* Offers a $1 million weekly guaranteed tournament, the largest in the world
* Massive satellite spread
* Features mixed games like H.O.R.S.E. and Razz
* Great software
* Supports completely automated import of tournament and ring-game data to Poker Tracker

Misses

* Only offers e-mail support
* Tough opposition in high-stakes tournaments and cash games

FULL REVIEW - Poker Stars (8.35)

PokerStars is the largest poker site in the world - an especially impressive feat considering it's not part of any network and has created its staggering player base entirely on its own. The world-famous room offers huge volume in cash games and tournaments at almost any variation and level, making PokerStars an excellent option for all players - including those who enjoy competing in the more unusual poker variations.

In addition to massive traffic and game variety, PokerStars also offers great promotions and an exceptional loyalty program with a huge selection of merchandise, special events and qualifiers to all major poker tournaments. It also sponsors many of the world’s most famous poker players, including Canadian prodigy Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein and WSOP Main Event winners Chris Moneymaker, Joe Hachem and Greg Raymer.

The PokerStars software is top-notch in terms of functionality, layout and graphics, and offers fast play and very high reliability. The software also features great multi-table options and a high level of customization, allowing players to upload pictures for use as avatars and choose graphics and sound options.

Because of the massive player base, the opposition ranges from soft to very aggressive, and there are many opportunities to compete with top players for anyone interested in improving their skills. The customer support is well above average, answering questions fast and with high response quality.

The games offered are, of course, Limit and No-Limit Texas Hold'em as well as both Hi and Hi-Lo versions of Omaha and Seven-Card Stud. The site also offers No-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo games, H.O.R.S.E., H.O.S.E., 2-7 Triple Draw, Five-Card Draw and Razz. PokerStars started the micro-limit tables trend when it introduced games for as little as 1¢/2¢ in Hold'em and Omaha Hi. At these micro-limit tables, there is no rake.

In general, the games at PokerStars vary between No-Limit, Pot-Limit and Fixed-Limit. Full-table games, short-handed and heads-up tables are all available. Due to the size and geographical diversity of PokerStars, action can be found at pretty much any game at any hour.

PokerStars offers plenty of tournaments and freerolls with great value and the traffic volume is the best in the industry. Real-money player statistics as of September 2008 show 22,500 ring-game players at peak hours and 155,000 tournament players at peak hours.

Overall, PokerStars is very professionally managed with a real "feel for poker." They offer massive player volume, game diversity and software quality plus generous promotions and bonuses for loyal players. The software is available for both MAC and PC users and is updated frequently to ensure safety and stability, with virtually no downtime as a result.

* Over $4 million in monthly tournaments
* Supports completely automated import of Hold'em tournament and ring game data to Poker Tracker
* Doyle Brunson poker school
* Vital stats supplied during play
* Accepts U.S. players

Misses

* Seven-Card Stud only available in high version

FULL REVIEW - Doyles Room (8.47)

Important update as of October 18, 2007:

DoylesRoom.com now accepts U.S. players.

DoylesRoom started offering poker in 2004, and was very successful in attracting players with the endorsement of one of the most famous players in the world. The bulk of those players were American, of course, so the passing of the UIGEA in 2006 was a hit to traffic volume.

Since the shift to the Microgaming network, however, the site once again boasts high traffic, a wide game variety and an extensive range of table limits. And as of October 18, 2007, the site is again accepting U.S. players, so traffic can only be expected to rise.

The software provides very useful stats as well as three different table sizes: large, normal and mini view. It's stable and reliable, and the graphics are nice and kind of "old school," with a wood grain feel. The functions are also well placed and easy to use.

DoylesRoom offers plenty of promotions, including sign-up bonuses, an attractive VIP points program and a nice bad beat jackpot that pays out when four-of-a-kind eights-or-better is beaten in a cash game. There is also the famous weekly bounty tournament in which Doyle himself plays, accompanied by his friends Mike Caro and Hoyt Corkins and his son Todd.

The games offered at DoylesRoom are Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven-Card Stud, Five-Card Draw and Five-Card Stud. The games vary between No-Limit, Pot-Limit, and Fixed-Limit. Full-table games, short-handed, and heads-up tables are all available. Real money player statistics as of September 2008 show 2,000 ring-game players at peak hours, and 10,000 tournament players at peak hours.

Overall, DoylesRoom offers great action, good game diversity and software that plays very well. The software is updated frequently to ensure safety and stability, with very little downtime as a result.

* $8 million in guaranteed prize money each week
* Accepts U.S. players
* Great points store with Full Tilt Poker merchandise
* Refer-a-friend program
* Great mini-view functions for multi-table play
* Supports completely automated import of tournament and ring-game data to Poker Tracker

Misses

* Very tough competition at higher levels
* No-download software isn't available

FULL REVIEW - Full Tilt Poker (8.53)

Launched in 2004, Full Tilt Poker continues to showcase its ambition through massive growth and a reputation as one of today's market leaders. Adding to its prestige is Team Full Tilt, a group comprised of more than a dozen poker legends, including Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Allen Cunningham, Phil Ivey, John Juanda, Mike Matusow, Clonie Gowen, Jennifer Harman and Erik Seidel.

These sponsored pros can be found playing at all limits in all variations across Full Tilt, and are also available for real-time chat at the tables. Anyone good enough to win Full Tilt Poker satellites for entry to the biggest live poker tournaments will also be able to play the pros live.

At Full Tilt Poker there is action to be found at any poker game and at any limit. The site was the first poker room in the business to offer ultra high-stakes games, attracting some of the absolute best players in the world. The high-stakes player and the railbird alike can often find monster action or watch hands unfold at tables filled with the best in the world, playing for pots of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The games offered at Full Tilt Poker include Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo, Five-Card Draw, Razz and various mixed games. The games vary between No-Limit, Pot-Limit and Fixed-Limit. Full-table games, shorthanded and heads-up tables are all available.

Full Tilt Poker is also one of few sites offering mixed games such as H.O.R.S.E., H.A. and H.O.S.E. in both cash games and tournaments, making the game variation some of the most extensive and impressive online.

The poker room's software is unique, boasts some very innovative functions, is very stable and features excellent graphics; indeed, it is one of the best in the industry. The functions are easy to use and the points shop is also excellent, offering players all sorts of cool merchandise that can be acquired with their Full Tilt Poker points. The graphics are innovative, with cartoon-style avatars, and the software offers different table types with optional backgrounds.

Overall, the traffic volume is in the very top segment of the industry. Real-money player statistics as of September 2008 show 10,500 ring-game players at peak hours, and 70,000 tournament players at peak hours.

AbsolutePoker.com is fourth largest poker site in the world. They are easily amongst one of the better known and recognized poker sites on the internet. Absolute Poker has the reputation of being created by poker players for poker players. With the endorsement of pro poker player Mark Seif and unparalleled customer support, Absolute has maintained a sterling reputation in the online poker industry.

If your looking for a poker room to send your players to that has awesome promotions and tournaments, then look no further. AbsolutePoker.com boasts itself to be "The Tournament Headquarters".

Absolute Poker has an aggressive marketing strategy and is known for it's exceptional player retention. With respect to their affiliate program Absolute offers competitive payouts on both and mgr schedule as well as a CPA plan. AbsolutePoker.com's affiliate program is also managed by some of the best in the industry. If you are not currently promoting Absolute you are missing out an opportunity to partner with one of the largest poker websites in the world.

As you would expect with a site the size of AbsolutePoker.com, they have several unique features and promotions. In fact just recently they launched the ability for players to change their skins. One of the promotions that they're best known for however for tournament they run every summer to "Win Your Tuition". Absolute also offers a $100K guaranteed tournament every Saturday at 16:30. This is great to promote to your big tournament players because most of the other sites have their guaranteed tourneys on Sunday's. As you would expect Absolute also runs a massive amount of 2006 WSOP and WPT qualifiers as well. Absolute does some unique player promotions that are fun and enables them to maintain such good retention. For example the "Royal Flush Club" and the "10 Million Play Chip Hall of Fame".
The software platform is clean and fast. For your players that are concerned about being paid on time or site security, Absolute boasts that its mission is to "continue to be the best and most trusted." With all the great promotions and the exceptional software that absolute provides, getting conversions and players to sign up at AbsolutePoker.com has never been easier.