Paradise Poker Review

Paradise Poker is one of the definite leaders in online poker, with one of the best software around and very high traffic. The site is often considered to provide the highest quality experience (while others say the games are “hard to beat” and there are few perks for the regulars). Paradise Poker has great game variation. Security and support is also top-notch.

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Full review of Paradise Poker

Summary
Paradise Poker is one of the definite leaders in online poker, with one of the best software around and very high traffic. The site is often considered to provide the highest quality experience (while others say the games are “hard to beat” and there are few perks for the regulars). Paradise Poker has great game variation. Security and support is also top-notch. There are however some drawbacks, foremost; stiff competition and no loyalty bonus. Real money player statistics for Paradise Poker - January 2005: 2800-3200 ring game players at peak hours, 4000-4800 tournament players at peak hours.

Software and graphics
Paradise Poker is widely regarded as a poker software leader (together with Poker Stars and Ultimate Bet) with its clean, sleek and reliable graphics and software. The platform is one of the most quick and stable in the industry. Paradise Poker supports notes on other players and has good statistics functions. The precise pot size is not provided numerically, unless you run the cursor over the pot. Some players have complained that the software can get a little messy, if the computer does not support all needed plug-ins etc, mentioning problems with the interface and some functionality. Most people praise the software though.

Ring game traffic
Paradise Poker was the world's largest poker site for years. But with the rapid development they lost the top spots and are now at position 3 to 5. However, the traffic is still much higher today than back then, as the online poker market has exploded. The number of real money ring game players at peak times is 2800-3200 in January 2005.

Tournament traffic
The traffic at the tournaments is very good after the introduction of multi-table games back in late 2003. At peak times the traffic now reaches between 4000-4800 in January 2005.

Game variety
ParadisePoker's game variety is one of the best in the industry, including no-limit and pot-limit at most standard games and more rare games such as five-card draw, five-card stud and crazy pineapple.

Rake
ParadisePoker's rake is less attractive than the average in the industry, at least when it comes to lower limit games. This holds true also for the tournaments, where good value only is provided at the higher stakes.

Soft competition
If you are looking to make easy money - you have come to the wrong place! Paradise Poker is notorious for the quality of the players and the tightness of the games, where full mid-stakes Holdem games rarely has a view flop percentage over 40%. In fact, you often see it creep down under 30% and even 25% in the higher stakes games. But on the other hand, to be a consistent winner at Paradise Poker after paying the rakes is a sure ego booster!

Sign up bonus
The 25% deposit bonus, limited to $50 is under average. Play 500 raked hands, in which you just get dealt cards, within any time limit to get the $50 (equals 10 raked pots per bonus dollar). Partial bonus in $10 increments is paid out.

Loyalty bonus (3)
Paradise Poker has no loyalty program at present.

Promotions
OK, but there should still be much more considering the very high traffic. Typically, landmark hand number bonus is used. Lately they have guaranteed prize money in tournaments and some promotions for frequent players. It is getting better!

Support
Paradise Poker has great email support, extremely quick and always professional. You often get an answer in a minute. However there is no live or telephone support.

Financial security
Paradise Poker should be very secure, as one of the very top half dozen poker rooms in the world, with no earlier recorded problems. Top score.

Deposit & withdrawal options
Deposit options:
VISA, MasterCard, NETeller, FirePay, wire transfer, bank draft.

Cash out options:
VISA, NETeller, FirePay and check.