewards, meanwhile, award raking players of all levels, not just the higher ones.

Customer Support & Banking

Betsafe offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, free phone number, or email. Payments can be made safely with most major credit and debit cards (VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, etc), as well as Paysafecard, Neteller, and Skrill, or a straight bank transfer. There is no player transfer facility, unfortunately, but fees are totally free for making transactions.

Summary

If you love the Microgaming Poker Network but are looking for something different, Betsafe Poker offers some great games at a range of stakes. Like other MPN skins, the download clients can be a little clunky but the lobby here is easy to navigate and depositing takes seconds. Sign up and enjoy Betsafe's exclusive deals and offers today.