- Easy, fast and intuitive design
- Spin & Bet and xG bets
- Variety of payment methods
- MyBet
Pokerstars is one of the most popular online poker rooms in the world, if not the most; and at the end of 2015 he decided to take another step in his business and launch into the world of sports betting. This is how Betstars was born, a brand that developed internationally from 2016. In the turbulent 2020, the group has decided to give a new twist and rename the bookmaker Pokerstars Sports.
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It is not the first bookmaker to change its name, and it has the security guarantee offered by the Pokerstars brand. It is clear that with this new identity the link between Pokerstars and the sports betting house is reinforced. The result is a very complete portal, where the user can use the same account to play poker, bet on any sport and even play at Pokerstars Casino.
What does Pokerstars Sports offer us?
The Pokerstars seal generate excessive expectations among users, but the truth is that Pokerstars Sports does not disappoint. We have the usual aspects of a betting house, with a wide variety of sports and markets, with the exception of Asian markets; but there are also elements that make it a unique betting house. Spin&Bet is the best example of this, a unique product that we will not find on any other bookie.
The navigation on your page is quite simple, although it is true that things get complicated in the Help Center. At the top of the page, we have quick access to the most popular sports, which can also be expanded in the A-Z tab, as well as access to the live betting section. This allows Philippines to quickly access the event we are looking for. In the center of the Pokerstars Sports home page, the most important events are displayed, and the bet slip will be on the right-hand side.
We have a wide variety of promotions, among which could not be missing a kind of VIP program, something that does not surprise Philippines coming from PokerStars. We can play from the computer or take advantage of the Pokerstars Sports app, available on Android and iOS, only for bets although the betting, casino and poker accounts will be linked.
We can use a wide variety of payment methods, with the presence of Apple Pay standing out, which is very uncommon in the Spanish online gaming sector in general, and allows Philippines to make fast deposits. What has not left Philippines so satisfied is the improvable customer service, but we will delve a little deeper into all these issues once we have tried Pokerstars Sports.
Sports and markets
We offer over 30 sports to bet on, including boxing and MMA, as well as all motor sports - Formula 1, motorcycle racing, IndyCar, NASCAR - grouped under the same heading. As expected, football, basketball, and tennis are the most popular sports and offer the most tournaments and daily events, but we accept bets on any sport. We also provide eSports betting options (Dota 2, LoL, CSGO) and even political bets, such as on the next Pope or weather conditions.
A good football match can have up to 300 available markets. The bets on advanced player statistics, such as the number of passes, tackles or shots on goal they will make, are attention-grabbing, although we miss Asian handicap lines. Nevertheless, we have a good number of markets available, with new options such as corners added. In any sport, there is a good selection of markets, with the added feature of being able to create your own bet in MyBet for football or basketball.
Dues
Although not their strong point, we cannot say that Pokerstars Sports' odds are bad. It is not usual for them to offer the best odds for an event - they do so on occasion - but the differences with other operators are minimal. If we look at our betting comparator, we see that they are usually in the middle range, sometimes higher and sometimes lower. What we cannot overlook is that the Superodds and exclusive markets such as MyBet or xG bets allow Philippines to access higher odds than usual.
Live section (live betting)
The live betting section of Pokerstars Sports has been gradually improving since its beginnings as Betstars, and we can bet on sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball or darts, and even on eSports. By default, if we click on a sport, we see the minute and score and the odds for the winner of the match, although we can configure it to show another market. If we enter an event, we have a good variety of markets.
The statistical information provided is quite comprehensive, especially in sports like tennis where having an idea of how the match is progressing and what has happened in the last few points is crucial for in-play betting, especially if we're betting on the current game. The only downside we could point out in this section, which offers similar odds to prematch, is that there is no live streaming service available.
Accepted payment methods
Pokerstars Sports offers Philippines one of the widest ranges of payment methods available. You can make deposits with your VISA, MasterCard or Maestro bank card, through Neosurf, MuchBetter, Rapid Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, Trustly, PaySafeCard, local bank transfer or ecoPayz. In addition, from your iPhone or iPad you can also deposit via Apple Pay. VISA, MasterCard, Skrill, Neteller and MuchBetter - only from PC - allow Philippines to make a fast deposit.
When withdrawing our winnings from Pokerstars Sports, we do not have as many options, although we cannot complain. We can withdraw using our VISA, MuchBetter, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, ecoPayz, WIRECASHOUTS or make a direct bank transfer, as well as Apple Pay. If not otherwise specified in the method used, the minimum deposit is $10 and earnings will be available immediately. Withdrawals will be processed in a reasonable amount of time, but Pokerstars Sports must verify them to authorize them.
How to register and deposit at Pokerstars Sports?
In the upper right corner of the Pokerstars Sports webpage there is a green button that says "Create account." Click on that to open the pop-up window where you need to add your email, username, and password, as well as complete all the required information. Once you have filled out all the forms, you will be registered and able to start playing... provided you have funds in your account.
To make a deposit, we just have to go to the ATM and select the amount to deposit, usually a minimum of $10, and the method we will use to complete the transaction. The steps to follow depend on the method used, but we just have to follow the instructions and the money will be available instantly. Remember that with some methods, you can activate the quick deposit feature to deposit directly from Pokerstars Sports, saving time in the process.
Pokerstars Sports App
Pokerstars Sports offers free apps for iOS and Android, allowing users to manage their bets, add or withdraw funds through the Mobile Cashier, and more. On the Pokerstars Sports website, you will find a link to download the betting app for your Android device -it is not available on the Play Store- while iOS users can find it in the App Store. This application is separate from the poker and casino apps as well as other apps from PokerStars group.
Security
A betting house with the endorsement of Pokerstars, one of the big names in the global gaming industry, should not raise any doubts about safety. In any case, it has all the necessary licenses from the AGCO to operate in Philippines, including betting, poker, and the various casino games it offers. On its website, you can find icons for Safe Gaming, Responsible Play, +18, or Self-Exclusion.
Pokerstars Sports takes the necessary measures to protect the data and funds of their clients. For example, the betting balance is kept in separate accounts that are not used for operating expenses. Additionally, they are with one of the leading European banks in the sector, and if all Pokerstars Sports users decided to withdraw their funds simultaneously, the bookie could meet the requests. To protect your account, in addition to verifying it, you be asked for additional documentation when requesting a withdrawal.
Customer Support
It's surprising that an operator like Pokerstars Sports offers a customer support service without a phone number for user assistance or live chat. If we go to the help page, under "Contact Us" a form opens up that we will have to fill out with our problem, and Pokerstars Sports will respond to Philippines as quickly as possible. In the form itself, we are invited to see the Help Center, where we do find quite useful information.
In fact, we have even video tutorials on how to bet on different sports, or a section with the most frequently asked questions and doubts. However, this section could be more intuitive, as navigating through the help center is not always easy and sometimes the information is quite scattered. Finally, we can access their official profiles on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for Philippines, as well as an English YouTube channel.
Pokerstars Sports: Opinions and conclusion
Overall, Pokerstars is a fairly comprehensive operator, with markets that aren't always found at all sports betting houses and a powerful live betting section. Novice users will find a good selection of sports and markets, including the most popular sports and events. Although it's true that the odds aren't the best - that doesn't mean they're bad - and that cause this profile to lean towards other operators.
However, we have the opportunity to take advantage of the tools offered by Pokerstars Sports to improve odds, which can attract more advanced players. Tools such as MyBet can have great value if we know how to utilize them, and Spin&Bet offers a unique opportunity to improve our betting profits. Furthermore, we have very specific markets that many of these players seek.
All in all, we are faced with a very complete betting house where any player will feel comfortable. It is true that customer service should improve, and live broadcasts would be the icing on the cake; but overall, Pokerstars Sports should meet the demands of most bettors. All of this with the security and confidence that the Pokerstars stamp offers.
PokerStars betting house, with an exclusive product such as Spin&Bet in addition to a good range of promotions.
- Easy, fast and intuitive design
- Spin & Bet and xG bets
- Variety of payment methods
- MyBet
- Few customer service channels
- Does not offer live broadcasts