Paradise Poker Room Review
Paradise Poker pulled out of the American market in 2006, due to new laws (The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act), and the result has been a drop in site traffic. However, Paradise recently joined the International Poker Network, gaining access to greater traffic and game variety. Adding to the site’s respectability, shuffling is certified by Price Waterhouse Coopers at regular intervals. Certificates are also posted for player viewing. In terms of bonuses, Paradise now delivers a new 100% match up, gradual release bonus with a limit of €500. This can be moved from pending bonus dollars to real money accounts as ring games and tournaments are played. Paradise is definitely competitive as an attractive bonus site. Frequent Player Points (FPP's) are offered to honor loyalty to the site. These are earned in both tournament and ring games and are useable for tournaments fees or can be redeemed as cash. The loss of US players has changed the face of competition at Paradise Poker. With the new network, an influx of sports betters has returned competition to higher levels, certainly showing a recent increase in real money players. The site does report traffic levels in the area of 13,000 tournament players at peak times, as well as 3,300 ring game players. Software at Paradise has consistently been a strong point. A result of joining the International Poker Network has been the adoption of Boss Media software. Easy downloads and account setup procedures have been positively noted. Paradise software has proven reliable and stable over the years, particularly during the early years of the poker boom when traffic was really high. One really useful feature is the statistical function which enables viewing and tracking of a player’s own progress. Graphics are generally clear, but do not offer the customizing avatar features of other sites. Small but novel features are available, such as the option to order virtual food and drink while playing. A really positive characteristic is that the site has very reliable speed, even for those on cable modems. Time-out restrictions are also placed on players who delay. The site is certainly competitive in terms of offered games, such as Texas Hold'em (Limit and No-Limit),
Omaha
, 7 Card Stud , 5 Card Stud, Draw Poker, and Crazy Pineapple. Tournaments are available 24/7 and have small entry fees. Tournament variety is also good with large scale, World Series qualifiers, group arrangements, and one-on-one play. Rakes usually vary from $0.25 to $3.00 depending on the size of the tournament and the pot.
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