PokerHost is a journeyman online poker room. It is currently on the Winning Poker Network. It launched on Dobrosoft in 2004. It eventually moved to Microgaming, then to Cake, next Merge Gaming, before it reached to the Equity Poker Network. That is where it is today.
Some of its moves were forced, for example Merge Gaming pushed all of its skins out of the network. Others were voluntary while the site looked for U.S. friendly networks. SBG Global is the parent company of PokerHost.
A Personal Opinion of PokerHost
What I like about PokerHost – The games at PokerHost are above average. The first deposit bonus clears at a decent rate. There are unlimited reload bonuses. Its player rewards and tournament schedule are perks. PokerHost pays players quickly.
What I don’t like about PokerHost – The traffic at PokerHost is below average. Players looking for limits higher than $.50/$1 may not find what they are looking for 24 hours a day.
What Players Are Saying About PokerHost
PokerHost does not have many players. There is little discussion about it. The main topics are its fast payouts and unlimited reload bonuses. There is plenty of discussion about its network, Winning Poker. That discussion is often about the promotions and tournaments.
Depositing and Withdrawing From PokerHost
PokerHost offers many deposit options. US players have three credit card options, cash transfers, and Bitcoin. Many players outside the US have ewallets available.
Visa Credit Card
Visa deposits are available by credit and debit card. Players that request a withdrawal or want a higher credit limit will need to fill out a credit card authorization form. The minimum deposit is $20. The maximum is $1,000 unless an increase is requested.
Mastercard Credit Card
Mastercard is offered as a deposit option. Debit and credit cards are accepted. The deposit limits are $0 to $1,000. A credit card authorization form is required to be filled out by players requesting a withdrawal or credit increase.
American Express Credit Card
PokerHost is one of the few poker sites that accept American Express. Deposit limits are $20 to $1,000. A credit card authorization form is required for cashouts and credit limit increases.
Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin deposits are popular among high volume players. That’s because the cryptocurrency can be used to make deposits up to $10,000. The minimum is $20.
Cash Transfers
Players may deposit by MoneyGram or the Western Union.
Amounts accepted range from $50 to $1,000. Players that deposit at least $100 will have fees reimbursed. The fee charged by MoneyGram or the Western Union is added to the player’s poker account when it posts. Cash transfers may be funded through cash at an agent’s office, or on the company’s website using a credit card, debit card or bank transfer.
Neteller
Neteller is a digital wallet that is available throughout most of Europe and some other countries. Players can fund Neteller with a credit card, debit card or bank transfer. Limits are $20 to $5,000.
Skrill
Skrill works like Neteller. It is an ewallet that is funded by credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers. The minimum deposit is $20. The maximum is $5,000.
PokerHost Withdrawal Options
PokerHost offers many withdrawal options. These range from cryptocurrency, to checks and ewallets. Several are available to US players.
Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin is the most popular withdrawal option for high volume players. Withdrawals are available in amounts from $50 to $10,000. There are no fees.
Checks
Checks are available in amounts from $100 to $3,000. The fee is $35 to $85, depending on the size of the check. These arrive in about two weeks.
Cash Transfer
PokerHost offers cash transfer withdrawals in amounts up to $500. The fee is 15% of the transaction. These arrive in a day or two.
Neteller
Neteller is an ewallet available to players in many countries outside the US. Players may withdraw amounts from $20 to $5,000. There are no fees. Neteller withdrawals are processed in about one day. Players may then transfer the funds to an ATM card or bank account.
Skrill
Skrill is an ewallet available to many European players. The withdrawal limits are $20 to $5,000. There are no fees. PokerHost Skrill withdrawals are processed in about one day. Skrill provides a debit card, or players may transfer funds to a bank account.
PokerHost Safety
PokerHost is a small online poker room but it has more than a decade of experience. All poker players have always been paid in a timely manner. SBG Global, the related sportsbook, has a less than stellar reputation. We do not recommend placing any sports bets at that site. The Winning Poker Network is operated by a different sports betting outfit. It receives high marks from players.
PokerHost Promotions
PokerHost offers several promotions. Some are bonuses, while others benefit regular players at the site. Below we list the most popular promotions you should have on your radar and try to take advantage of when playing at PokerHost site.
PokerHost First Deposit Bonus
New PokerHost players receive a 100% up to $1,000 first deposit bonus. The bonus clears at a rate of $1 for every $5 in rake paid. That’s equivalent to 20% PokerHost rakeback. The bonus releases in $5 increments. Players have 60 days to clear the bonus.
Birthday Bonus
Players receive a $10 tournament token for their birthday. The offer is only available to players that have deposited at least $50 in the past year.
Platinum Rewards Program and Rakeback
PokerHost offers a VIP program called Platinum Rewards.
It is a tiered program that rewards players for higher levels of action. Players earn Master Points that may be converted into cash and prizes. Most players will do better with 27% PokerHost rakeback. Players can contact support to get into the rakeback program.
PokerHost Tournaments
PokerHost has tournaments that start every five or ten minutes all day and night. Some have buy-ins less than $1. The largest is the $215 Sunday tournament with a $150,000 guaranteed prize pool. There are several $1 million guaranteed tournaments throughout the year.
$150,000 Guaranteed Tournament
There is a $150,000 guaranteed tournament every Sunday at 3pm ET. The buy-in is $215. PokerHost holds satellites all week for this event. Many are $23 turbos.
$1 Million Guaranteed Tournaments
PokerHost spreads several $1 million guaranteed tournaments each year. Most are during football season. The buy-in is usually $540. Satellites are always offered for these events at least one week in advance so you have plenty time to sign up.
Online Super Series
PokerHost offers the Mini Online Super Series and full schedules once per quarter. These tournaments combine to have guaranteed prize pools of over $10 million. Games include Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo.
PokerHost Game Selection
PokerHost’s Winning Poker Network ties for the second largest U.S.-facing online poker network. It offers a wide selection of No Limit Texas Hold’em games. Common blinds are as high as 3/6. There is Pot Limit Omaha and Pot Limit Omaha High/Low held around the clock. The other games and limits have little or no action.
The most popular sit and gos are on demand, jackpot and turbos. The on demand ones are multi table ones that run when there is enough interest. These offer late registration and operate more like unscheduled multi-table tournaments.
Jackpot sit and gos have a random prize pool based on the buyin that can run as high as 2,500 times the entry fee. The winner takes all in jackpot sit and gos but the larger prize pools allow for deals. The turbo sit and gos have faster speeds than normal, which allows blinds to increase faster.
Multi table tournaments with guarantees run 24 hours a day. These start at just $.11 and run up to $530. Most are No Limit Texas Hold’em, although there are some Pot Limit Omaha and Pot Limit Omaha High/Low. The highest guaranteed tournament each week is $50,000
although there are several $1 million guaranteed tournaments each year.
Download PokerHost
It is easy to download the PokerHost software. It is available to both Windows and Mac users. Features include hand histories, note taking, wait lists, straddle and chopping blinds. There is a PokerHost mobile platform available for download. It is offered in Android and iOS platforms.
PokerHost Rakeback
PokerHost offers all players 27% rakeback. You must contact support and ask for it. Players that do not will be under the tiered Platinum Rewards program. PokerHost rakeback uses the contributed method, meaning that players must put money into the pot to qualify for rakeback that hand. Players must request rakeback in the software. They may be done once per day.
PokerHost FAQ
What network is PokerHost on?
PokerHost is on the Winning Poker Network. PokerHost has also been on Dobrosoft, Microgaming, Cake, Merge Gaming and Equity.
Does PokerHost accept U.S. players?
Yes, PokerHost accepts American players.
What other skins are on the Winning Poker Network?
Other Winning Poker Network skins include Americas Cardroom, Bookmaker, Black Chip Poker and True Poker. PokerHost uses a cashier independent of these skins.
What states are banned at PokerHost?
PokerHost does not accept players from Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Utah, Washington DC and Washington State.
How do U.S. players deposit at PokerHost?
PokerHost accepts American Express, Mastercard, Visa, bank wires and cash transfers from U.S. players.
How do players outside the U.S. deposit at PokerHost?
In addition to the options available to U.S. players, those outside the U.S. may also deposit using Neteller and Skrill.
How do U.S. players withdraw from PokerHost?
U.S. players can withdraw by check, bank wire or cash transfer. The maximum withdrawal amount is $3,000. Fees range from $35 to $85, depending on the size of the withdrawal. Cash transfers are processed in two or three days. Bank wires and checks arrive in about one week.
How do players outside the U.S. withdraw from PokerHost?
Players outside the U.S. may withdraw by the American methods as well as Neteller and Skrill. These are all processed in one to three days.
What is the first deposit bonus at PokerHost?
New players receive a 100% up to $1,000 first deposit bonus. It releases in $1 increments and expires after 30 days. The bonus equals 20% rakeback.
Does PokerHost offer reload bonuses?
PokerHost offers unlimited 100% up to $600 reload bonuses. The terms of the reload bonus are exactly the same as the first deposit offer.
What games are available at PokerHost Poker?
PokerHost spreads Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha High/Low, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud High/Low. No limit, pot limit and fixed limit are all programmed into the software. The most popular games are No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha and Pot Limit Omaha High/Low, in that order. There is little action at fixed limit or stud.
Does PokerHost offer rakeback?
There is no rakeback at PokerHost. The deposit bonuses are equal to 20% rakeback and the Platinum Rewards VIP program adds to that. The amount depends on the amount of rake paid in a month. It ranges from 10% to 35%.
Does PokerHost allow players to straddle?
The PokerHost software has a straddle feature. This is where the player under the gun can blind raise and have the opportunity to act after the big blind before the flop. No other network offers a straddle.
Does PokerHost offer blind chopping?
Players may chop the blinds if all other players fold and the blinds both have the chop option clicked before the hand is dealt.
Where is PokerHost licensed?
PokerHost is licensed in Curacao. Its gaming license is little more than a hosting agreement. Curacao does not intervene in player issues but we don’t expect you to have any when playing at PokerHost.
Does PokerHost offer a Mac platform?
Yes, PokerHost has a Mac platform.
Are there any PokerHost Poker table mods?
There are no table mods compatible with PokerHost.
Does tracking software work at PokerHost?
PokerTracker and Hold’em Manager have HUDs and tracking software that work at PokerHost.
How do I contact PokerHost support?
PokerHost’s phone number is 866-765-3711. There is a live chat form on the website and in the software. There is also an email form on the website. All support departments are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
