Sportsbook Poker Review

In Depth Review

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:55:54 +0000

History

Sportsbook.com is a privately held online gaming firm, featuring sports betting, online poker, casino games and horse race betting that caters to the US market.

Prior to the passage of the Safe Port Act, Sportsbook.com was owned by Sportingbet, whose sports betting network, also including Hollywood Sportsbook and Sports.com, was collectively named the “Best U.S. Sportsbook” in 2005 and 2006 by industry magazine eGaming Review. After passage of the Safe Port Act, Sportingbet sold all its US-facing sportsbooks to a privately owned company, Jazette Enterprises Limited, for the sum of $1. The company is now known as Jassy Sports Events Limited and headquartered in Malta.

Sportsbook.com’s advertising included an “Everybody Bets” campaign featuring Brooke Burke and Nikki Cox in 2005 and 2006, respectively.

Player Traffic 8/10

SportsBook Poker has seen an incredible amount of growth over the last year, thanks in part due to the Cake network and their ability to process US payments without any problems. During peak hours the poker room attracts just over 12,000 real money players with 3,000 of those players involved in cash games.

Quality of Players 7/10

The competition is slightly above average. Flop viewing percentage ranges from roughly 40% in low stake and 35% in high stake games. Lots of gamblers at these rooms looking to “go big or go home” I like to call this free money.

Games Offered

Texas Hold’em, Omaha , Omaha Hi/Lo 7-Card Stud, and 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo.

Software 8/10

I surprised at the quality of Sportbook’s poker software platform. The game play is smooth, the graphics are realistic, yet not too flashy, and there is little to no lag or hiccup problems that I could find. The lobby is a little cluttered, with links to their sports betting and casino site, but once you get into the poker menus, it is quite simple to navigate and find the game you are looking for.

Bonuses and Promotions 9/10

Sportsbook offers one of the best bonuses in the industry a whopping 100% up to $650, using promo code first100

Customer Support 7/10

Sportsbook Poker offers support via e-mail, live chat and a 24/7 support phone number. Response time and friendliness is top notch and answers are accurate.

Deposit & Withdrawal Options (9)

Deposit Options: NETeller, FirePay, myCitadel, MoneyBookers, credit cards, checks and CentralCoin.

Withdrawal Options: Checks, NETeller and e-checks.

Download Now!

Security

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:52:25 +0000

Collusion

Collusion is an unacceptable practice that undermines the integrity of the games. In order to combat collusion Sportsbook.com employs numerous preventative security measures which include random security checks and log-file reviews. Our analysis includes automatic tracking of betting patterns related to the strength of a player’s hand and referencing that against other player’s actions at the same table to determine if they may be working together. Sophisticated algorithms are employed to identify, track and uncover collusion help to ensure the integrity of our system and fairness at our tables.
Our Security Team will promptly and thoroughly investigate all complaints registered by players suspecting questionable practices or collusion. Any player found to be participating in collusion or deceptive practices will have their account immediately closed and will be permanently banned from our games.

Hackers

All communications between the client program running on your computer and the Sportsbook.com server in Curacao are encrypted using the accepted industry standard 256-bit TwoFish encryption algorithm. The unique cards dealt to each player are delivered exclusively to that particular player’s computer thus maintaining privacy and integrity of play. Packet-sniffing by other players cannot be used to gain any advantage. Each player’s cards are sent exclusively to that particular player’s computer. None of the other computers know what your hidden cards are, thus preventing an opponent from hacking their client software to determine your cards.

Bots

The use of Artificial Intelligence or “bots” is strictly forbidden. Sportsbook.com employs measures to prevent and detect the use of programs that are designed to enable artificial intelligence (non-human) play on the site. Players found to be using such programs will have their account closed immediately and they will be banned from playing at the site permanently.

Random Number Generator

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:51:19 +0000

Random Number Generator (RNG) and Shuffling

Creating a fair and quality gaming experience for our players is our highest priority at Sportsbook.com. The solution chosen for RNG/Shuffling is critical to ensuring a fair game for all players. Consequently, Sportsbook.com investigated many systems and algorithms before deciding on implementation of what we believe is a superior solution.

Sportsbook.com’s RNG solution ensures the even distribution of cards whereby no sequence or relationship can be discovered in any way. The RNG solution is unaware of what’s going on in the game itself, so when the game requests a random card, the RNG has no idea of whose turn it is nor how the game is being played. We believe this is the ultimate impartial tool, better than the physical shuffling of cards.

Sportsbook.com uses the cryptographically-secure RNG system found in Microsoft’s CryptoAPI. “Cryptographically secure” means that the RNG is so completely random that even a large amount of computer analysis cannot predict or detect patterns in the output, a fact that has been validated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Microsoft CryptoAPI RNG

Microsoft’s CryptoAPI RNG complies with Federal Information Processing Standard 186-2 appendix 3.1, using SHA-1 as the G function. It has been validated by the NIST’s Cryptographic Module Validation Program. Details on this may be found at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/security/topics/issues/fipseval.mspx.

It is important to note that computers are deterministic machines, and as such, they cannot produce truly random numbers. For this reason one often refers to Pseudo Random Number Generators (PRNG). Pseudo implies that a PRNG does not produce truly random numbers, but numbers that are random enough for a specific practical use.

The validation of Microsoft’s CryptoAPI by the National Institute of Standards and Technology proves the PRNG system used is highly random and highly secure as it is a critical building block for the CryptoAPI. For more information on NIST processing standards and security validation, please visit:

Federal Information Processing Standards 140-1 and 140-2: http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/fips/index.html
Cryptographic Standards Validation Program at NIST: http://csrc.nist.gov/cryptval/
Computer Security Resource Clearinghouse: http://csrc.nist.gov/index.html

If you require any further information about the fairness of our games or Sportsbook.com’s RNG/Shuffling implementation, please contact support at support@sportsbook.com.

Integrity

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:50:30 +0000

Providing a safe and secure environment is essential to players enjoying their online poker experience. At Sportsbook we are able to achieve this by ensuring cards are dealt randomly, taking the necessary steps to eliminate cheating as well as protecting your personal details in all communication. For full details on the processes we undertake to ensure the Integrity of Sportsbook please select any of the links to the left.

Tournaments

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:50:01 +0000

Sportsbook Poker is pleased to offer a wide variety of tournament formats and games available to you 24 hours a day! In addition to being a fun and exciting way to gain a greater all-round poker experience, tournaments are also a powerful way to build your bankroll and get a great return on a minimal investment. In a tournament, as opposed to a live ring-game, the most money one can risk is the buy-in for that tournament. All players start with the same amount of chips and play continues until one player has won all the chips. Tournament chips have no cash value. Tournaments are available in all the poker games we offer; Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud and Stud Hi-Lo.

We offer Multi-table, Sit & Go, & Heads-up tournaments in various Freeze-out, Re-buy and Shoot-out formats. We also offer satellite tournaments to gain entry into much bigger events and freerolls that cost nothing to enter.

Tournaments Current Tournaments

* $5m Guaranteed Tournaments *NEW*
* Gold Chip Giveaway Tournaments
* Gold Card Givewaway tournaments
* Bounty Tournaments
* Lightning Tournaments
* Kamikaze Tournaments

Tournament Types:

* Multi Table
* Sit N Go
* Heads Up
* Re-buy & Add-on Tournament
* Freeze Out
* Shoot Outs
* Satellites
* Freerolls
* Late Registration

We also host a very special $250,000.00 guaranteed event at least once a month, plus a $100,000.00 guarantee once a week. Watch the tournament lobby for details on this great event!

Guaranteed Tournaments

$5,000,000.00 In Guaranteed Tournament Prize Money Every Month

This month at PlayersOnly Poker we’re guaranteeing $5,000,000.00 in tournament prize money. Each day we’re offering various buy-in tournaments with various guaranteed levels of prize money. If the buy-in prize pool does not reach the guaranteed amount, PlayersOnly Poker will make up for the shortfall.

We also host a very special $250,000.00 guaranteed event at least once a month, plus a $100,000.00 guarantee once a week. Watch the tournament lobby for details on this great event!

Check out our guaranteed tournament schedule below. This is subject to change so please check the poker room for the latest details

Gold Chip Giveaway Tournaments

Have you been playing and accumulating Gold Chips? Here’s a great way to convert your Gold Chips into instant cash. We’ll be running the following daily, weekly and monthly giveaway tournaments that only accept Gold Chips for entry. Enter one today!

• Daily Gold Chip Satellites
Win a seat into one of our big tournaments through these Gold Chip satellites. For only a few Gold Chips you could be on your way to winning thousands!

• Weekly Gold Chip $3,000.00 Giveaway
Prize Pool = $5,000.00
When = 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturday of each month (Start times vary)
Buy-in = 15 Gold Chips or 5 Gold Chip R&A

• Monthly Gold Chip $10,000.00 Giveaway
Prize Pool = $15,000.00
When = 1st Saturday of each month (4:30pm ET)
Buy-in = 50 Gold Chips or 20 Gold Chip R&A

To find out how many Gold Chips you have, click on the ‘Gold Chips’ tab under the REWARDS section in the poker lobby. Click here to learn more about Gold Chips.

Gold Card Giveaway Tournaments

Have you been winning Gold Cards by playing in our real money ring games? Each time you’re dealt cards, one or both of the first 2 cards you are dealt may transform into a Gold Card at the end of the hand even if you folded your cards during the hand! These cards give you the chance to enter cash tournaments for free. Each week we are running 4 prize pool tournaments totaling over $2,500.00 limited to Gold Card entry. Login to the Poker Room for the latest tournament times and details.

Bounty Tournaments

In poker, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as busting another player out of a tournament. Well here at PlayersOnly Poker we’re proud to offer ‘Bounty tournaments’ where each player has a cash bounty on their head. Bust someone and the cash is yours! These unique tournaments place 1/2 of the tourney buy-in into the main prize pool . The other 1/2 is put into a special bounty prize pool. For each player you knock out you’ll receive 1/2 of the tourney buy-in. For example, in a $10 buy-in tournament, each player you bust out will earn you $5. These tournaments will have the word ‘Bounty’ in their name. Enjoy!

Lightning Tournaments

Short on time or just looking for a quick rush? Our Lightning Sit’n Go tournaments are perfect for you. The rules are the same as any other sit’n go. The only difference, the first round has blinds of 5/10 and an ante of 250. Since you only start with 1,000 chips you might not have time to wait for those Aces.

Kamikaze Tournaments

If you’re looking for action then you’ve come to the right place. In our Kamikaze tournaments you’re forced to go All-In each hand until only one player remains standing. The action is fast and furious so don’t blink. These tournaments exist in both single table and multi table formats. The payout structure varies slightly from our standard tournament payouts so be sure to check out the tournament lobby for full details.

Multi-table

If more than one table is needed to accommodate the number of registered players in a tournament, it is known as a multi-table tournament. During a Multi-table tournament, as players are eliminated, players will be moved randomly from one table to another in order to keep the number of players at each table as balanced as possible. Although we try to be fair and move players in relation to their position with the dealer button, a player may end up moving from their blinds and move to a blind position again.

Sit & Go

Sit & Go tournaments are events that do not have a scheduled start time. They start when the needed number of registered players is reached. When the prearranged number of competitors is reached each participant is notified that the tournament is about to start. Example: A No Limit Hold’em one table Sit & Go will start as soon as ten players are registered.

Heads-up

When a contest is between 2 players only, it is referred to as Heads-up. Heads-up Shoot-out tournaments are a good way to improve your winning game, as you will end up facing one opponent most of the time to win any tournament. The rules are the same with Heads-up play with the exception that the player with the “dealer button” posts the small blind and will act first pre-flop then last for the remainder of the hand. The player who posts the big blind is dealt first.

Re-buy & Add-on Tournament

Some tournaments allow for players to conditionally Re-buy & Add-on during a predetermined time period in the tournament. They allow for players to continue in the tournament and still have the opportunity to win the tournament for a Re-buy or with one available Add-on. Re-buy & Add-on tournaments are a great way to increase the prize pool and the number of players who will qualify for prizes. All Re-buys & Add-on monies are included in the prize pool.

Freeze-out

In a Freeze-out tournament players make a single Buy-in and upon losing all their chips, will be eliminated from the tournament. As players become eliminated the tables are combined with other tables until there is a final table and ultimately there is one player left with all the chips.

Shoot-out

A Shoot-out tournament consists of a limited number of players competing on different tables. In round 1, players compete until there is one player left at each table with all the chips. In round 2 the winners from round 1 are then combined at other tables and they again play until there is one player left with all the chips. A Shoot-out tournament can have between two (Heads-up) to ten players on each table competing over 1 or more rounds. The number of rounds and players per table varies and can be found in the tournament lobby.

Satellites

Satellite tournaments are events where prizes are entries into other larger tournaments. A satellite could award the winner(s) entries into other satellites. All satellite tournaments end when all players have won or qualified for their prizes.

Freeroll

PlayersOnly Poker regularly offers tournaments that require no Buy-in or registration fees, no risks or conditions. These true freerolls are our way of giving back to our players.

Late Registration

Late for one of our big guaranteed tournaments? No problem. We offer late registration on all of our guaranteed, gold chip and gold card giveaway tournaments and satellites. All other tournaments do not have late registration.

For applicable Freezeout tournaments, late registration is open for 15 minutes after the tournament starts. For applicable re-buy and add-on tournaments, late registration is open until the first break.

Deposit Bonus Details

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:44:43 +0000

100% bonus

Once our system confirms that the code is correct your bonus money will be credited to your pending bonus account. Your Pending Bonus account balance and the number of days you have remaining to earn it out will be displayed on this same page.

$500 Freeroll Tournament seat

Along with your bonus money you’ll also receive a tournament seat that allows you to play in one of our weekly ‘Welcome Freeroll’ tournaments that features a $500 prize pool. These are FREE to enter and only available to brand new members who have made a real money purchase. These ‘Welcome Freeroll” tournaments will run every Wednesday at 10:30pm ET.

To redeem your tournament seat, go to the PRIVATE tab before the tournament start time. Double click on the “Welcome Freeroll” and click register.

View my bonus balance

To view your pending Poker Bonus balance, look in the Deposit Bonus section under the Rewards tab in the poker lobby. Here you’ll be able to see your Total Pending Bonus and the number of days you have remaining to earn it out.

The pending Poker Bonus Balance is independent from your Sportsbook.com regular balance.

How do I earn out my bonus money?

When you have bonus money sitting in your pending bonus balance you can earn it back by playing in real money ring or tournament games.

When you play for real money you’ll earn Frequent Player Points (FPP). Each FPP that you earn is worth $0.06 towards your bonus. Once you’ve earned $10 worth of bonus money, the funds are removed from your Pending Bonus account and added to your Sportsbook.com regular balance. For more details on FPPs please see below.

This will continue until your pending bonus account reaches $0. Note that your last payout could be less than $10 if the remaining amount in your pending bonus is less than $10.

Please note that you only have 90 days (dated from the creation of the Pending Bonus) to earn back that bonus. Otherwise, you will lose your bonus.

Deposit Bonus

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:16:48 +0000

		Login to your Sportsbook.com Poker account.
		Make a real money purchase.
		Click on the *Rewards tab* then the *Deposit Bonus tab* in the poker lobby.
		Enter the code FIRST100 into the bonus code box on this page (see picture below).