The home of online poker

Welcome to PokerStars – the home of online poker. Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn, or a seasoned player on the hunt for major titles, our platform offers everything you need to enjoy the world’s favorite card game safely and securely. 

Experience the thrill of competing in the most prestigious online poker tournaments on the planet. PokerStars is home to the most anticipated series in online poker, WCOOP and SCOOP, where champions are made and huge prize pools are up for grabs. You don’t have to wait for a major series though; every day of the week we offer big guarantees across a wide variety of poker tournaments.

From Texas Hold’em to Omaha, PokerStars not only offers a huge selection of game variants, but there are also plenty of different tournament formats and buy-in levels to choose from too. Which means whatever your style, there’s always a poker game for you. If you’re in the mood for something fast-paced, then head to our Zoom tables, as soon as you fold, you’re moved to a new table and immediately dealt a new hand.

For over two decades, millions of players have made PokerStars their destination for online poker. Our platform is fully licensed and regulated, which means the games we offer are fair and can be trusted by our players. If you’re a new player and wanting to join the community, check to see if you’re eligible to claim a poker bonus as a Welcome Offer.

If you’re new to poker, or just looking to refine your skills, our How To Play Poker section has an abundance of material to help you. Learn the fundamentals like the hierarchy of poker hands, or go more in-depth by learning the rules of all our available poker games. PokerStars offers you everything you need to grow from a beginner to a confident player.

Our Play Money tables are a great place to learn how the game is played and play poker for free. You can get familiar with the gameplay and product, without having to put your own money at stake, until you feel ready for the real money tables. Even if you’re an experienced player, Play Money can still be a fun option to get some time at the table.

Poker should always be enjoyable. That’s why we provide responsible gaming tools and resources to help players stay in control. We recommend setting deposit limits and if playing stops being fun, then take a break. We’re committed to providing a safe environment for our players.

Yes, online poker is legal, provided you play with an operator, like PokerStars, that is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority. This regulation helps to ensure, amongst other things, that:

• Games are fair and independently tested to industry standards.
• Player funds are protected and held in segregated accounts.
• Responsible gaming tools are available to help players stay safe.
• Rules on age verification are adhered to.

Yes, playing online poker should be safe and fair, if you play at a site that is fully licensed. Licensed sites are tested and audited to ensure fairness. 

• Maintaining the security and integrity of the games should be a top priority, like it is at PokerStars. 
• That’s why an independently verified random number generator is used to produce a random shuffle.
• PokerStars has one of the most advanced random number generators, which uses a ground-breaking system based on quantum theory.
• Alongside cutting-edge technology, teams of game integrity experts ensure no player gains an unfair advantage at the tables.

Players buy in to a poker tournament, receive a stack of chips, and compete with fellow players for glory and a share of the prize pool.

• Usually, a tournament ends when one player has all the chips. They win the biggest share of the prize pool. 
• Tournament prize pools vary in size, reaching massive amounts in major online series like SCOOP and WCOOP at PokerStars.
• Blinds and/or antes gradually increase, forcing action and preventing players from stalling.
• The majority of the tournament buy-in contributes towards the prize pool, while a small portion covers the tournament fee.
• Tournaments differ from cash games where players can leave when they want and play with chips that represent real money at the table.

Yes, you can play poker on mobile with most trusted sites. Games are optimized to look great whether you want to play on desktop or on your mobile device.

• Most mobile poker apps, including PokerStars, are available for iOS and Android.
• Mobile poker gives you the chance to play your favorite poker games on the go.
• Choose from a wide variety of cash games and tournaments. There’s always a game running.
• Enjoy the flexibility of jumping into a quick game even when you’re away from your computer.

The standard poker hand rankings start with the unbeatable Royal Flush at the top and descend to the weakest, the High Card.

• Top tier: 1. Royal Flush, 2. Straight Flush, 3. Four of a Kind, 4. Full House
• Strong hands: 5. Flush, 6. Straight, 7. Three of a Kind, 8. Two Pair 
• Lower ranks: 9. One Pair, 10. High Card
• For a detailed breakdown, visit our complete poker hand rankings guide.