- +6 million players
- Cash top tables
- Tournaments and satellites
- Play from the browser
Talking about Winamax means talking about the number one poker site in France. It presents itself as one of the great alternatives to the dominance of PokerStars, and let's see why. But before we do that, let me tell you that this online poker room arrived in the Philippines back in 2018 when it obtained the corresponding licenses from the General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) to operate in our country. In addition to playing poker, we can also enjoy sports betting, but it does not offer casino games.
Table of contents
In its origins, it focused exclusively on the world of poker. However, coinciding with the 2014 Brazil World Cup, it made the leap to sports betting. In the past, it put its logo on the Granada CF jersey, and in France it is the official sponsor of numerous top-tier football teams such as Lille, Lens, Troyes, Strasbourg, or Stade de Reims. Its registered office is in Paris, and it has representation in Philippines on Madrid's Paseo de la Castellana.
Our Winamax experience
As soon as we land on Winamax's website, we are presented with the option to download their software onto our computer. Remember that we can play poker either through the browser or by downloading Winamax's software. This is simply a copy of what we find on the website, so the decision is in the hands of the user. However, we recommend not logging in simultaneously on both the website and the program to avoid issues.
As usual, Texas Hold'Em and Omaha are the modalities that dominate the spotlight at poker tables. However, we can find alternatives such as Razz, 7-Card Stud, 2-7 Triple Draw, or 8-Game in the Cash Game modality to expand our horizons. Precisely, the Cash Game is one of the great attractions of playing poker at Winamax, as we have numerous options to enjoy the game.
Another strong point of Winamax are the satellite tournaments it offers. However, the offer in this regard could not be more complete since we can play numerous tournaments beyond the satellites. Especially on weekends. At this point, it is worth noting that Winamax offers Philippines extensive information not only about tournaments, but also about the poker experience. Moreover, it even has a Poker School or the testimony of its brightest players.
For the most outstanding players, we have different promotions, among which the freerolls stand out. All this, without forgetting the Winamax loyalty program based on the miles we accumulate both playing poker and in sports betting. As you accumulate miles, you will unlock numerous benefits. In addition, you can spend them in the Winamax store. Let's take a closer look at the offer of this online poker room.
Games offer
As expected, Winamax's poker offering consists mainly of Texas Hold'em and Omaha, with clear dominance of the former. However, if we go to the cash tables we find some alternatives. Another aspect to highlight are the tournaments, whether they are satellites or not. Below we delve into the poker offering available at Winamax.
✅Poker
We have already mentioned that Hold'em and Omaha are the two main poker game modes on Winamax. It is also interesting to note that we can filter tables based on buy-ins or high, medium, low or micro limit blinds, which depend on the game. In addition to those, there are also free games and tickets available.
✅ Tournaments
At Winamax Poker, we offer numerous tournaments. One of the most popular ones is the Expresso, with a prize pool of one million dollars and buy-ins starting from 2$. This tournament has a prime spot on the Winamax software. If we go to the "Tournaments" section, we have different options for Hold'Em, Omaha, and other game modes. A new tournament starts every 5 minutes, and we can apply the filters mentioned above.
✅ Events
Expresso itself offers Philippines access to the Winamax Series, one of the major online poker events organized by this room. The best players can qualify for this tournament. Another highlight event is the Liga Odiseo. Once again, we will find satellites on Winamax to qualify for the events it organizes in different locations throughout Philippines.
✅ Cash Game
This is undoubtedly one of Winamax's strong points as it offers Philippines different alternatives when playing cash games. And not only because we can choose between Texas Hold'Em No-Limit or Pot-Limit Omaha, or because we have micro-limits with blinds of one and two cents up to high limit games with blinds up to $5/$10 and a maximum stack of $1,000; but also because of the different cash game tables:
- Fight club: "king of the court" in its poker version. In this mode we switch opponents every hand with the goal of becoming the kings of the ring
- Short track: unpublished tables that we can enter with up to five big blinds
- Go fast: fast tables for a more speedy and exciting game
- Incognito Tables: here, players do not have a username. This makes it harder for you to be recognized... or to know who you are playing with
- Private tables: you can create your own games with friends thanks to Winamax's cash game private tables
Payment methods
When it comes to completing our deposits, Winamax allows Philippines to do so through our Visa or MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, or Paypal bank card. The deposit will be available instantly, with a minimum deposit of $15. Another way to make an instant deposit is through PaySafeCard prepaid cards, as long as they are purchased in Philippines. In this case, we can deposit from $10. The website indicates that we can also make "important deposits" through bank transfer. In this case, the money will take a few days to reach our gaming account.
These same options are available for withdrawing funds, with the logical exception of PaySafeCard. To process a withdrawal, in addition to having previously verified the account, you will need to go to My Profile > Withdraw Funds, and there you can choose the withdrawal method and the amount to be charged. Once the operation has been approved, you will receive your Winamax earnings within the usual timeframe according to the chosen method.
Security
Winamax is a 100% safe operator, as evidenced by the various licenses granted by the DGOJ over the years. We can enjoy a trusted environment for playing poker, where we are guaranteed that both our personal data and the connection or banking information are protected. The Winamax software or app is also fully reliable. If it weren't, it wouldn't enjoy the great popularity it has.
Just like in any other online gaming operator or poker room, you will have to verify your account at Winamax to enjoy a complete gaming experience. This includes access to withdrawals, promotions, etc. As usual, the Winamax website displays the +18, Self-Exclusion, Play Well or Game Responsibly seals, as well as the FEJAR seal, the Spanish Foundation of Rehabilitated Gambling Players.
App/software
To play Winamax poker from our PC, all we have to do is go to the Poker section and initiate the download of its software. Clicking on "Install Winamax" we can download Winamax poker, whose software is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux. Once the download is complete, you just have to install the program as you normally do and you can start playing poker on Winamax after logging in with your usual user.
If you want to take your favorite poker tables and tournaments with you wherever you go, you also have the option of downloading the Winamax app from either the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). From the Winamax website, it will redirect Philippines to the platform for download. With this app, we can not only play poker, but also manage our sports bets on Winamax.
Customer Support
The main drawback of Winamax since it arrived in Philippines is its weak customer support service. While most operators -not only poker rooms, but also betting houses or casinos- include live chat or virtual assistant, the only way to contact Winamax is through the online form found in the contact section. Their Twitter profile (@Winamax_Espana) also states that we can write to [email protected].
You can also send a letter to Winamax at CS 50746 75345 Paris Cedex 07 or a fax to (+33)01 45 50 19 89. At least, Winamax offers Philippines abundant information about their games, tournaments, etc. In this sense, few online rooms can compete with the French poker colossus. As usual, we have the FAQs section where we can consult the most common doubts. Beyond Twitter, we also find it on Facebook (WinamaxPokerES) or on their YouTube channel (WinamaxEspana).
Winamax: Opinions and conclusion
Winamax presents itself as the great alternative to PokerStars, and after testing it we can only conclude that it is. They say that comparisons are odious, and it is not a question of comparing one and the other; but it is undeniable that Winamax has a significant volume of players and an excellent poker offer. From here, the details that tip the balance on one side or the other depend on each player.
One advantage of Winamax, beyond the volume of players, is the numerous options of cash games or tournaments. The possibility to create your own private tables or qualify for their tournaments thanks to satellites is a plus, all with a very intuitive lobby and numerous options when configuring our games. Additionally, it allows Philippines to enjoy a complete poker experience from a web browser, without the need to download software.
There are also some drawbacks to note, such as the poor customer support service and limited payment options, which are restricted to bank cards and major e-wallets. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most significant online poker rooms in Europe, making it a must-visit for any poker enthusiast, and with the added benefit of sports betting.
The French poker king presents one of the most complete poker offers in a unique environment.
- +6 million players
- Top cash tables
- Tournaments and satellites
- Play in the browser
- Few payment methods
- Improvable customer service
