Winner Poker Review - 8.5/10

Winner Poker bills itself as a market leader in the field of online poker gaming. It combines good graphics with useful data provision that can help everyone from beginners to experienced players increase the profitability of their play. Winner pride itself on the fact that its staff is made up of professional and former players who can provide top-level support to all members.

Software and Network

Winner Poker is powered by Playtech’s iPoker software, which is a tried and tested staple for many online gamblers. The software download requires 950MB of free hard disk space and at least 512MB of RAM. Users will also need a 16MB video card, though 256MB is recommended to take maximum pleasure from the poker experience. You are required to be connected to the internet to play and the software only supports Internet Explorer 6 or above on a Microsoft machine.

Graphics and usability

iPoker is a solid software system for online poker games, though it does not offer the spectacular visuals that some might prefer. As in other iPoker rooms, there is a selection of avatars and customisation options, while gameplay remains smooth even when multiple tables are in action.

The lobby is easily navigable and the information provided for each active table allows a player to carefully select where he or she wants to play before committing. One particularly useful feature allows players to look back through a graphical history of their previous hands and how they have played them, which helps them to learn and develop their own playing styles and cut down on bad habits

Game Variety

The selection of games at Winner Poker is slightly lacking in imagination when compared to some other online offerings. Players can choose from Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi and Hi-Lo, or Five- and Seven-card stud. Table stakes range, from $0.01-$0.02 to €300-€600 in Hold’em, $0.02-$0.04 to $200-$400 in Omaha and $0.05-$0.10 to $100-$200 in Stud.

The strength of the site is in the variety of tournaments available, which includes single-table tournaments (up to ten players), multi-table tournaments and satellites. The jackpot tournaments provide several formats of Sit’n’Go gameplay and winning several in a row can result in very generous payouts. Buy-ins start as low as $2+$0.40 for the $2000 Dirty Dozen prize and go all the way up to $50+$9 for the $50,000 Fort Knox jackpot.

You can also play virtual money games to hone your skills at the tables before launching into a large tournament.

Promotions/loyalty program overview

Winner Poker offers new members a sign-on coupon which is valid for up to three months. There is also a ‘bring-a-friend’ bonus, which credits players who bring their pals along to enjoy the gaming.

Members can build up points through the VIP system and these are redeemable for cash, entry tokens for tournaments or merchandise at the VIP shop.

Competition Level

The level of players at Winner Poker is very broad. As part of the Winner Casino site, a lot of the players are brought in through the doors of the main casino hall, meaning they are learning or dabbling in a new trade. But as the stakes rise, so does the quality of play. Information is provided on who is playing at each table, so it is easy to find the right game for your standard.

Support, Security, Miscellaneous

Excellent support is immediately available through the chat facility built into the game-room software. This is a noted highlight for many Winner Poker regulars. As a back-up, there is also a no-fee international helpline, email and fax support.

In terms of security, Winner Poker is committed to ensuring its customers can enjoy their time at the tables without undue concern. Client privacy is ensured through the 128-bit SSL technology, while state-of-the art statistical analysis tools and expert vigilance prevent player collusion.

Players can play in three currencies; USD, GBP or EUR.