Pacific Poker

Full Review of Pacific Poker

There was a time, in the not-too-distant past, when gaming sites existed on a more fundamental basis where software was slow, aesthetically average and difficult to navigate. Because of the distinct lack of competition at the time, these sites could generally get away with providing a luke-warm product and still be assured of a consistently loyal customer base.

Fast-forward to today, and those sites now face more competition than ever before. As the new kids on the block become more sharp and competitive, the old school sites of the past have had to drag themselves into the new gaming era just to survive. Not all of them have made the cut successfully.

One site that continues to stride forwards amidst the increase of unrivalled competition is Pacific Poker. A recent site upgrade means Pacific Poker are now using the most advanced software available to deliver a better poker-playing experience than ever before. Not only that, but the desire to deliver total customer satisfaction in a bid to sustain high levels of membership means that players are benefiting like never before when it comes to promotion and bonuses.

For the newcomer, sign-up bonuses have become easier to clear and simpler to understand. Pacific Poker have also made sure that the level of bonus available is as good as those being offered on alternative sites, having introduced a 100% welcome bonus that sees a quarter of that amount credited directly to your account. Although the remaining 75% is incremental, players now have a bigger bankroll to play with before a card has even been dealt.

Bonus points to release the remaining bonus are not only earned by playing, but are topped-up with tournament buy-ins and using the casino. This means making the full amount of bonus is now easier than ever before and makes the site incredibly appealing for first-time users. This is compounded by Pacific Poker offering all new members free entry into the $50 First Depositor's Challenge with a chance to qualify for up to $50,000 in prizes money, as well as including entry in the $500 First Depositor's Freeroll and the $1,000 Depositors Freeroll. The chances to thicken your bankroll just keep on coming!

For established players at Pacific Poker, there's a generous reward program called Pacific Poker Awards. There are 6 different levels of award status that offer more in terms of cash rewards and gifts the further you move up the ladder. The gift range is extensive and desirable, with electronic gadgets, football shirts and poker merchandise all available as part of the program.

There's also the chance to win seats in high-profile tournaments by being hailed as the Pacific Poker Player of the Month, and there's a $250 bounty available for beating any named professional player in a head-to-head showdown.

Pacific Poker also offers some challenging tournament play with some incredibly original formats including the bizarre 'Double or Nothing' game which sees half the table walk away with twice the money they started with while half walk away with nothing. There's also the Pacific Poker Daily Challenge Series with a total prize fund of $145,000 in every variation of the Texas Hold 'Em game.

Pacific Poker continues to enjoy an exceptionally high amount of traffic with an average of over 3000 using the tables at any one time in the past month. During busy periods, these numbers can reach up to 6000 players and the loose nature of the site means that the sharper player should be able to find enough tables to take out the fish!

In December 2007, Pacific Poker went through a major software upgrade that now sees them rank alongside the biggest names in online poker for quality, feel and ambience. The aesthetics of the site are clear, bright and user-friendly and can be viewed in a simple 2D format or in glorious 3D with a wide range of amusing or sexy avatars.

The gameplay is attractive, fast-moving and flows so much better than the old software used to. There's a facility to take player notes so you can keep tabs on all your opponents, while there's easy access to hand history and game statistics. The software allows you to view 'ghost-hands' and also let's you keep your cards once you've folded to see how you would have fared had you stayed in until the end of the round.

The lobby is a little complicated, but doesn't take much getting used to. It updates quickly and doesn't experience the type of lag it's predecessor used to suffer from. There's a full variety of games to choose from including ring games, sit-and-go games and heads-up. There's also a full range of poker to chose from including Texas Hold 'Em, Omaha and some Stud variations that aren't always available elsewhere.

Table limits start at the minimal 1c/2c level and go up to $250/$500 level for more accomplished players.

Withdrawals at Pacific Poker tend to get complicated if more than one method of depositing into your account is used, although funds on electronic methods are usually cleared within 48 hours.

Pacific Poker have a full range of customer service options including a live chat facility, telephone support and e-mail. The FAQ section is comprehensive but difficult to navigate and using the live chat option is usually much quicker and easier.

After spending it's early years shuffling along, Pacific Poker has finally stepped out of the shade to offer poker players of all ability a good-looking feature based package that's fast becoming the envy of the online poker world.