Paddy Power Poker Bonuses

Paddy Power run a highly successful poker site as part of the iPoker network, in addition to their sports betting, casino and bingo operations. Customers can play at any time of day or night and be guaranteed to find thousands of others online, giving them a wide choice of games at prices to suit any budget. New customers will be able to claim a welcome bonus to get them off to a flying start, while regulars can earn monthly cash bonuses, play in freeroll tournaments and enter competitions for a selection of quality prizes.

Paddy Power are based in Ireland and have a reputation as a fun, welcoming place to wager on all sorts of markets. This has helped them to retain existing customers and attract many new ones, making them the third largest online betting service after only a few years of running.

Games

Poker can be played either by downloading the free software or via a web browser with no need to install anything. The software is supplied by Playtech, who also operate the iPoker network; it's a quality platform, which runs smoothly and can be understood by those new to online poker, whilst providing all the features required by more experienced players.

Games include all of the most popular versions such as Texas Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 5 card and 7 card Stud, plus the exciting Speed Poker, with No Limit, Fixed Limit and Pot Limit tables all available. There are countless tournaments running at any one time, with buy-ins starting at just pennies, including satellites, to the big tournaments like the WSOP and the Irish Open. With multi-table options, anonymous tables (where there is no need to reveal an identity), and the option to play across all the Paddy Power sites using one account, there is plenty here for players of all skill levels.

Getting started is made as easy as possible with very detailed, step by step guides to the software, how to find the right game, how to deposit, and an excellent Poker School that takes visitors from the very basics of how to play through to some advanced tactics to make the most of their time at the tables. Presented in a series of videos, students can also find out about bankroll management, how to play multiple tables at once and how to join Sit and Go tournaments. There are lots of articles on subjects such as how to play some of the trickier hands, poker jargon, strategies and useful advice from professional players. Anyone still trying to get specific advice can contact 'Dr Jack' who will answer just about any question using the humorous style that is prevalent throughout Paddy Power.

Once at a table, players can customise the settings to include an avatar, chat function, music and to get a birds eye view or more realistic side view of the game. Useful statistics of hand history and hands per hour, plus the facility to make notes, help to control the game and although the software may lack some of the advanced features of some, this makes it easier to fully understand.

Bonuses and Promotions

New customers will be able to claim a welcome bonus that tends to be a little more generous than many similar sites have to offer, although it does get reviewed now and then. In common with most poker sign up bonuses, the bonus is released into a player's account in stages as they continue to play. There are exclusive freeroll tournaments for anyone who has just joined up, which is an ideal way to get to know how the site works and to practice the games without risking real money. These are scheduled tournaments where the top 35 players will all get a share of a guaranteed prize pot.

For each $1 in tournament entry fees paid or rake generated, customers earn Power Points which can be swapped for cash or bonuses. Players automatically enter the Power Rewards scheme, which has several levels from Power One to Max+ Power; the higher the level, the greater the rewards are. Prizes include freerolls, VIP tickets to major events and special promotions, plus everyone gets a Milestone Prize when they move up a level. There is even a shop where points can be spent on anything from designer gear to iPads and even luxury car hire.

Banking

Paying funds into a Paddy Power account is another process made easy with a step by step guide on their website. Most credit and debit cards used in the UK and Ireland are welcome, plus a good selection of e-wallets and money transfer systems, although there are no options to use prepaid cards or vouchers.

Withdrawn funds will be sent either to the card or e-wallet used to make the original deposit, which takes around 5 working days, or by cheque, which can take significantly longer, and there is a low minimum withdrawal requirement of just £10. Paddy Power do not charge any fees for processing deposits or withdrawals except bank transfers, but the card issuer or transfer service provider may do so.

Conclusions

Paddy Power may use commercial software that other big poker sites also run on, but they have adapted it to make it stand out from the rest, with a selection of bonuses and extra promotions not found elsewhere and a light-hearted approach that most visitors will like, although it may put off a few. The games may not have some of the more innovative features that some of the competition have, but this means that it will appeal to more people who just want to get on with playing poker with fewer distractions.

The large iPoker network ensures that there are always a multitude of players online at an unrivalled number of tables and tournaments, with buy-ins that start at a level affordable to anyone. Like most online poker rooms linked to a sports betting site, there are lots of players who are inexperienced and playing at lower levels, but Paddy Power still has much to recommend to more seasoned poker players.