PokerStars Europe Review

Compare PokerStars.EU rake, traffic, promotions and more!

Last Updated: 21 May 2021

PokerStars.EU Network Review

Thanks to combined traffic from France, Spain and Portugal, PokerStars.EU is the 3rd largest online poker network in the world. However, unlike on PokerStars.com, the traffic on PokerStars.EU is much more localized. As a result, if you play online poker outside of the peak hours, you will notice a much larger dip in traffic with PokerStars Europe (with low hour traffic dropping to as little as 15% of peak hour traffic).

PokerStars Europe combines the traffic from @PokerStarsFR, @PokerStarsSpain, and @PokerStarsPT, making it the 3rd largest online poker network! Click to Tweet

All 3 PokerStars Europe sites utilize the top notch PokerStars software client. Advance action buttons and smooth animations make for a fast game, and multi-table play is well supported. All three sites also offer mac poker software, as well as Android and iOS, allowing you to play on a smartphone or tablet. 

Although PokerStars once had the most recognized poker loyalty rewards program, they have since scrapped the Supernova program and replaced it with the generally hated PokerStars Stars Rewards, which targets recreational players.

the stars group logo

7,300 peak cash players
3pm - 12Am UTC
4,900 avg. cash players
1,650 min. cash players
4am - 9am UTC
France, Spain, Portugal
pokerstars.fr flag pokerstars.es flag pokerstars.pt flag
Overall Rating
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    7.8

Determine your player category:

  • Rake, Full Table
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold starempty starempty star
     7.8 7.8
    +

        NL/PL: 1¢/2¢ - up to 8¢/16¢
    gold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          22
      NL/PL: 10¢/20¢ - up to 50¢/$1
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      NL/PL: $1/$2 - up to $5/$10
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          44
      FixedL up to: 2¢/4¢ - 10¢/20¢
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey star
          88
      FixedL: 12¢/25¢ - up to $1/$2
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold star
          1010
      FixedL: $2/$4 - up to $10/$20
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold star
          1010
  • Rake, 6H-Max
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold starempty starempty starempty starempty star
     5.8 5.8
    +

        NL/PL: 1¢/2¢ - up to 10¢/25¢
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      NL/PL: 15¢/30¢ - up to $3/$6
    gold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          33
      NL/PL: $5/$10 - $50/$100 >$3/$6
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey star
          88
      FixedL up to: 2¢/4¢ - 25¢/50¢
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      FixedL up to: 50¢/$1 - $5/$10
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      FixedL: $10/$20 - $100/$200 >$5/$10
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          66
  • Rake, HUHeads-Up
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold starempty starempty starempty starempty starempty star
     4.4 4.4
    +

        NL/PL: 1¢/2¢ - up to 10¢/25¢
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          66
      NL/PL: 15¢/30¢ - up to $3/$6
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      NL/PL: $5/$10 - $50/$100 >$3/$6
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      FixedL up to: 25¢/50¢ - $2/$4
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          44
      FixedL up to: $3/$6 - $15/$30
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          44
      FixedL: $20/$40 - $100/$200 >$15/$30
    gold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          22
  • Tournament Fees
    gold stargold stargold starempty starempty starempty starempty starempty starempty starempty star
     2.9 2.9
    +

        Regular: up to $10
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      Regular: $11 - $200
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      Regular: >$200
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      Turbo: up to $5
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          44
      Turbo: $6 - $40
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      Turbo: >$40
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
  • Sit & Go FeesSNGs, Full
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold starempty star
     8.6 8.6
    +

        Regular: up to $3
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          77
      Regular: $4 - $15
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          77
      Regular: >$15 - $100
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
      Turbo: up to $3
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey star
          99
      Turbo: $4 - $15
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey star
          99
      Turbo: >$15 - $100
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold star
          1010
  • Sit & Go FeesSNGs, 6-Max
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold starempty star
     9.1 9.1
    +

        Regular: up to $6
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey star
          88
      Regular: $7 - $100
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          66
      Regular: >$100
    Not availableNot available
          --
      Turbo: up to $6
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey star
          99
      Turbo: $7 - $100
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold star
          1010
      Turbo: >$100
    Not availableNot available
          --
  • Sit & Go FeesSNGs, HU
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold starempty starempty starempty star
     6.8 6.8
    +

        Regular: up to $10
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          66
      Regular: $11 - $200
    gold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          33
      Regular: >$200
    gold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          33
      Turbo: up to $10
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey star
          99
      Turbo: $11 - $200
    gold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargold stargold stargold stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          55
      Turbo: >$200
    gold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargold stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star
          11
  • 1

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Zoom Poker

In Zoom Poker players are automatically moved to a new table as soon as they complete an action on their current table. This dramatically increases the amount of hands a player can play per hour as they no longer need to sit around waiting for a hand to finish, but are instead dealt a new hand on a new table. The advantage of Zoom Poker compared to playing on multiple tables simultaneously is that when you do play a hand, it has your undivided attention, allowing you to make better decisions. You are also guaranteed to always have a full table (i.e. nobody is ever "Sitting Out" because as soon as they sit out, they are no longer added to a new table). The disadvantage is that you are not sitting at the same table with the same players, so you will not get a sense for how they play (unless you are using 3rd party software like Hold'em Manager or Poker Tracker).

In order for Zoom Poker to work properly, there needs to be a large group of players who all want to play Zoom Poker for the same game and at the same stakes. Obviously, if there are not enough players to fill 2 tables, then the advantages of this concept are greatly diminished, as each time you join a new table you will end up waiting for players to finish their hands on previous tables. As a result, Zoom Poker is most effective on large traffic sites and only for the most popular games.

With PokerStars Europe, you can only play Zoom Poker on 6-handed and heads-up tables. For 6-handed, Zoom Poker is available for No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha. For heads-up, you can only play Zoom Poker for No Limit Hold'em.

  • PokerStars.EU Cash Games
  • PokerStars.EU Tournaments
  • PokerStars.EU Sit & Go's

PokerStars.EU Cash Games

 
Active Tables (Full Table):
  NL Hold'em   €0.01/€0.02 - €0.05/€0.10
 
Active Tables (6-Handed):
  NL Hold'em   €0.01/€0.02 - €5/€10
  NLH (Zoom)   €0.01/€0.02 - €0.50/€1
  PL Omaha   €0.01/€0.02 - €0.50/€1
  PLO (Zoom)   €0.02/€0.05 - €0.10/€0.25
  PLO Hi/Lo   €0.01/€0.02 - €0.02/€0.05
 
Active Tables (Heads-Up):
  NLH (Zoom)   €0.10/€0.25 - €1/€2

If you enjoy 6-handed cash games, there is plenty of action on PokerStars Europe! Not only can you play PLO and PLO8, but the range of stakes available for these games, as well as No Limit Hold'em, is impressive. 

However, although PokerStars.com are well known for offering more variations of real money online poker games than any other site, this variety does not exist on the PokerStars Europe network. If you enjoy full table or heads-ups cash games, your only option is No Limit Hold'em. This is rather surprising considering how much traffic PokerStars.EU has.

Rake on PokerStars Europe is very high for stakes up to €1/€2 (and is only average for higher stakes) for both full table and 6-handed cash games. Rake is extremely high for heads-up cash games! However, if you enjoy playing Zoom Poker, the rake is slightly less.

Unlike many online poker sites, PokerStars.EU continues to offer heads-up cash games. Click to Tweet

PokerStars Europe Tournaments

PokerStars Europe offers many online poker tournaments. Although PokerStars.EU do not have a tournament to compare to The Sunday Million on PokerStars.com, they do have plenty of very large tournaments. The Sunday Special has a guaranteed prize pool of €125,000, and The Classic (€10 buy-in) regularly gets more than 10,000 entries each Sunday. 

Like most poker sites, a large percentage of tournaments offered are satellites. Seats won via satellite poker tournaments can be exchanged for tournament dollars, which can only be redeemed to buy into other tournaments. This option combined with the fact that most players fail to adjust from a strategy designed to accumulate chips to one designed to survive to the money, creates a very profitable opportunity to grow your poker tournament bankroll with reduced variance.

Poker Stars Europe SNGs

 
Sit & Go (SNG) Formats:
  Single Table (ST)
  Multi-Table (MT)
  Bounty (B)
  Fifty50 (F50)
 
Active SNGs (Full Table):
  NL Hold'em (MT/B)   €5
  NL Hold'em (ST)   €0.50 - €1
 
Active SNGs (6-Handed):
  NL Hold'em (ST)   €0.50 - €3
  NL Hold'em (B)   €1 - €4
  NL Hold'em (F50)   €0.50 - €10
 
Active SNGs (Heads-Up):
  NL Hold'em (ST)   €0.50 - €250

Despite being the third largest online poker network in the world, PokerStars Europe has surprisingly little traffic for Sit-and-Go's. Perhaps this is due to the higher than average fees (although PokerStars.EU charges decent fees for Turbo SNGs).

Originally, PokerStars offered Double or Nothing tournaments, but they quickly changed the format to Fifty50 since this format is far less punishing for maniacs (who win more when they get lucky) and finishes in half the time (since grinding to the money is no longer a sound strategy). Since then, the PokerStars network has made many more changes designed to make the site more appealing to weaker players at the expense of the consistent winners. The worst part about the change from the old Double or Nothing format is that PokerStars increased the fee even though the tournament completes in half the time!

Although PokerStars Europe charges higher than average fees for normal Sit-and-Go's, their Turbo SNG fees are lower than average. Click to Tweet

PokerStars.EU Sites

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