Online Review
MOST US PLAYERS ACCEPTED, RESIDENTS OF THE FOLLOWING STATES ARE EXCLUDED: Indiana, Oregon,
Washington, Louisiana
and Illinois.
If the one reason you’ve never played poker online is because you’d miss the interaction with real people, then True Poker may become your favorite poker site. Three-dimensional player characters (each with unique mannerisms and appearances), 3-D table views, table chatter phrases that mimic the “brick and mortar” cardroom experience, and a dealer who looks at you if you take too long to act (and then reminds you that it’s your turn) combine to recreate a live game atmosphere. In fact, you can’t find a more lifelike poker experience without traveling to the nearest casino. There are enough players at True Poker to guarantee finding a game at low and middle stakes, but the high stakes games run infrequently.
There are an adequate number of tournaments listed in the daily schedule, including both standard multi-table tournaments and sit-and-go contests. Almost all of the tournaments feature Texas Hold’em games, and few of them are fixed limit. Ring games are spread at stakes ranging from micro-limit up to $15/$30 (fixed limit) and $500 maximum buy-in (no limit) with the low limit games drawing the vast majority of the players.
Your competition will be drawn from players who are participating as recreation rather than from those who are trying to make a living from the game. Beginners and recreational player will find True Poker to exactly match their level of skill. More advanced players, or those for whom fast action and high stakes games are a requirement, will most likely not be attracted to True Poker.
Customer service via e-mail is efficient and knowledgeable. Live help from “hosts” is available, but although the True Poker website advertises this feature as a full-time option there seems to be gaps in the schedule, especially at off-peak time. Banking options are more than adequate. True Poker leaves an impression that they are attentive to their customers and responsive to their needs. Beginners and recreational poker players will really enjoy the True Poker experience.
Poker Software
The True Poker software takes online 3-D poker to a new level. All that animation and aural atmosphere does come at a small price. The gameplay at True Poker is slower that at some other poker sites. True Poker players seem happy to exchange a few hands per hour for the one-of-a-kind interface. Although there is a 4-color deck menu option, it doesn’t seem to work and not all the animations can be disabled. The software operates smoothly, even with all the graphics enabled. Buttons and controls are intuitive and well thought out. Multiple games may be played, but your home poker environment will certainly be a noisy place if all of the chat features are activated. It’s another example of how closely True Poker imitates the “real casino” environment.
Tournament Information
The no limit hold’em tournament selections are adequate, but very few Omaha tournaments are offered. Multi-table tournaments at True Poker are capped at relatively low player numbers, typically ranging fro 100 to 300 maximum. Although this makes tournament play less of a time-intensive commitment, it does limit the prize pool.
Recreational players may term this trade-off a benefit since it will keep the tournament specialists from finding their way into the mix. Sit-and-go tournaments are somewhat slow to fill up, sometimes requiring a wait of up to 10 minutes.
Bonus
True Poker offers a 100% bonus up to $200. There are a number of other promotions as well.
House Rake
True Poker begins collecting their commission at relatively low pot sizes. Rake measures 5% of the pot up to a maximum set according to table stakes.
Traffic Report
Peak time (late evening (EST) approximately 5,000 players
Mid-morning (EST) approximately 2,500 players
Mid afternoon (EST) approximately 3,500 players
Player Competition
Your opponents at True Poker will consist of beginners and recreational players who enjoy the rich graphical playing experience more than tough, fast, hardcore competition. The games are normally friendly, chat-filled and action-oriented.
Player Options
Multitabling: At True Poker, players are limited to having 4 ring game tables open at once. Players who don’t have big screen monitors will appreciate that the True Poker game tables are smaller than the average online poker table, so multiple games can share the screen with less overlap.
Chat options: Table chatter at true Poker is something that needs to be experienced rather than described. Although player chat sounds can be disabled, most players will probably not exercise the option because it adds so much to the True Poker environment.
Pre-select actions: In NL or PL games, a sliding bet control accompanies the standard buttons. The raise button is pre-set to 2X the current bet.
Hand History: Hand histories may be requested via e-mail only. The maximum number that may be requested is 10.
Stats: Statistics, both short and long-term, are available in a pop-up window accessed from the lobby. They may also be saved to disk.
Note taking ability: Player notes windows are standard. Left-clicking on a player’s avatar brings up a window where notes can be entered. They player must save the new note; exiting the window without explicitly saving the note will cause it to disappear.
Customer Service and Account maintenance
Phone: 011-506-289-6242
Live Chat: No live chat available
Email Support: support@truepoker.com
Email Support response: 30 minutes
Deposit Options
Visa
Mastercard
Firepay - Closed to US residents
Neteller - Closed to US residents
Citadel - Closed to US residents
UseMyBank-Closed to US residents
Click2Pay (Closed to US residents)
Cash-out Policy
Withdrawals are normally sent back to whatever deposit option originally chosen by the player. Neteller and Firepay withdrawals are processed with 24 hours. Other methods, for example paper checks or direct deposit to your bank account will take longer.