PokerStars UK review - is it still worth it or has the rake killed the games?
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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.
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@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?
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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.
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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.
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@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.
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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.
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@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?
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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.
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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.
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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...