888 Poker Review

Software & Graphics

888poker is the poker arm of online casino giants 888. The software is generally very good and efficient with the graphics and usability being clean.

The stability is very strong, and I haven’t experienced the software crash on me once whilst using it.

Many improvements have been made to the software over the years, and the result is a stable and effective platform. One of the key features is the ability to multi table many tables at once and the performance of the software when doing this is actually very smooth.

The software is available for both Windows and Apple Mac platforms, and is also available for mobile and tablet platforms on iOS (iPad / iPhone) and Android.

Game Availability

Player Traffic

888 poker is a popular site and enjoys a good volume of traffic. They do not accept players from the USA, but 888 Poker remain a large and well-known site, with consistently available games across most formats.

At peak times, 888 Poker sees thousands of cash game players, though exact numbers vary. Tournament traffic is good due to the large selection of satellite tournaments into the big live poker events and also daily guaranteed $5k and $10k tournaments.

Game Variety

888 Poker has excellent game variety including most popular forms of poker with Texas Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo, Sit & Go Tournaments, Multi-Table Tournaments, Casino Games, Sports Betting, Bingo all being offered in No Limit and Limit varieties.

The traffic is heavily weighted on Texas Holdem, but the other games do get a number of tables going during peak times. You will find stake levels across the full range from micro limits of $0.01/$0.02 all the way up to $250/$500, with the focus of the traffic being on the micro to mid stakes tables.

They also offer a fast fold version of poker called “Snap Poker” and webcam poker tables called “Poker Face2Face“.

Player Toughness

888 Poker offers a player pool that leans toward casual and novice users, creating opportunities for more experienced players

This is because 888 attracts a wide range of players, including many recreational users who also play casino games through the broader 888 platform. This mix contributes to a generally more relaxed playing environment, particularly at the lower stakes.

Always Gamble Responsibly

Take regular breaks

Bet what you can afford

Always set limits

Never chase losses

Customer Friendliness

Customer Support

The support service offered by 888 Poker is excellent and we found the response times to be well within 24 hours. Support is available through email and live chat. Availability and response times may vary. We found the staff to have a good knowledge and the ability to resolve our sample queries quickly.

Deposit / Withdrawal Options

A wide range of deposit options are on offer and with most methods the funds are available in your player account within 10 minutes. For a more detailed list see the related section in the data section of this review.

Withdrawals for me were very quick and I had the money back in my account within 24 hours. Some methods may take a little longer, but there is good information both on the cashiers page, and on their website to ensure that you know what to expect before choosing a deposit / withdrawal method.

You may need to provide proof of identity if you are withdrawing large amounts. All these safeguards are in place to protect players and their money and to prevent money laundering.

Rake

The rake is the commission charged by the poker room and is in line with the industry average, with better than average rates at the lower stake levels with 1cent for each 20cents in the pot up to a maximum of $0.50 taken out of the pot up to $0.12/$0.50 stake levels and a maximum of $1 taken up to $1/$2 stake levels. On the higher stakes this rises to a $5 maximum.

Bonus / Promotions

888 has impressed us and been one of our favourites for many years which means we have a long term partnership with them to ensure players from the Poker Professor Community get the best welcome package available when you sign up to 888 using any link on Poker Professor.

New players can claim a first deposit bonus of up to £50 after account verification and qualifying activity.

On top of the welcome package there are excellent ongoing promotions, with a player loyalty / rewards scheme that is amongst the best in the industry and plenty of regular freerolls and promotional tournaments. 888 Poker has run promotions including seats to major live poker events, though availability and prize details vary over time.

Security

Founded in 1997, 888 Poker is one of the pioneers of online poker and has remained a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, reflecting its long-standing presence in the industry.

888 Poker is licensed and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner and is certified by eCOGRA for fairness and security.

While Gibraltar has its own regulatory framework, players based in Great Britain are covered by 888’s separate licence issued by the UK Gambling Commission.