PokerStars made its grand arrival in the iGaming space in 2015. Now a few years down the track, this big-name brand has expanded far beyond its eponymous poker to offer slots and live casino games from the very best software providers. And guess what? There’s even a sportsbook available.

PokerStars distinguishes itself from similar iGaming platforms with its top-notch security. Not many Irish online casinos can match PokerStars' authority, as it holds five gaming licences from leading regulatory bodies like the MGA and UKGC. There are now doubts about legitimacy here.

Not only does it look sharp, but the website is easily navigable and mobile-friendly. So can we have this site down as 100% perfect for Irish gaming fans? Well, we’ll need to take a closer look. And we’ll do just that in this PokerStars Casino review. 

If you’re an Irish online casino player who loves getting a little extra, you’ll be delighted to find multiple offers available from PokerStars. There are bonuses exclusive to both the poker and casino area of the site, so no matter which games usually catch your attention, there’s something to amplify your gameplay.

New PokerStars players kick things off with a 100% match bonus. While the poker section has a higher bonus value than the casino, both are worthwhile.

We’ve reviewed the terms and conditions attached to each promo. Here are all the key points:

• The welcome package requires a €20 minimum deposit. For the poker offer, it’s €10.
• You can only claim the bonuses if you fund your account using Visa or MasterCard.
• There’s an associated code for each promo.
• The bonus is valid for seven days.
• You can’t stake more than €5 per game round when using the casino bonus.
• You must earn five redemption points per €1 of the bonus to satisfy the wagering requirements. 

Irish players who prefer poker get a lower minimum deposit than casino gamers. However, the validity period is short. Also notice that the wagering requirements aren’t done by a classic multiple but by a redemption points system, which we appreciate can be a bit confusing when you’re a new player. 

The main welcome package is available to use on live dealer titles, but no dedicated live casino bonus is available at PokerStars.

PokerStars offers a superb sports betting experience. But unfortunately, the promos page doesn’t show any sports bonuses right now. 

As much as we’d love to see one, there’s no bingo bonus available at PokerStars at the time of writing. 

Unlike the standard VIP programme you’ll find at most online casinos, PokerStars offers players a unique Rewards programme that’s packed full of exclusive perks.

Players earn reward points as they play casino games or place sports bets on the site. There are six tiers in total. The more you play, the higher you climb in the levels. 

You can retain your reward points to reach the highest level or exchange them in the store for worthwhile gifts. 

PokerStars Casino scores high when it comes to safety. The site is operated by TSG Interactive Gaming Europe Limited, a renowned name in the iGaming space. To highlight the operator’s legitimacy, it holds five gaming licences from the Malta Gaming Authority, the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, the UK Gambling Commission, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, and the Romanian National Gambling Office. That should be plenty of reassurance that the iGaming platform is under strict regulations to ensure safe and fair gaming.

Let’s break safety features down in a little more detail. 

New PokerStars players must complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) process as one of the measures to prevent underage gambling. Thankfully, it's a simple process as the casino only requires proof of identity and proof of address. Simply send them to [email protected]. Then kick back and wait while the KYC team reviews the documents within 24 hours.

PokerStars Casino flashes badges from leading game verification companies like Gaming Labs and the International Betting Integrity Association on its site. These bodies vet the poker and casino lobby to ensure they house only games with truly randomised outcomes.

PokerStars uses full encryption across its website, ensuring no third party can access your information. Furthermore, the platform always adheres to GDPR laws when handling players’ details. Gamers can always request to know how the casino handles data collection, usage, processing, and storage.

PokerStars Casino understands that gambling should only be for entertainment purposes. They offer various responsible gaming tools like account limits and self-exclusion to ensure players keep control of their betting habits. You can set up time-out periods for 12 hours, one day, seven days, 30 days, 60 days, or 120 days. 

If you wanted to stay away from PokerStars for six months, go for the self-exclusion option. To access this, navigate to your account area, and click ‘Responsible Gaming’. Then, select the option to ‘exclude me from playing.’ If you wish to stay off gaming for longer, contact the casino support team.

PokerStars Casino also works with GamblersAnonymous, GamCare, and Gambling Therapy, renowned organisations offering professional help to people struggling with problem gambling. 

Whenever you encounter issues as a PokerStars player, turn to the following support channels: 

• Live chat
• Email:  [email protected] 
• Support ticket
• FAQ
• Help Centre

You can easily access these channels when you visit the Help page on the PokerStars website. The Help Centre and FAQ are well-detailed, offering workable solutions to many of your issues. When you submit a support ticket or use email, expect replies within a few hours.

Live chat offers the quickest support, as you get to engage the customer team in real time. Sadly, Irish players don't get phone support, but the live chat feature more than makes up for it.

The PokerStars website is home to an extensive game selection from top providers, and you won’t be surprised to hear there’s plenty of poker on offer. Whether you prefer slots, table games, or live dealer titles, you’ve literally thousands of options here. So let’s run through some of the best here at PokerStars Casino. 

From the name, you already know poker is the main attraction at PokerStars. This particular game lobby is the first page you arrive at once you log in at PokerStars. As expected, there’s a great collection of titles here, and our top picks include:

• Texas Hold’em
• Regular poker
• Omaha poker
• Home games
• Tournaments
• Live poker events.

When it comes to table games, PokerStars Casino doesn’t perform too well. The lobby houses just around 20 titles, a relatively low count for an Irish online casino. Nevertheless, the titles that are available are still worth some praise.

From our experience, here’s a few good places to start: 

• American Roulette
• Premium Blackjack
• High Roller Roulette
• Classic Blackjack
• Tens or Better.

Slots are a different story, with more than 2,000 games to play at PokerStars Casino - making this one of the top online slots sites around. No other category on the website comes close to an offering of this scale. You'll find options with unique features like jackpots and megaways, which each offer many more ways to win. These games are from big names like Pragmatic Play, Evolution, NetEnt, and QuickSpin, so expect stunning graphics and top-notch sound quality.

We recommend giving these few a go: 

• Eye of Horus
• Gold Rush
• The Hand of Midas
• Book of Dead
• Big Bass Splash.

PokerStars houses more live casino titles than it does table games, which is something we see often at the newer sites. The live dealer lobby has more than 100 games, mainly from Evolution and Pragmatic Play.

Our favourites in this category were:

• Monopoly Big Baller
• Free Bet Live Blackjack Online
• Lighting Roulette
• Crazy Time
• Sic Bo Deluxe
• Teen Patti.

PokerStars ticks all the boxes you’d expect from a quality, legit Irish gaming site. With five licences to its name and the securest encryption tech throughout, the question of the site's safety and security has been laid to rest. Not to mention the game verifications from Gambling Labs and the International Betting Integrity Association, so you know you’re always getting a fair outcome. 

The casino houses poker, slots, table games, and live casino titles from leading developers like Pragmatic Play, Evolution, Playtech, NetEnt, QuickSpin, and Red Tiger Gaming. There's also a mobile app for iOS and Android users, which is something we always love to see. It's a contender for the best casino app we've reviewed this year. 

The payment methods available range from bank cards to eWallets, Skrill, Neteller, and ApplePay. This is also one of a growing number of PayPal casinos. As a result, deposits and withdrawals are fast. Instant in most cases.  

Sadly, PokerStars doesn’t feature specific bonuses for things like bingo and live casino, and their wagering requirement takes a different approach than other online casinos in Ireland. Even we found it a touch confusing. If you struggle with it, you can always contact the support team for more details on how the rollover works – they’re quick and responsive after all. 

Regardless of these minor downsides, Irish players looking for a professional and secure casino site will have a thrilling adventure at PokerStars.