Full review of Paradise Poker

Paradise Poker
www.paradisepoker.com 
FREE DOWNLOAD!
Established 1999
Country Costa Rica
Auditor PWC
Software size 5.03 MB

Special Features
Great software (graphics, functionality, stability)
Great site traffic

Total score (out of 10) 6.75

 Sign-up bonus in $ $50
Deposit bonus in % 25%
Referral bonus per friend $100
Deposit free bonus $0
Paid to play ($/hour) $0

Hits
Email support is "reptile quick"
Great game variety (all major games plus five-card draw, crazy pineapple, etc)
Note taking support
Good statistics functions (online and via email)
Lobby information is detailed

Misses
Very tough opposition (hard to beat the games)
No live or telephone support
No frequent player point's scheme
Few promotions

Summary
Paradise Poker has one of the best software around and boasts very high traffic in both cash games and tournaments. Paradise Poker was the pioneer in online poker and its software has served as model for the entire industry. Paradise Poker has great game variation with almost all games, as well good sit'n'go tournament coverage and plenty of heads-up games. Security and email support is good as well. There are a few drawbacks ; low bonus offers, few promotions and very tight games. Real money player statistics for Paradise Poker - July 2005: 2500-2900 ring game players at peak hours, 4000-5500 tournament players at peak hours.

Software and graphics
Paradise Poker is widely regarded as a poker software leader (together with Poker Stars and Ultimate Bet) with its clean, sleek and reliable graphics and software. The platform is one of the most quick and stable in the industry. Paradise Poker supports notes on other players and has good statistics functions. The precise pot size is not provided numerically, unless you run the cursor over the pot. Some players have complained that the software can get a little messy, if the computer does not support all needed plug-ins etc, mentioning problems with the interface and some functionality. Most people praise the software though.

Ring game traffic
Paradise Poker was the world's largest poker site for years. But with the rapid development they lost the top spots and are now at position 3 to 5. However, the traffic is still much higher today than back then, as the online poker market has exploded. The number of real money ring game players at peak hours is currently 2500-2900.

Tournament traffic
The traffic at the tournaments is very good, also at the sit-and-go tables. At peak hours the number of real money tournament players now reaches between 4000-5500.

Game variety
ParadisePoker's game variety is one of the best in the industry, including no-limit and pot-limit at most standard games and more rare games such as five-card draw, five-card stud and crazy pineapple.

Rake
ParadisePoker's rake is less attractive than the average in the industry, at least when it comes to lower limit games. This holds true also for the tournaments, where good value only is provided at the higher stakes.

Soft competition
If you are looking to make easy money - you have come to the wrong place! Paradise Poker is notorious for the quality of the players and the tightness of the games, where full mid-stakes Holdem games rarely has a view flop percentage over 40%. In fact, you often see it creep down under 30% and even 25% in the higher stakes games. But on the other hand, to be a consistent winner at Paradise Poker after paying the rakes is a sure ego booster!

Loyalty bonus
Paradise Poker has no loyalty program at present.

Promotions
Overall the standard promotions are OK, but there could still be a bit more considering the very high traffic. Typically, landmark hand number bonus is used. Lately they have guaranteed prize money in tournaments and some promotions for frequent players. It is getting better!

Support
Paradise Poker has great email support, extremely quick and always professional. You often get an answer in a minute. However there is no live or telephone support.

Financial security
Paradise Poker should be very secure, as one of the very top half dozen poker rooms in the world, with no earlier recorded problems. Top score.

Deposit & withdrawal options
Deposit options:
VISA, MasterCard, NETeller, FirePay, wire transfer, bank draft.
Cash out options:
VISA, NETeller, FirePay and check.