<![CDATA[PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games?]]>Been grinding on PokerStars UK for about 3 years now and honestly thinking of jumping ship. The rake structure has gotten progressively worse and the player pool at micro/low stakes feels completely dried up.

Used to be able to make decent side income on 2nl-10nl but now even finding a full ring game is like pulling teeth. Tournament overlay is non-existent and the MTT fields are getting smaller by the month.

Anyone else feeling this or am I just tilted from a bad run? Looking for alternatives but PokerStars was always considered the best online poker site UK had to offer. Times change I suppose...

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/topic/63/pokerstars-uk-review-is-it-still-worth-it-or-has-the-rake-killed-the-gamesRSS for NodeThu, 04 Jun 2026 02:50:40 GMTSun, 01 Mar 2026 09:32:53 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Tue, 03 Mar 2026 22:42:53 GMT]]>Thanks for all the input everyone. Downloaded 888 last night and already impressed by the software smoothness. Still feels weird not seeing the PokerStars lobby but change is clearly needed.

Will report back in a month with results. Sometimes the devil you don't know is better than the devil you do...

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1074https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1074Tue, 03 Mar 2026 22:42:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:21:53 GMT]]>Final thought: PokerStars UK might still be worth it if you're playing 25NL+ where rake becomes less significant as percentage of pot. But for micro grinders? Absolutely not.

The best online poker site UK designation has definitely shifted. Stars resting on their laurels while competitors actually innovate.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1073https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1073Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:21:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:35:53 GMT]]>The irony is that PokerStars created this situation through their own success. They built the best platform, attracted the most players, then systematically priced out the recreational money through rake increases.

Now they're stuck with a shrinking pool of hardcore grinders all fighting over scraps while sites like 888 hoover up the value players. Classic corporate short-termism.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1072https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1072Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:35:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:52:53 GMT]]>@james_uk Fair play mate, maybe I need to swallow my pride and make the switch too. Been stubborn about staying loyal to PokerStars but loyalty doesn't pay the bills.

What stakes are you playing on 888? Still finding decent action at 5NL?

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1071https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1071Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:52:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:14:53 GMT]]>Update from the trenches: Played 15k hands on 888 this month and genuinely impressed. Rakeback program is transparent, games run consistently during peak hours, and I'm actually showing profit again.

Still keeping a small bankroll on Stars for the occasional major tournament, but 90% of my volume has moved. Best decision I've made in months.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1070https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1070Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:14:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 23:45:53 GMT]]>@roulette_rob That's depressingly accurate. The recreational money has moved to sports betting and casino games where the entertainment value is more immediate.

Poker requires too much study to remain competitive, and most punters would rather spin Gonzo's Quest than grind through poker training videos.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1069https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1069Sun, 01 Mar 2026 23:45:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Tue, 03 Mar 2026 04:48:53 GMT]]>Philosophy time: Maybe the declining poker ecosystem is just natural market correction?

The boom years were never sustainable - too many bad players learning too quickly, rake was artificially low to attract volume, and operators were burning VC money.

Now we're seeing the true economics of online poker. Most players lose, winners get squeezed, and only the truly elite can beat modern rake structures. Darwin in action.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1068https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1068Tue, 03 Mar 2026 04:48:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Tue, 03 Mar 2026 01:40:53 GMT]]>The training resources argument is valid - PokerStars School is genuinely excellent and their hand replayer is miles ahead of anyone else. If you're learning fundamentals, the extra rake cost might be worth it for education.

But once you're competent, definitely move to softer games elsewhere. Think of Stars as expensive university, 888 as your actual job.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1067https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1067Tue, 03 Mar 2026 01:40:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:21:53 GMT]]>@betting_pro Brilliant breakdown! As someone just starting out, would you recommend jumping straight to 888 or learning on PokerStars despite the rake?

Also is there any truth to PokerStars having better training resources and hand history analysis?

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1066https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1066Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:21:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:57:53 GMT]]>Here's my comparison of UK poker sites based on 6 months playing each:

Site Rake (2NL) Software Player Pool Withdrawals Overall
PokerStars 5bb/100 Excellent Large/Tough 24 hours 7/10
888 Poker 3.5bb/100 Good Medium/Soft 48 hours 8/10
PartyPoker 4bb/100 Average Small/Mixed 72 hours 6/10
William Hill 4.5bb/100 Poor Tiny/Soft 24 hours 5/10

888 is genuinely the best uk poker site right now for micro grinders.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1065https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1065Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:57:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:33:53 GMT]]>Has anyone tried GGPoker UK? Heard they launched recently with lower rake structure but not sure if they have UKGC license sorted yet.

Also curious about BetMGM Poker - saw they're trying to compete directly with PokerStars on tournament guarantees.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1064https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1064Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:33:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:45:53 GMT]]>This is exactly why I stick to casino games. At least with slots you know the RTP upfront - Starburst pays 96.1% and that's guaranteed. Poker rake structures are just hidden taxation that keeps getting worse.

PokerStars Casino side is actually decent if you want to stay in their ecosystem.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1063https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1063Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:45:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 16:19:53 GMT]]>@casino_dan Respectfully disagree mate. The Sunday Storm field has dropped from 8k+ players to barely scraping 4k most weeks. Prize pool guarantees don't mean much when there's barely enough overlay to cover the rake.

Maybe I am being dramatic but when your hourly rate drops from £12/hour to £3/hour over 18 months, something's fundamentally broken.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1062https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1062Sun, 01 Mar 2026 16:19:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 23:28:53 GMT]]>Am I the only one who thinks we're all being a bit dramatic here? Yes rake has increased but so has the overall prize pool guarantee in major tournaments.

The Sunday Storm still offers incredible value and the player quality hasn't improved THAT much. Maybe we all just need to adapt our games instead of whinging about rake structures.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1061https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1061Sun, 01 Mar 2026 23:28:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 14:54:53 GMT]]>@sarah_g Withdrawals are solid - usually 2-3 business days to my Monzo account. Withdrew £450 last week on Tuesday, hit my account Thursday morning. Not quite as fast as Stars but acceptable.

The bigger issue is their customer service is absolutely shocking compared to PokerStars. Took them 5 days to respond about a disconnection issue.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1060https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1060Sun, 01 Mar 2026 14:54:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 19:42:53 GMT]]>@james_uk How's the withdrawal process on 888? PokerStars usually hits my Barclays account within 24 hours which is one thing keeping me there despite everything else.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1059https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1059Sun, 01 Mar 2026 19:42:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:58:53 GMT]]>This is why I switched to live cash games at Grosvenor. £1/£2 with a £5 max rake cap and drunk businessmen throwing money around on Friday nights.

Online poker in the UK is slowly dying and PokerStars is just milking what's left. The golden days are over lads.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1058https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1058Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:58:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 19:40:53 GMT]]>Let me break down the rake comparison mathematically since we're all complaining without actual numbers:

Rake Impact = (Rake per hand × Hands per hour × Hours played) ÷ Average pot size
PokerStars 2NL: (£0.04 × 75 × 1) ÷ £0.40 = 7.5% effective rake
Compare to 888 Poker: (£0.03 × 65 × 1) ÷ £0.42 = 4.6% effective rake

The difference is staggering when you actually calculate it. No wonder everyone's struggling to show profit.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1057https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1057Sun, 01 Mar 2026 19:40:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 16:51:53 GMT]]>@poker_pete_uk The fundamental issue isn't just PokerStars - it's the entire UK regulated market. UKGC licensing costs, higher tax burden, and Brexit complications have all contributed to worse economics for operators.

That said, PartyPoker UK has been running some decent promos lately and their FastForward format keeps games moving. Might be worth a look.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1056https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1056Sun, 01 Mar 2026 16:51:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games? on Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:07:53 GMT]]>Mate you're not wrong. Been saying this for months - the rake at micro stakes is absolutely criminal now. 5bb/100 rake at 2nl means you need to be crushing just to break even.

Moved most of my volume to 888 Poker and honestly the games are softer even if the software isn't as polished. Player pool is smaller but at least people are actually playing poker instead of nitting it up.

]]>https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1055https://ukcasinotalks.co.uk/post/1055Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:07:53 GMT