BetStars is a popular sportsbook and is the sports betting arm for the Pokerstars casino site, which just so happens to be the world's largest poker betting site. We have conducted a recent review of the BetStars site, and to no surprise, they have hit the nail on the head in every category featured.
They have a substantial range of sports and bet types and their bonus offerings are huge. They have ensured the quality of the site has been implemented across both the BetStars website and mobile sports app. BetStars is operated and owned by The Stars Group and was launched way back in 2001. Now, let's have a more in-depth look at what the 2022 BetStars sports betting site has to offer.
BetStars Sports Markets and Bet Types
The Stars Group attracts their players by the use of site gamification with several in-house features including the BetStars Spin & Bet game. This really sets the site apart from other sports betting sites.
Those that are familiar with the Pokerstars Spin & Go poker variation, will notice the similarities of this feature straight off the bat albeit being repurposed for a sportsbook. To use this feature, simply bet on any sports as you would usually do, the only difference being that 10% of the bet amount will be added to the Spin & Bet feature. This will give the player an extra chance to multiply their winnings up to 10x. For example, once you have placed your bet, you will then proceed to the feature to hit the Spin & Bet button. Here, an animation will appear to reveal either a 1x, 1.5x, 2x, 5x or 10x win multiplier added to your odds.
It may seem a bit of a gimmick, but it could really become the main contributing factor to big paydays. Especially on those longshot type bets. Let's say you have placed a $10 bet on the underdogs at 3/1 odds and you were able to hit that 10x win multiplier. A $30 win would be multiplied to a $300 profit if the bet was a winner.
Betting on personalized odds
One of the other features that the site incorporates is called RequestABet, which allows players to place bets with odds that aren't usually offered by them. Their regular selection of bets being quite comprehensive, you will most likely find your desired odds listed there. Those looking to get those really long odds or most unlikely outcomes will benefit most from this feature. Players also get a free $5 RequestABet each Friday when making two $5 RequestABets.
The selection of sports and types of bets you can make are humongous. You have the ability to bet on popular sports markets from Europe, the UK and the United States. Sports available to bet on include premium and lower-tier division football, basketball, golf, cricket, tennis, Aussie Rules Football and much more. There is also the ability to bet on non-sporting events, for instance, television specials, election results and the international stock exchange.
Esports and in-game betting
BetStars does not only offer a huge range of odds for each sporting discipline on their roster, but also offers a generous range of bet types for each sport. You will also find a great selection of pregame markets and an extensive list of in-game betting which can be made during the game. During our review process, we found that the bet lines and odds at BetStars has a leading edge when compared to other similar sportsbooks.
Bonuses & Promotions
Bonuses form one of BetStars attracting highlights, and we admit that this is another element BetStars does really well. This lends, in no doubt, to the educated success the company has had operating Pokerstars which possess the very same vigor. No matter what your preference, the sportsbook operator offers all players a very selective range of promotions the instant they sign up. Though these promotional offers are subject to change being regularly updated to keep things fresh, we've highlighted the bonuses we were able to monopolize on most during our review.
Welcome offer for first time bettors
Players that are accessing the site via the BetStars mobile app or desktop computer can claim the risk free promotion when signing up with the operator. This allows first time players to place a free bet up to the value of $500, and if the bet turns out to be a bust, the full amount will be returned right back to their balance. The fantastic value this bonus holds is especially great for players who have not yet registered an account with BetStars and a great way to test the playing field with no obligation.
Game bonuses
There are several other bonus deals that will refund losing bets the same way the risk free promotion does. For instance, money-line wagers placed on leagues such as MLB, NBA and NFL will be returned in full if the player's team has been defeated in the game's extra innings or overtime. The European market has a free bet bonus of up to $20 for bets placed on the Europa Cup, Champions League and Premier League, if the opposing team wins after 80 minutes of play.
Cash Out and Star Rewards program
Besides having a host of other deals up for the taking, one offer that caught our attention was the Cash Out option. If you feel your team is not performing as you hoped they would while the bet is still active, you can claim back part of your wager by taking a reduced payout, no matter what the outcome of the match. The Cash Out option proves quite useful when trying to get out of a tough spot, especially when placing multi-leg wagers.
If a parlay-type wager was placed and the first few bets are won in the multi-leg wager, the player can use the Cash Out option on the final leg. The fact that one loss could hit a downward spiral on the entire parlay, means that sometimes the best option is to cash out early and lock in a guaranteed profit.
Additionally, players have the option of accessing the Stars Rewards program. It works like any other loyalty reward program that earns you points for playing. Star Rewards points earned through BetStars and Pokerstars casino can be accumulated all in one place.
Banking & Payments
BetStars offers an efficient range of banking options for bettors when it comes to moving funds in, as well as out of their BetStars accounts. With all popular card options readily available, bettors can opt to transact using electronic checks (e-checks), Skrill, Paypal, PayNearMe and more. BetStars players residing in New Jersey can deposit in person within the Resorts Cage.
The minimum required deposit and bet amount at BetStars is $10. While many of the deposit methods are available as cash out options too, players will not be able to make use of card payments like MasterCard and Visa, and other services such as PayNearMe for their withdrawals. Other efficiently proven ways to cash out include e-checks and eWallets which allow for funds to easily transition to players bank accounts.
Another exclusive feature available from BetStars is the Stars Transfer option. A feature relative across all Star products that allows the transfer of credit between players via the platform. The method has been made practical by many Pokerstars players and is still constantly being used today.
Fairplay & Security
During our review process, we assess the credibility of a sportsbook with the utmost of scrutiny. For one, BetStars has been around for quite a few years offering a vast range of sports that would satisfy any player's betting preference comfortably. Having over two decades of expertise under their belt, BetStars has always made site security and fair play standards a priority their entire tenure. BetStars uses the very latest Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption software embedded locally. The level of security matches those used by many major banking and financial institutions worldwide.
Being a fully licensed and regulated operator, BetStars follows strict gambling operations and rules for each respective state. These include information security, accurate winnings and the processing of withdrawals in a timely manner including other regulations in the interest of the player.
Customer Support
The standard with well-known online gambling operators these days would be to have an instantly contactable support service. Though it may seem that BetStars lacks tension in this regard, they have a formula in place that seems to have worked for them over the years.
A live-chat service may not be available directly on their homepage, however players can make use of the handy contact form. Players will receive feedback via email and their support has proven to be quite responsive and most helpful, having 24/7 availability. In addition, BetStars has the most common FAQ section to instantly resolve most queries you may have.
Owned by: The Stars Group
Licenced by: UK Gambling Commission
Audited by: eCOGRA
Mobile Casino
Sports betting is highly preferred on a handset device as the majority of betting gets done via mobile online, so it would be a critical factor for a sportsbook to have support for a sports betting app or mobile HTML5 site. Regarding the portability of their sportsbook, BetStars wins with flying colors offering both options.
Download the BetStars app for free from the Google Play Store for Android devices, and the Apple iStore for related iOS devices. We have tested both the sports app and mobile site and from either side the site ran smoothly, regardless of the device used or screen size. Nothing has been compromised during the mobile porting process and you can find the exact same promotions and bet variations verbatim to the desktop site.
Conclusion : Living up to their name
We must admit that we do enjoy reviewing a sports betting site that exceeds all of our expectations, and BetStars has proven that they are definitely banging on all cylinders. The BetStars sportsbook being filled to the rafters and bettors being spoiled for choice when it comes to their range of sports to bet on, odds and bet types offered. Players will have the same quality experience that can be had when visiting the popular Pokerstars online poker room or casino. If anything has rubbed off, it is definitely only good vibrations.
The exciting risk-free bet option really spices things up for first-time bettors and regulars right from the get go. Transactions are made via familiar and trusted banking options with the fastest cash out times through certain payment methods. The site upholds fair play standards and places emphasis on areas important to their players. To conclude, BetStars has earned some of the highest scores we have awarded to an online sportsbook. Whether your game is eSports, football, horse racing, mixed martial arts, US major leagues and so on, BetStars has proven to be a respectable one-stop sports hub for all your sports betting needs.