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Home / Uncategorized / PokerStars 10th Anniversary review: Milestones to go before we sleep
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Hand #1. Imagine that. Imagine being one of PokerStars’ first employees and watching the very first hand hit computer screen. It was 2001, a full ten years ago in real time. It might as well have been another dimension.

At this hour PokerStars has dealt more than 70 billion hands. Just a couple of weeks ago, Germany’s koenigskebap won more than $73,000 for being the lucky guy in the right place at the right time. Indeed, it was he who won the big 70 billionth milestone hand. It was he who stood at yet another of the important intersections on the PokerStars Road to 100 Billion.

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PokerStars 70 billionth hand

It’s sort of hard to comprehend when you think about it. Seventy billion in ten years, and it’s only getting faster. After all, as we sit here in 2011, it’s been less than a year ago that PokerStars dealt its 60 billionth hand. That one went to Michael Rumsey, a 26-year-old tax adviser who had been home from work on the Isle of Man and spending an afternoon playing cards. Not only did he win the 60 billionth hand and more than $100,000, he got to go down to the PokerStars offices for a sip of champagne.

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Michael Rumsey

Understand, the entire idea of a company celebrating a milestone is no new thing. How many times have we heard about the millionth customer of Hank’s Oil and Lube getting a free tire rotation? With PokerStars, however, there are a couple of important differences. First, there is a lot of money involved. The 70 billionth hand promotion gave out more than $750,000 in prizes. Second, these milestones happen very frequently.

It took PokerStars until 2007 to deal its 10 billionth hand (that one went to justine0003 for a cool $100,000). In the next four years, PokerStars dealt another 60 billion hands. The 50 billionth hand hit in 2010 and awarded Germany’s “tbvle” more than $50,000. Now we’re closing in on 75 billion. Even if you don’t know much about math, factorials, exponential growth, or witchcraft, it’s pretty clear something pretty crazy has been going on.

PokerStars 10 billionth hand

Now, we strap on our running shoes and start heading for the 75 billionth hand. It likely won’t be this year but it’s not far away.

For full details on PokerStars Milestone hands, see the Road to 100 Billion homepage.

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We are publishing these daily review articles throughout November as PokerStars gears up to celebrate its 10th Anniversary.

Previous reviews:

World Cup of Poker
The Bear Necessities
SCOOP, hold the front page
Slaying the EPT monkey
Pole position
When two cards just won’t do
ElkY, one name says it all
Going live at the PCA
It’s a bling thing
Online wizards cast their spell
The EPT circus
Sporting greats
Making world champions
Party treats

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