PokerStars is the largest online poker cardroom in the world.

PokerStars' satellite tournaments produced the 2003 World Series of Poker champion, Chris Moneymaker, as well as the 2004 champion, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer. Those two now act as spokespeople for the cardroom, as does 2005 World Series of Poker champion Joe Hachem, also a regular player on the site.

PokerStars is the headline sponsor and part owner of of the European Poker Tour (EPT), Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT), and Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT). PokerStars sponsored an event on the World Poker Tour called the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA). The World Poker Tour no longer stages this event, so it is now a stop on the European Poker Tour. In 2005, eGaming Review named PokerStars.com the "Best Poker Operator of the Year".

History

Launched in September 2001, PokerStars was originally a Costa Rican company, Rational Enterprises, majority owned by the Scheinberg family of Israel. The company was subsequently moved to the Isle of Man, a British Crown dependency. The move was driven by the establishment of a 0% corporate tax rate, and the removal of rules barring companies from accepting casino and poker bets from America. PokerStars holds its license with the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, and is also licensed in Italy by the Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS).

Since relocating, PokerStars has been the subject of financial media speculation regarding a possible initial public offering or merger with a publicly listed company. Analysts estimate its market value would be approximately $2 billion (US), which would make the company one of the world's largest privately held gambling companies.

PokerStars overtook PartyPoker as the world's largest online poker room at around the time the U.S. Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Many sites, including PartyPoker, immediately suspended business with U.S. gamblers, while others, including PokerStars, did not.

Since then Pokerstars has grown and has upwards of 220,000 players at their tables during the busiest hours, and continues to grow at a steady pace. On February 16, 2009, PokerStars dealt their 25 billionth hand.

Games offered

PokerStars offers ten varieties of poker games: Texas hold 'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo (8 or Better), Stud, Stud Hi/Lo (8 or Better), Razz, Five-card draw, Deuce to Seven Triple Draw, Deuce to Seven Single Draw and Badugi. HORSE, HOSE, Mixed Hold'em, Mixed Omaha Hi/Lo and 8-Game, "mixed games" that rotate through several of the above, are also offered. Players can participate in real money games ranging from $.01/$.02 (micro limits) up to $1000/$2000.