BetStars Review
If you know anything about online gambling, then you would have heard of the legendary PokerStars, one of the top online poker sites in the world. At the end of 2015, PokerStars expanded its product offering through the launch of its sister company, BetStars, which is now its sports betting partner.
🥇 BetStars | BetStars |
⭐Rating | 4.0 / 5.0 |
⚽ Sport Betting | Hundreds of Unique Markets |
💻 Live Betting | Multi-Cashout Opportunities |
🎁 Welcome Bonus | Stake £20 get 2 x £10 free bets |
⚖️Regulation | UK Gambling Commission |
🏆 BetStars | Bet Here! |
As you can imagine, being part of the PokerStars brand, this is a really top-class offering. It has already managed to scoop prizes, being rewarded for ‘Innovation in Sports Betting’ amongst other plaudits. This is an online betting site that is just going from strength to strength and is set to fly high. In this BetStars review, we’ll be showing you how good this site is set to be and how it is not a scam.
Overview of Our Experiences
If you want a great online sportsbook with a huge amount of sports and markets on offer, then you’re definitely in the right place here. This is a sportsbook, pure and simple, but because it is linked with PokerStars and PokerStars Casino, then you are just a click away from a top online casino too.
The reason this is so impressive is its unique ability to offer an integrated platform for both sports and poker betting. Although many sites offer both poker and sorts, most of the time you have to switch wallets. However, here, you can use the same wallet for both.
Company: | The Stars Group |
Address: | 200 Bay Street, South Tower, Suite 3205, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Registration number: | 008457V |
Regulation/license: | Malta Gaming Authority |
Phone: | +1 437 371 5742 |
eMail: | support@betstars.com |
Live Chat: | None |
Not only is the offering and the ability to switch between products impressive, but the whole site makes life simple. It’s easy to navigate; there’s a great FAQ service alongside impressive customer service and not only are the banking options quick and easy, but it is also a PayPal site to boot. Furthermore, with all the licenses and certificates it holds, you know you’re in safe hands.
BetStars Check: Scam or Not?
Its connection alone to the well reputed PokerStars should be enough to prove, without a doubt, that this is no scam sportsbetting site. But if you want further evidence, then just look at its licensing. It currently holds its license with the Malta Gaming Authority and it has actually become the first international sports betting operator to obtain a license to trade in the Czech Republic. This is definitely not a sign of a scam site.
Certificates aside, this is a PayPal site, which is also a real indicator that this isn’t a scam, as your PayPal payments are protected, so it cannot be linked to a company that would scam punters out of their money. With its links to responsible gambling and GamCare, BetStars is a clearly a site that takes its responsibilities seriously and is no BetStars sportsbook scam.
Overview of the Offers from BetStars
There are a whole host of sports betting markets on offer when you hit BetStars. As soon as you get to the homepage, you’ll be greeted by a variety of games on which you can place your bets on. From the ever-popular football to the more specialised Bobsleigh betting, there’s a decent amount to pick from, the best news is that’s still young and still growing, so there’s more to watch out for. You also have smooth and easy access to a great poker site and fantastic online casino, just one click away.
Sports Betting
In total, when you get onto the Sportsbook, you may not find as many variations as some of the older and more established sportsbooks on the market, but the offering is already impressive and it’s still growing. You can currently choose to wager on sports such as football, American football, cricket, horse racing and ice hockey, through to the less obvious sports, such as short track speed skating, table tennis and futsal. You can even choose to bet on esports if that’s more your thing.
Should you choose to wager on football, then you won’t be disappointed, as on some of the main games, it offers around 100 markets on which you can place your bets, which is a huge amount and ranks it highly amongst many of the other top online bookmakers. As well as this, another of its strengths is its live betting. It is clear that BetStars has put a lot of effort to make the in-play as effective and smooth as possible, Furthermore, the coverage of many events from around the world is really rather impressive. The in-play infographics on offer is very impressive, and the cash-out function is brilliant. This is clearly an online bookmaker that has been well-designed and developed – and it’s just getting better.
Online Casino
Despite the fact that this isn’t actually BetStars, just a click away is the PokerStars online casino, on which you play if you fancy a change from the sports betting. On this site you can access a whole host of games, from top gaming providers such as NetEnt.
You can choose from hundreds of slot games, including the classic Starburst and the ever popular Dead or Alive. As well as that you can hit the jackpot slots with Playtech’s Age of the Gods, and the record-breaking game Mega Moolah. There are also a host of table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more, as well as an impressive live casino.
Poker
This is where BetStars originated from, its big sister and ever-popular PokerStars, which is linked seamlessly to the sports betting site. This is one of the best poker sites in the world and has everything you could want from online poker. With a whole host of tables you can choose from, you get to choose whether you join the Suit Race, enjoy the Spinball Challenges, join in with the Turbo Series or just enjoy the quick games on offer, Whether you’re in it for fun or as a serious contender, PokerStars allows you to become a real poker champion. Simply download and start your poker journey.
BetStars Bonus: Check Out the Offer
Sports betting bonuses tend to be very different from traditional casino bonuses however, that doesn’t mean they’re not as good. The BetStars bonus may not necessarily dazzle you with its numbers, but it is a very creditable bet £10 and get £20 free bets. All you have to do to claim your welcome bonus is sign-up, create your account, make your first bet of £20 and within 48 hours you’ll be credited with your 2 x £10 free bets.
Deposit Bonus: | Stake £20 get 2 x £10 free bets |
Bonus Condition: | Valid for bets over 2.0 odds and not to be used on Spin & Bets |
Validity: | Not valid with Neteller and expires in 7 days |
Other promotions: | None |
Like most welcome offers, this comes with terms and conditions that you must take note of if you want to take full advantage of the offer. The first thing to note is that the offer will only apply to bets placed on selections with accumulated odds of 2.0 or more and you cannot access this offer if you made your first deposit via Neteller.
You also cannot use your free bets on any Spin & Bets. Be aware that the free bets will expire after 7 days, so if you haven’t used them, you will lose them. There is no wagering requirement specified in the terms and conditions so anything you win, as long as you follow all the terms and conditions, will be yours to keep. If you are looking for a bigger bonus offer, we suggest you read about the Monster Casino bonus in our review.
Deposit and Payout at the Sportsbook
Despite the fact that BetStars is a relatively young online sportsbook, it does offer a very impressive variety of banking methods, and they all boast incredibly quick processing times compared to many others out there. If you like to use a debit card to make your deposits, then you can choose from Visa Electron and Maestro; if you prefer not to link your bank cards to the site then you can choose eWallet options or prepaid cards such as Neteller, Skrill, Paysafecard, Entropay and of course, this is a PayPal site. As well as this, if you already have a PokerStars account with a balance, then you can easily transfer your existing balance and use it at BetStars.
Payment Options at BetStars | |
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Deposit options: | Maestro, Visa Electron, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafecard, PayPal, PokerStars voucher |
Minimum deposit : | £10 |
Fees: | None |
Accepted currency: | USD, CAD, EUR, GBP |
Payout options: | Maestro, Visa Electron, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafecard, PayPal |
To make it even better, you can even top up your account using the PokerStars top-up payment option, allowing you to but a voucher and use it to top up your account. All of the deposits are instant and there is a minimum deposit of £10 no matter what option you choose. There are generally no maximum deposits, although if you choose to use the PokerStars top-up, then the largest voucher available is £250.
When it comes to withdrawing, this site is equally as impressive, as you can choose to withdraw your winnings with most of the depositing options, with the exception of MasterCard and of course, the voucher. In general, all withdrawals are processed very quickly, with given times of between 1-2 days for most methods, although it generally within just 24 hours.
It can take up to 3 days if you choose to withdraw with debit card however. One of the best aspects is that there is no minimum withdrawal and there is no maximum, which means it’s quick and easy to get to your money and there are no fees attached to any of the methods. When it comes to banking, every transaction you make is 100% safe and secure.
Security and Regulation
For such a young company, BetStars has clearly taken its lead from PokerStars as it has got licenses to make sure it can operate in many different countries throughout Europe and across the globe. It is still a company that’s growing though and it’s sure to have more licenses soon. The company is regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority, which is one of the top regulators in the industry and as well as this it is also the first international sports betting operator that has managed to obtain a license to operate in the Czech Republic.
On top of all the certifications, it is also a member of the Interactive Gaming Council, which was designed to establish fair and responsible trade guidelines designed to improve confidence in online gaming industries.
As well as this, the BetStars shuffle has had its Random Number Generator tested extensively by an outside authority to confirm that it is totally fair and random and the whole site is Gaming Labs certified, so everything on the site has been tested and confirmed as completely fair and true. As well as this, all financial and security data has been completely encrypted so is completely safe and secure. Without a doubt, the security and regulations in place within BetStars are impressive.
Customer Support
BetStars customer support is pretty good, but currently there are just two ways of contacting the agents. Firstly, you have the option of using the email address provided: support@betstars.uk, which you can obviously use at any time of day, although this is best for a query that isn’t too urgent. You would normally expect to hear a reply from this within a couple of hours, but that may well depend on the time of day and how busy the customer service agents are. Further to this, there is an online contact form which can be found on the website, available 24 hours a day.
Unfortunately, BetStars didn’t offer the option of either live chat or a phone number, which is rather disappointing as many players would prefer to be able to contact agents in this manner. However, despite that, when we posed questions to the customer service operatives, we were always answered quickly and informatively, so it’s difficult to complain too much. BetStars has clearly taken a lot of time and effort to build up its FAQ service. The section is full and robust, and because of this you should be able to find answers to most of your queries without needing to contact the Customer Service department. It is split into 12 different sections, so all the questions should be easy to locate and this should be able to get you on your way quickly.
Usability of the Online Sportsbook
BetStars has designed a website that looks great, with a backdrop of a football pitch under the glare of floodlights. It is also easy to navigate. On the top of the BetStars homepage, you will find links to all the most popular sports to bet on, such as football, horseracing, darts, tennis and more. Besides this is the index to all the sports, so you can find what you want easily.
There is also a search function to assist you if needed. You can also find a special section linked to the promotions, as well as the upcoming popular games that are well highlighted on the home screen. To make it easier for all, there is even a guide to sports betting added for those that are new to it or don’t often place bets and this helps you to understand the odds system if you aren’t used to it. Not only is the sportsbook user-friendly, but the poker and casino is just a click away, meaning you can switch between these with ease.
BetStars App: Many Different Games
BetStars may be new to the game, but it is quick out of the starting block when it comes to having delivered a great BetStars app. The app has been pushed a lot and it clearly intends to make its mark on the world of sports betting apps. However, there have been a few teething issues and there are still some improvements that would turn it from a decent app to a great app compared with other online mobile casino apps and sportsbook apps.
The site’s interface is easy to navigate, however, at the moment it is just a touch too simplistic in design. Furthermore, although there is a very wide offering of its markets and products to be found on the app, it can be a touch slow at times, which is evident when compared with the desktop version.
In general, this doesn’t cause too much of a problem, unless you are trying to bet in-play. On the whole, this is a decent mobile app, but to compete with the best around, there are yet improvements to be made. It is a young product, so hopefully, it will improve further in the not-too-distant future.
Conclusion: Online Sportsbook with a Fantastic Range
Undoubtedly, BetStars is a great addition to the PokerStars family and it really does offer an impressive sportsbook. It has a good range of sports and markets, with the football market being particularly impressive.
The site is easy to navigate and the Customer Service agents are great. Because it is new, there are one or two little issues to iron out, but its security and regulations cannot be faulted and you always feel completely secure. This has a huge amount of promise and as far as online casinos and online sportsbooks go, this is definitely no scam site.
Enjoy gambling responsibly. Set limits on time and money spent, and never gamble more than you can afford to lose. Remember, gambling is for entertainment, not a way to solve financial problems. If you feel your gambling habits are becoming a concern, seek help from organisations like BeGambleAware or GamCare.
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