888 Poker Review

888 Poker has been around since 2002. As well as providing secure, established, and flexible rooms, 888 is the second-largest online poker network, so play pools are guaranteed. You will find around 1,500 – 2,000 players at any time, while during peak hours, the number can soar to 3,500+. 

888 was also the first online poker operator to get a US license. But does being first always mean being the best? Read our 888 Poker review to find out how it compares to other top US poker sites like PotkerStars and BetMGM Poker. 

It originally launched in 2002 as Pacific Poker, before rebranding in the US as 888 Poker in 2007. Overall, the site is owned and operated by 888 Holdings, one of the largest online gambling brands. Since 1997, 888 Holdings has been a leader in online casino, sports betting, and bingo. With a stellar reputation and undoubted quality, 888 remains a leader in online poker. 

As online poker and casino gambling became legal in the US, 888 Poker sought expansion into states that support online iGaming. In recent years, 888 has become a major player in the US poker market, matching its reach and popularity in Europe and worldwide. Much of the success has been driven by a partnership with the World Series of Poker to power WSOP’s online poker rooms with 888 software. 

888 also owns and operates All American Poker Network, which, like WSOP, also places its skin on top of 888 Network technology. 

888 Poker bonus offers are available for both new players registering for the first time and ongoing customers who are loyal to the brand. The 888 Poker bonus offers change from time to time. This means you can check the “Promotions” page on the 888 website to see what offers are currently available. 

We have been visiting 888 Poker for years and have seen the following common casino deals that you can expect to see on a poker site: 

• Welcome Bonus: Your introductory offer to the 888 Poker experience. This is typically a lucrative deposit bonus that requires you to pay money into your account to receive a cash reward to use in 888 online poker rooms. 
• Deposit Match: When you make a deposit, 888 has promos that pay you a bonus percentage based on your deposit. 
• No Deposit Bonus: Every so often, a poker bonus comes along that is unmissable. No deposit bonus offers give you rewards such as free games, bonus cash, or something else without you needing to make a deposit. 

Bonus requirements can change from one poker to another. The following information provides an overview of bonus rules and restrictions. Even so, we still recommend reading the T&Cs of any poker promo you want to claim. 

• 888 Promo Code: A bonus or promo code is a number and/or letter combination players must enter to access a bonus. However, in many cases 888 does not use a promo code for its poker site, which means you can opt-in to bonuses directly. 

Wagering Requirement: Instead of a standard playthrough commitment, which would see you wager a multiplier of your deposit (such as 20x), 888 Poker uses a unique Bonus Points system. When you make a deposit and start playing poker games, you accumulate bonus points from your bets. Only once you pass a specific number of points can you withdraw winnings made from your bonus. How many points you will need changes from promo to promo, so remember to always read the T&Cs.

There are plenty of poker networks and most involve downloading and installing software to your PC. 888 is not different, but the company does provide an alternative for players who prefer not to download anything. Known as 888 Poker Instant Play, the feature is essentially the majority of the network on a website. Players can access it without needing to download or install any software onto their PC or mobile. 

Online poker is currently available in five states in the US: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan and Delaware. While 888 Poker has been eager to expand, the site and app are currently available in just three of these markets. However, because it participates in a Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, 888 offers large player pools. We’ll discuss the specifics of this agreement in the following section, but let’s first look at the three states where 888 Poker is available:

New Jersey has always been one of the trail-blazing states when it comes to online gambling adoption. Taking advantage of the situation, 888 Holdings was one of the first poker networks to arrive in the Garden State. 888 Poker NJ made its debut in 2013 and has been in operation since. In 2015, a shared liquidity partnership with WSOP resulted in the shared WSOP.COM/888 NJ network, which shares a player pool. This allows 888 to compete directly with other NJ registered online casinos and poker brands such as PokerStars and Borgata/PartyPoker.

888 Holdings is licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), and its land-based casino licensing partner is Bally's Atlantic City.

Nevada is a unique gambling state. Home to the city of Las Vegas and thousands of land-based gambling sites, the need for online gambling is not the same as in other states. The structure isn’t the same either – online casinos are not legal in the state but online poker is. That said, WSOP.com remains the only operating legal site in the state. 888 Poker was given a license in 2012 but has decided to leverage its partnership with WSOP instead. Because WSOP uses 888 Holdings software and shares player pools with 888 Poker, players in other legal states can play across sites. As 888 is currently the only operator offering this type of cross-site collaboration, other NV online casinos cannot provide the same service.

The 888 Poker network has been available in Delaware since December 2013. All three racinos (Delaware Park Horse Racing and Slots, Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, and Harrington Raceway and Casino) support the 888 platform. Even so, the player pool in Delaware casinos is small because this is a limited market. Luckily, the state liquidity with New Jersey and Nevada means players in DE can access player pools from those markets. It is worth noting that there is currently no 888 Poker app available in Delaware, so players must play on their desktop or mobile browser. 

In simple terms, the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) allows poker networks to share players across states and sites. It was started by Nevada and Delaware on February 25, 2014, before New Jersey also joined. In April 2023, Michigan became the latest state to join the agreement, and Pennsylvania is widely reported to be next in line. 

MSIGA allows poker operators to share players across states. The World of Series Poker (WSOP.com) uses 888 software, which means players on WSOP and 888 share the same pool.

888 Poker chooses games it thinks players want access to. This is partly by design and partly because of regulations. So, if you’re in New Jersey, you can pick from a selection of poker games that NJ players like most. This lack of clutter is a nice contrast to other poker rooms that display game types (such as fast-fold poker) that players in some states just don’t play. Multitabling is available too, allowing you to play across up to 6 tables at the same time. 

Player pools on 888 are good thanks to the network share with WSOP and inter-state liquidity in Delaware, Nevada, and Michigan. Still, sometimes the player numbers on these tables can be low during non-peak hours. We were playing off-peak a lot of times and still saw around 70 players on cash-game tables. 

We would put the average daily numbers at between 500 and 700 total network players. However, it is worth noting that 888 Poker is very skewed towards No Limit Hold’em cash games. For tournaments, the player pool hovers around 200 in NJ. 

As 888 Poker generally features prize pools of a few thousand dollars, the site is geared towards casual players and those wanting low stakes games. But you can still find high stakes poker. The Head-up tables provide plenty of big money action. We also recommend checking out Snap poker, which allows you to play games more quickly and is 888’s take on zoom poker.

888 Poker features the most popular variants, mainly Texas Hold’em and Omaha. The main difference between Omaha and Hold’em is the number of hole cards each player receives and how they can use them to make the best hand. 

In Hold’em, each player is dealt two hole cards and can use any combination of hole cards and community cards to make a five-card hand. In Omaha, each player is dealt four hole cards and must use exactly two of them along with three community cards to make a five-card hand.

Texas hold’em is a popular poker game where each player tries to make the best five-card hand using two hole cards and five community cards. The game has four betting rounds: pre-flop, flop, turn, and river. Before each round, the two players to the left of the dealer button post the blinds, which are forced bets to start the pot. The dealer button rotates clockwise after each hand. After the final round, the remaining players show their cards and compare their hands. The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot.

Despite covering the most tables and being the most popular game on 888, Hold’em is only available in six and nine hand non-limit games. You can start betting on micro stakes games from $0.01 or $0.02, but also choose other stakes, including $0.02/$0.04, $0.05/$0.10, $0.25/$0.50, and $0.50/$1. Of course, you can roll higher if you want with the highest stakes current at $50/$100. Unfortunately, games with stakes that high are usually dead, which is why we class 888 Poker as a low stakes room.

Omaha poker is a high-stakes poker game similar to Texas Hold'em, but with a twist. Each player is dealt four hole cards but must use exactly two of them to make their best five-card hand. The other three cards come from a shared community board, which is dealt face-up in three stages. The game is more challenging than Texas Hold'em because players have more options to choose from, and it is often played in tournaments.

On 888, most Omaha games are pot-limit, with only a handful of no-limit games available. You will find enough players to access tables during peak hours, but during off-peak hours, traffic for Omaha tables slows. You can stake on Omaha games from $0.02/$0.04 to $5/$10.

Once again, it is clear that 888 is aiming for mainstream casual players by creating a welcoming online poker room. When you jump into the game lobby on 888, you will find cash games and sit ‘n go games:

Cash games – or Ring games – are basically any form of poker that is played for real money. In other words, you risk your own bankroll to play and can potentially make a profit by winning. Players buy into the game and then use chips to make bets as they try to form winning hands and beat opponents. Most cash games do not have limits on time, which allows players to choose when they start and stop playing.

Unlike cash games – where you can come and go as you want – Sit ‘n Gos have a more rigid tournament structure. Think of these as on-demand versions of poker where the first come is first served. Players sit and once the table is seated the game starts. SNG games will continue until there is only one player remaining with all the chips. 888 Poker currently offers SNG games for Pot Limit Omaha and No Limit Texas Hold’em.

First up are the sit ‘n go games mentioned above. These are much more flexible and varied than the cash games offerings. Buy-ins are open for no-limit Hold’em from $1 to $100, allowing budget and high stakes players to find a tournament to suit their needs. 

Although, we would say again that 888 skews towards the casual player as most SNGs are in the $1 to $10 range. As for pot limit Omaha, these also mostly allow access with a low buy-in of $2 or sometimes less. You can choose between heads-up, six-max, and full ring game types. If 888 Poker lags behind other online poker sites in terms of cash games, it is much more competitive with sit ‘n go options. 

For more expansive and potentially rewarding competitions, 888 Poker offers a bunch of Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs). A normal tournament will see anywhere from around 50 to 170 players register. As usual, tourneys with a lower buy-in get the most attention but higher stakes comps are also busy. 

Because 888 is a Hold-em-centric poker site, almost all MTTs are this variant. That leaves around five to ten percent of tournaments for pot-limit Omaha. Buy-ins vary and can exceed $100 for the higher stakes multi-tables, but generally you can opt-in for $1 to $20.

These tournaments put a twist on poker competition by adding an element of lottery to outcomes. All Blast SNGs are four-handed and buy-ins range from $0.10 to $30. Once the four players are seated, a random prize pool is given by the house. This can be anywhere from just 2x your buy-in to 10,000x. In other words, you can potentially win huge amounts in these tournaments, in theory. 

Once the prize is set, players compete in rapid poker hands while a timer counts down. Once the timer reaches zero, all players are forced to go all-in and play the hand until there is a winner. While these games are fun, they are also random.

888 Poker is generous with its freeroll tournaments, allowing players to enter competitions to win cash prizes without spending their own bankroll. There are hourly freerolls with guaranteed prize pools, with $50,000 in total cash up for grabs each week. 888 provides freeroll tickets to select players, usually the most loyal customers. Either way, you can check your email inbox to see freeroll tickets from 888 Poker and don’t forget to opt-in to receive emails from 888 when you register.

While freerolls are essentially free tournament play, you’ll only get tickets if you are a real money player. However, you can get free poker on 888 through the Practice Play lobby. Here, you can choose different types of poker games that are available on 888 Poker and play for free, which is a great way to learn the game, practice your skills and develop your poker strategy.

888 Poker’s loyalty scheme allows players to collect Status Points as they bet. This is another rewards currency aptly called Rewards Points that you can exchange for bonus cash at a rate of $10 for 1000 points. 

Status Points tie directly into Rewards Points because the amount of RP you get depends on the status tier you have. Essentially, having a higher status means you can collect RP at a higher rate. Status Points are given at a rate of two SP for every $1 spent on poker games. Keep in mind, there is one significant caveat: your Status Points reset each month. 

The rewards system on 888 Poker is very straightforward and is a beginner-friendly rakeback loyalty program that looks like the following over Status Tiers:

• Blue Tier – 0 SPs required – 2.5 RPs/1 SP earned – 5% rakeback
• Iron Tier – 50 SPs required – 4 RPs/1 SP earned – 8% rakeback
• Bronze Tier – 200 SPs required – 5 RPs/1 SP earned – 10% rakeback
• Silver Tier – 3,000 SPs required – 7.5 RPs/1 SP earned – 15% rakeback
• Gold Tier – 6,000 SPs required – 10 RPs/1 SP earned – 20% rakeback
• Platinum Tier – 20,000 SPs required – 17.5 RPs/1 SP earned – 35% rakeback

888 Poker’s platform brings over two decades of experience. Although the desktop software is easy to use and navigate, we felt it needed a bit of a facelift. However, the HTML website is responsive, and the straightforward interface lends itself nicely to the mobile client. 

If you are looking for a more immersive mobile experience, the 888 Poker mobile app looks newer and provides more features and better connectivity. You can also set up. Heading to the game lobby, we found the mobile app offers cash games and tournaments. However, it does not offer all tournaments from the desktop site.

It is time to start playing poker games at 888. Luckily, the brand has been in the business long enough and has honed its sign-up process. Follow these quick steps and you can be playing on 888 Poker in minutes:  

1. Click the link in this 888 Poker review to navigate to the website. 
2. Select the blue “Sign Up” button in the top right of the homepage. 
3. Enter your personal details (name, date of birth, gender).
4. Provide a username and password, and choose a security question/answer.
5. Input your mobile number, state, address, and SSN.
6. Check your email inbox to verify your information and complete your registration. 
7. Head to the cashier, select a deposit method and amount, and follow the instructions to fund your 888 Poker account. 
8. Go to the game lobby, select a poker game, play and hope to win. 
9. If you win, revisit the cashier and follow the instructions to cash out. 
10. 888 Poker uses geolocation technology to verify you are playing from a legal jurisdiction. Go to your device settings, and allow 888 Poker to use your device’s location.

888 Poker offers a wide range of convenient and safe payment methods. The following methods are available on most 888 Poker sites, however, the selection may vary between states: 

Deposits

• ACH bank transfer – Fast option that is secure and reliable.
• Neteller or PayPal – Instant, secure, seamless, and you don’t share banking details. 
• MasterCard or Visa – Convenient, but remember that some banks block gambling-related transactions. 
• Online banking – Make a direct payment from your bank.
• Casino cage – Head to an 888 Poker land-based partner and deposit. 
• PayNearMe – Get a  pay slip and take it to a 7-Eleven to fund your account. 

Withdrawals

• ACH bank transfer – up to 6 days
• Neteller – Up to 3 business days
• PayPal – 4-5 business days
• Casino cage – Instant
• Check by courier – Up to 7 days

888 is not the swiftest operator when it comes to handling your winnings. While the company approves withdrawals within 48 hours, the overall withdrawal times can be longer than other sites, such as PokerStars. If you want to withdraw using Neteller or PayPal, you must have made your deposit using the same e-wallet. 

As part of its Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, 888 Poker requires all players to verify their ID and address before they can withdraw winnings for the first time. This involves sending a scan of your ID (driver’s license, passport, state ID card) and proof of address. 

By using the latest SSL encryption technology, 888 also protects customer data and promises privacy. This security extends to payments, with 888 choosing secure methods to handle deposits and withdrawals.

888 has a robust responsible gambling commitment that includes the ability to set limits for the time, money, and access you have on the poker site. In the Responsible Gambling section on the 888 Poker site, you can also read advice for maintaining safe betting practices. Moreover, 888 provides direct links to Responsible Gambling resources and helplines in the states where it operates.

If you are looking for solutions to common issues, 888 Poker has an extensive FAQ section that you can use to resolve issues on your own. If you still need to contact support, the site offers a 24/7 live chat alongside email and phone contact. We found the agents to be friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Although wait times in chat are a bit long during peak hours, emails are also answered quickly.

Poker is a game with a mysterious past and a thrilling present. No one knows for sure where it came from, but some historians believe it evolved from various card games that the French invented as Poque. When French colonists settled in Louisiana in the late 1700s, they introduced Poque to the streets of New Orleans in 1829. There, the game became known as Poker, the name we use today.

Poker soon spread across the country, especially in the Old West, where it was the favorite card game at the saloons. In the early 1900s, a new version of poker emerged: Texas Hold’em, which is based on seven card stud. This variant became the most popular form of poker and is the one played at the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Poker has come a long way from its humble origins. It has gone from being illegal in America to being fully legal online, from underground to mainstream, from hobby to profession. And now, with online poker, you can join thousands of players from all over the world in hundreds of games and tournaments.

As far as the 888 Poker site, it is very clear this is a poker operation from a major online gambling force. However, it is also clear that 888 Holdings is not yet making US online poker a main priority. Bonuses are lucrative, frequent, and inventive, while the interface and app are top-notch, however, the lack of commitment to cash games and the obvious focus on low stakes gameplay means serious poker players may have to pass on 888. For everybody else, 888 Poker is an excellent all-around experience, even if it is not the best-in-class. The tournament choice is excellent, and competitions are the best part of the 888 experience.