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PokerStars Casino Review for Australian Players
PokerStars Casino holds a licence issued by the Malta Gaming Authority, reference number MGA/B2C/213/2011, awarded 1 August 2018. Player funds are kept in segregated accounts managed by a leading European bank, and games are independently audited by GamingLabs.
PokerStars Casino review: the main points before you play
PokerStars Casino has been part of the wider PokerStars operation since the casino launched in 2016. The poker platform dates back to 2001. For Australian players, PokerStars in Australia brings together casino titles, live dealer tables and a dedicated poker platform under the operator TSG Interactive Gaming Europe Limited.
| Area | What stands out |
|---|---|
| Rating | 7.5/10 |
| Operator | TSG Interactive Gaming Europe Limited |
| Licence | Malta Gaming Authority, MGA/B2C/213/2011 |
| Game library | 1,000+ titles; 600+ on mobile |
| Rewards | 15% - 60% of rake and tournament fees back, depending on level |
The brand operates under a Malta Gaming Authority licence, reference MGA/B2C/213/2011, awarded on 1 August 2018. Player funds are held in segregated accounts managed by a leading European bank. Games use quantum-theory-based random number generation, with independent certification by GamingLabs.
The rating in plain English
The 7.5/10 score reflects the combination of a long operating history, a 1,000-plus title library, strong poker coverage and a detailed loyalty programme. The main things to factor in are the reward conditions and the limits attached to promotional play.
What you can play beyond the poker tables
The casino library contains more than 1,000 titles. You will find pokies, blackjack, roulette, video poker, baccarat, bingo, keno, scratch cards, jackpot games, crash games and live casino. Live tables include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, bingo, dice, poker and live shows, with Evolution Gaming and Playtech supplying the live casino content.
For a closer look at the numbers, Gates of Olympus has an RTP of 95.50% and a maximum payout of 5,000× stake. Big Blue Bounty lists a 96.90% RTP and a 20,000× stake maximum payout, while Age of the Gods: God of Storms lists a 96.14% RTP and a 2,500× stake maximum payout. RTP is a long-run statistical figure, not a promise for an individual session.
- Pokies from studios including Pragmatic Play, Play'n GO, NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, Quickspin and Yggdrasil Gaming.
- Table games covering roulette, blackjack, baccarat and video poker.
- Live casino tables powered by Evolution Gaming and Playtech.
- Play Money tables for practising without wagering real funds.
- Poker formats including cash games, multi-table tournaments, Spin & Go, Zoom, All-In Poker and Power Path.
Poker is a major part of the overall offer. Variants include Texas Hold'em, Omaha, 5 Card Omaha, 6+ Hold'em, Seven Card Stud, 2-7 Triple Draw, 8-Game Mix and HORSE. Freerolls, bounty tournaments and satellite qualifying events are also available, alongside the flagship SCOOP and WCOOP tournament series.
PokerStars Rewards: how the loyalty system works
PokerStars Rewards is built around six regular chest levels: Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond and Black. You need to opt in using the Start button in the software lobby or through My Rewards before you begin earning. Points come from real-money poker games, based on rake and tournament fees, rather than casino play.
| Level | Points per chest | Chest value | Poker reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 2,000 | $3 | 15% |
| Bronze | 6,000 | $10.50 | 17.5% |
| Silver | 20,000 | $40 | 20% |
| Gold | 50,000 | $125 | 25% |
| Diamond | 120,000 | $360 | 30% |
| Black | 250,000 | $1,000 | 40% |
The earning rate is 100 points for every $1 paid in rake or tournament fees. Five chests are needed to level up from Blue through Diamond. Black has no stated chest count for moving up. If 28 days pass without winning a chest, the progress bar resets and you move down one level.
Unopened chests expire after 30 days, and individual rewards can have their own expiry dates shown in My Rewards. Rewards may be cash or game credit, and some can carry play-through requirements. They cannot be transferred, bartered, sold or traded.
Keep an eye on chest expiry
The simplest way to get value from the programme is to check My Rewards regularly. A chest left unopened for 30 days expires, while the 28-day no-chest rule can reset your progress and lower your level.
Higher loyalty tiers and what they change
Players with very high poker activity may qualify for PokerStars Select or Select+. Select requires at least $50,000 in rake and tournament fees over a rolling 12-month period. It returns 50% of rake and tournament fees as cash each day.
Select+ requires at least $100,000 in rake and tournament fees over a rolling 12-month period. It returns 60% of rake and tournament fees from Spin & Go tournaments and Zoom games daily, plus 50% from other poker games daily. To maintain Select, the contribution requirement is $10,000 over a rolling three months or $50,000 over 12 months. Select+ requires $20,000 over three months or $100,000 over 12 months.
Select and Select+ players move out of the regular rewards levels and promotions. That makes the programme more relevant to regular poker players than to someone visiting mainly for pokies or live tables.
Deposits, currencies and account protection
The minimum deposit is $10. Supported currencies are USD, EUR, GBP and CAD. Deposit methods include Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Payz, bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay, MuchBetter, LuxonPay and other options, with 25 methods listed overall.
Fast Deposit supports Visa, Mastercard and NETELLER. Direct Bank Transfer and Online Bank Transfer support both deposits and withdrawals. Player-to-player transfers are available through Cashier > Transfer to Player, although transferred funds must be used to play before they can be withdrawn.
You can set a weekly real-money deposit limit through the Cashier. This is a useful control if you want a firm spending boundary before starting a session. Gambling should be treated as paid entertainment, and a limit works best when you set it before depositing.
Mobile access, support and responsible play tools
The iOS and Android apps support more than 600 games, multi-tabling, and both real-money and play-money modes. You can also use a mobile browser without downloading an app. The mobile experience is therefore useful for players who want access to poker, casino games and practice tables across different devices.
A Help Center and live chat are available. Website and customer support languages include English, Chinese, French, German and Italian. Live chat is available in English and Spanish.
Self-exclusion and time-outs apply across real-money and play-money games and all products requiring a Stars Account username. These controls are irreversible for the selected duration. If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, take a break and use the available limits or exclusion tools.
Who PokerStars Casino may suit
PokerStars Casino is best suited to players who want more than a standard casino lobby. The mix of pokies, live tables, poker variants, freerolls and major tournament series gives the brand a broad appeal, while Play Money tables offer a way to practise.
Poker players are likely to get the most from PokerStars Rewards because points are earned only from real-money poker rake and tournament fees. Casino-focused players can still use the casino library and live tables, but the regular chest system is not built around casino play.
Play within a fixed budget
RTP figures, rewards and promotional play do not remove the risk of losing money. Set a deposit or session limit, decide your budget first and stop when that budget is gone.
FAQ
Review questions
What is the PokerStars Casino rating?
PokerStars Casino is rated 7.5/10. The score reflects its long operating history, 1,000-plus games, poker platform, rewards programme and player protection tools.
Who operates PokerStars Casino?
The operator is TSG Interactive Gaming Europe Limited, registered in Malta under company number C54266. The parent group is Flutter.
What licence does PokerStars Casino hold?
PokerStars Casino holds a Malta Gaming Authority licence, reference MGA/B2C/213/2011, awarded on 1 August 2018.
How many games does PokerStars Casino have?
The library contains more than 1,000 titles. The mobile app supports more than 600 games.
How does PokerStars Rewards earn points?
You earn 100 points for every $1 paid in rake or tournament fees from real-money poker games. Casino play does not earn the reward points.
What happens if I do not open a reward chest?
Unopened chests expire after 30 days. Individual rewards inside chests may have separate expiry dates shown in My Rewards.
Can I practise before playing for real money?
Yes. Play Money tables are available for free practice, alongside real-money games.
What responsible gambling controls are available?
You can set weekly deposit limits and session limits, use 12-hour or 24-hour cooling-off periods, choose time-outs of 7, 30, 60 or 120 days, or use self-exclusion options up to permanent self-exclusion.