partypoker Review

They may have had to fight their corner since leaving the US market, but partypoker is still making a massive comeback. They have a redesigned online site, big-money tournaments every month, and even a US-dedicated room for New Jersey customers.

partypoker still flags in comparison to other big poker rivals, but with some exciting guaranteed festivals and live events tied in, it could be time to revisit the sleeping giant.

About partypoker

The Gibraltar-licensed firm was set up in 2001 and quickly became the world's largest online poker operator. With WPT host Mike Sexton at the wheel partypoker refined its poker offerings and enjoyed lots of success in the US.

A crackdown on "illegal" poker sites led partypoker to exit the American market (and pay a massive fine) while big rivals continued to operate there. Arguably, partypoker lost out but after Nevada and New Jersey opened up in 2013 partypoker was at the head of the queue. It now offers a dedicated New Jersey-facing site in conjunction with Borgata Casino as well as online casino games.

After buddying up with leading European sportsbook bwin, partypoker was taken over by GVC Holdings.

Software

partypoker's software works on Mac and PC, with the download client getting regular updates on your desktop.

Even partypoker's most dedicated fans would agree that the software was well past its sell-by date. The client has had a massive re-haul recently, with a new lobby, table layout, and features coming in. The good news is it's pretty slick, and the tiling is much improved.

The customer account area has been expanded, with tabs for all your bonus and promotions offers, and a running tally of your Loyalty level. In comes Achievements - special "missions" that sit on your profile when you finish them (getting dealt aces, winning a cash pot, winning a tournament, etc).

Mobile play is possible, and partypoker recently introduced a new Quick Seat lobby for smartphones. They have also made it easier to multi-table on your tablet or touch-screen device.

Player Level

partypoker has never been known as the home of the uber-pro, and it's still possible to find some fairly friendly action on the site. Hit the $0.10/$0.25 tables - popular at weekends - or take on the serious grinders in big events like Powerfest and the Power Series.

There's a much better range of tournaments at partypoker than ever before, and the stronger players are migrating back to the site. Satellites are still fairly easy but partypoker still suffers from the perennial problem of not guaranteeing enough seats into large events.

Stakes & Cash Games

Partypoker's cash action isn't (and hasn't been for a few years) up to par with big rivals like PokerStars. However, there's still plenty of Hold'em action available. NLHE stakes start at $0.01/$0.02 but it's possible to see a little action at the $200/400 levels.

Hold'em and Omaha dominate the cash games, with a little Stud thrown in. Don't go looking for HORSE in these cash game lobbies.

Fastforward is partypoker's version of fast-fold poker. Sit down, and when you fold you will be moved tables. Fastforward tables are available at a range of stakes in NLHE only, and you can play up to four at a time.

Tournaments

partypoker has totally rehauled its tournament schedule in the past 12 months. It's now possible to enjoy some massive series online, especially the Power Series and Powerfest events.

The Power Series is split into boxing "weights" (Featherweight, Middleweight, etc), each with a different buy-in and guarantee. The $22 Middleweight tourneys with a $3k guarantee can often see some overlay. The High Roller carries a $530 buy-in and $100k guarantee.

partypoker has its own take on the jackpot Sit 'n Gos: Sit & Go Hero. These short-handed SNGs start off with a randomly-assigned prizepool which is dished out at the end of the game.

On the bigger end of the scale is partypoker's links with its live tours. The new partypoker MILLIONS has plenty of online satellites into the £5,000-buyin live big one. There are also satellites available into the World Poker Tour live tournaments, who partypoker acquired a few years ago.

Poker Bonuses & VIP

You want a refer-a-friend bonus? You got it. You want various cash game, Sit & Go and tournament 'Missions' to bump up your account? You got those too. partypoker also runs a Loyalty Rewards programme where players can earn big points every time they play. Tourney tickets up to $22, $100 and $530 can be won as you rise through the tiers, as well as store rewards unlocks.

Customer Support & Banking

partypoker offers good customer support 24/7 through the site. Live Chat and phone is available to players in over two dozen countries, but some international charges may apply. There is a dedicated Cashier team to handle payment-related queries.

Banking is free for most countries, but always check - the site has had some problems with Europeans depositing via credit card. The usual range of debit, credit and prepaid cards can be used for banking, as well as e-Wallets and fast bank transfers.

Summary

partypoker has fought back in recent years with new software, new promotions, and bigger cash offers. The players are still pretty soft, thankfully, and there's certainly opportunity to grab some overlay in the site's many tournaments. Download the great software today and head straight to the SNGs, MTTs, or cash games to start building up your Achievements.