PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker room, is now giving people an opportunity to play in even more locations around the world. Well, not quite “around the world,” but at least in the United Kingdom. Residents of the UK (except Northern Island) and the Isle of Man can now play their favorite poker games on the go, without a computer, on PokerStars Mobile.
PokerStars Mobile has most of the features of the regular software that we have all been using on our personal computers for years. It is available for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Android devices, including many tablets. Players can use the Download Wizard on the mobile homepage to download any of the versions. Alternatively, those using an Apple device can visit the Apple App Store to grab the new client.
The mobile version of the PokerStars software does not include every feature of the regular version, but it comes darn close. Real money and play money Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo games are all available in No-Limit, Pot-Limit, and Fixed-Limit varieties. Cash games as well as Sit-and-Go and multi-table tournaments are all accessible via PokerStars Mobile. For the most part, it looks just like the PokerStars software everyone is used to, with some obvious adjustments to fit smaller screens.
The software is geared more towards casual players, as hardcore grinders will not be able to multi-table as seriously as they would on a PC, but multi-tabling is possible. iPhone and iPod touch users can play on up to four tables simultaneously, iPad users can open five tables, and Android users can play on four real money tables and three play money tables. Despite the small screen, the multi-table feature is done quite well. One nice feature is a display at the top of the screen which shows the player’s hole cards at each table. These cards are highlighted when it is the player’s turn at another table and can simply be touched to switch the view to that table.
As mentioned earlier, not every feature of the PC software is available on PokerStars Mobile. Players cannot take notes on their opponents, though player search is available, there are no home games, chat moderators cannot be called, account changes cannot be made (this includes using the cashier), and there are no Stud or Mixed games. But overall, most everything that someone would really want is all there in the mobile package. Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive.
PokerStars recommends using a Wi-Fi connection whenever possible because of its speed and reliability over 3G. Keep in mind that playing poker over a wireless connection is going to use data, so those not on unlimited data plans might need to monitor their usage. PokerStars estimates that just shy of 1MB of data will be downloaded and 500KB will be uploaded after playing at one table for an hour.
Additionally, players will be forced to sit out if they answer a phone call while playing and will be disconnected if they do not return within 25 seconds.