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For the most part, any negatives to PartyPoker’s site are minimal, as they seem to have the important things dialed in. PartyPoker’s customer service and responsiveness is above average, but it is their cashier service that sets them above the rest. Along with the usual multitude of cashier options, PartyPoker offers the fastest deposits/withdrawals through their exclusive iGM-Pay service. Once you’ve qualified for the iGM-Pay program, deposits are instant via an electronic funds transfer account that they set up with your checking account. Hopefully you’ll be withdrawing winnings at some point in the future as well. It took two business days from the time I initiated a withdrawal via iGM-Pay until it was cleared into my checking account. PartyGaming software platform changes in early 2006 have not only brought about vast improvements to the PartyPoker site overall, but now blackjack and PartyCasino.com access has been integrated as well. So players can go to PartyCasino.com and be able to play several varieties of video poker, blackjack, slots and progressive jackpot slots – all from the same PartyAccount. |
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Very functional, smoothe and easy to navigate. Also, I’ve had minimal connection issues, and am allowed to play on four tables at once. In the beginning of 2006, PartyPoker continued with their new platform integration, full of new features and software enhancements. Some drastic changes include a new, sleeker lobby interface, with improvements over the previous one in both looks and functionality. Also, another new feature allows you to resize table views. So now you can tile, cascade and customize your playing view to better fit your game style. (Software may work with Macs using Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac software.) |
Games: Variety/Action |
9.5 |
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Any characteristic PartyPoker may be lacking here are (for the most part) irrelevant to the real money outcome of your game, and is made up for by the 24-hour action on almost every type of table game. For “flop games,” they offer the usual Limit, Pot-Limit and No-Limit variations of Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo. PartyPoker also has great action on their 7-Card Stud tables, with 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo games available as well. For tournament fans, there are always Single Table/Sit-Go tournaments going around the clock, and plenty of action (sometimes too much, if you believe there’s such a thing) in Multi-Table Tournaments. |
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Players: Variety/Action |
9.5 |
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Having the largest online pool of players provides a multitude of PartyPoker tables with constant action. The site overall maintains a consistent share of weak/passive and strong/aggressive players, so more options are available for you to find the right kind of game at a table that may suit your style well. |
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A score of “8.2” is slightly above the median score here. Recently, they introduced the PartyPoker.com Players Club, which is their version of a player-points program in which the points can be used to purchase merchandise or gain free entry into cash tournaments. Their flagship tournament is the PartyPoker.com Million tournament, which is a charter World Poker Tour event, featuring players battling it out on a cruise ship for a multi-million dollar prize pool. The 20% up to $100 initial deposit bonus (min. $50 deposit) is just average. Also, they offer frequent reload bonuses, and the requirements for all bonuses are relatively easy to complete.* The 20% up to $100 bonus is most beneficial for those planning to make larger inital deposits and be active players. For those just trying out real money play or PartyPoker, they may prefer the instant $25 with minimum $50 initial deposit bonus offer*.
*For the 20% bonus, the entire bonus is usually released and may be cashed out after playing a required amount of raked poker hands. For the $25 bonus offer, the entire $25 bonus will be available for game play upon first deposit. However, the bonus amount may be restricted from being cashed out until a required amount of rraked hands have been played. To find our more about of your bonus status and/or requirements, go to your "PartyAccount" page and click on "Bonus Details."
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PartyPoker’s rake is slightly higher compared to other sites. Although their rake structure is more simple than others, they do give more rake value for games with higher table limits (which is not an uncommon, but their rates are). For rake details, go to the PartyPoker site, click on the “ How to Play ” tab, then on the menu to the left, click “ Using Our Software,” and then " Rake and Blind Structure." |
