Netbet Poker
My Netbet Poker review demonstrates why Netbet provides one of the best online poker experiences for players with limited bankrolls or limited time on their hands to clear a substantial bonus. Click “PLAY NOW” to register your account, and use the Netbet VIP Code “POKERWEB” in order to be eligible for a 200% match bonus weighted in favor of microstakes players and €20.00 free poker money after making your first deposit.
Netbet Poker is a skin on the iPoker Network that started attracting attention when it took over the former Poker 770 site in September 2014. As the result of having a larger player database, Netbet Poker has introduced its own promotions in addition to those offered by the Network and recently launched mobile poker apps for Android and iOS devices.
As well as a comprehensive selection of online poker games, Netbet also provides players with the opportunity to bet on sports and horse racing, bet “In-Play” (with a handy cash-out feature if you start to get nervous about your selection´s success) and enjoy the thrill of a live dealer casino – with a wide selection of slots and table games also available.
200% Netbet Poker Bonus Up To €1,500 and €20.00 Free Poker Money
Like most other skins on the iPoker Network, the Netbet Poker bonus is a “Triple Your Money” offer on first deposits up to €1,500 (or £1,000 if you fund your account in Sterling). This means that, if you deposit €750 into your Netbet Poker account, you will be eligible for a €1,500 bonus. The bonus is cleared by earning Netbet Points as you contribute to the rake deducted from cash game pots or as you pay fees to enter multi table tournaments or Sit & Go games.
However, unlike most other skins on the iPoker Network, Netbet Poker has a points award structure that favors microstakes and tournament players. Whereas most cash games on Netbet Poker award 20 points per Euro raked, microstakes players (up to €0.02/€0.04) receive 23 points per Euro raked and tournament/Sit & Go players receive 22 points per Euro paid for tournament entry fees – including fees paid to enter the site´s three-handed, hyper-turbo “Twister” games.
The bonus is released in increments of €2.00 each time you collect 200 Netbet Points with the exception of the first €2.00 (released when you have collected 100 Netbet Points) and the next four increments (released when you have collected 135 Netbet Points). You have forty-five days from the date of your first deposit in which to clear as much of the Netbet Poker bonus as possible.
Making your first deposit with the Netbet bonus code “FREE20” also entitles you to €20.00 free poker money. €10.00 is credited to your account straight away to be used on any of Netbet´s poker games, with the second €10.00 credited one week later. Please note that the Netbet bonus code “FREE20” should only be used when making your first deposit. The Netbet VIP code “POKERWEB” is the code to use when creating your account.
Summary: The Netbet Poker bonus has a nice structure for microstakes players and those with limited time on their hands to clear a substantial bonus. New players also receive entries into the site´s “VIP Instant Win” and “Weekly Final” freeroll tournaments that reward winners with Netbet Live satellite tokens. Rating 9/10
Cash Games at Netbet Poker Offer a Good Range of Choice
Although the range of cash games at Netbet Poker is determined by what is provided by the iPoker Network, the selection should suit every type of player. Cash games of Texas Hold´em, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo start with stakes at €0.01/€0.02, rising up to €5.00/€10.00. The majority of the action takes place at the low to mid-stakes 6-Max NL Texas Hold´em tables, but during peak periods there is plenty of life elsewhere around the site.
One variety of cash game that is always popular is Speed Poker – a fast-fold NL Texas Hold´em variant that allows you to fold your dealt cards and be taken to another table, where you will be dealt another hand of cards. Players tend to use Speed Poker as a means of earning Netbet Points quickly in order to clear their first deposit bonuses or reload bonuses won as prizes in the site´s SNAPWIN promotion.
Summary: If you enjoy playing NL Texas Hold´em Poker, you will not be disappointed with the choice of games available. Players who prefer Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo may have to wait until the European evening in order to find tables open at their selected stake levels. Rating 7/10
Plenty of Options for Sit & Go and Tournament Players
I mentioned above about how Netbet Poker allocates points in favor of Sit & Go and tournament players, and there are plenty of opportunities for players who want to take advantage of the site´s generosity. A wide range of Sit & Go games is complimented by Jackpot Sit & Go games – in which players are rewarded for stringing together a sequence of victories – and there are multiple buy-in levels for the site´s three-handed, hyper-turbo “Twister” Sit & Go games.
The site has a very good blend of tournament formats – not relying too heavily on multi-entry or re-buy/add-on games – including bounty tournaments and qualifiers to live poker events. Although it is unlikely that you will be able to retire after winning a Netbet Poker tournament, the site has an excellent satellite schedule geared towards its “Sunday Line-Up”, which features a €100,000 guaranteed “Big Sunday” tournament.
Summary: There is always plenty of Sit & Go and tournament action running around the clock at Netbet Poker, and the site´s excellent satellite schedule provides opportunities for turning a small investment into a decent payday. Rating 8/10
Netbet Poker´s VIP Club Can Provide a Bankroll Boost
As you collect points to clear the Netbet Poker bonus, you will also be collecting points towards your status in the Netbet Poker VIP Club. The VIP Club rewards players for their continued action at the site with a five-tiered structure that boosts the points you earn the higher up the statuses you climb. Once you have sufficient points, they can be exchanged for cash, tournament tickets, reload bonuses and goods from the Netbet online store.
Players on course to clear a €500 Netbet Poker bonus (after depositing €250) will need to collect around 33,000 points per month. At that rate, you would reach the “Diamond” status level within your first month – which boosts your points collection by 350%. With 148,500 VIP Club Points, you could pick up an extra €150 in cash, €250 in reload bonuses or €275 in tournament tokens – every month!
Summary: As players get a minimum of 20 points per dollar raked, it does not take long to build up a good collection of points. With a choice of cash rewards, reload bonuses or tournament tokens, there is something to suit everybody. Rating 9/10
Netbet Poker Promotions are Ideal for Recreational and Experienced Players
Netbet Poker offers its own promotions as well as those shared with other iPoker Network skins. This means that, as well as the monthly network-wide “mission-based” promotions, there is usually a choice of other promotions to participate in. Many of the site´s own promotions are freeroll tournaments offering tokens towards Netbet Live events or tournaments advertised exclusively on the site´s social media channels.
Netbet Poker also has a “SNAPWIN” promotion – a once-a-month scratchcard-style promotion that guarantees a prize to every player who has earned VIP Club points during the preceding month. The prizes are fairly good and can range from casino side game freeplays and freespins, to tournament tokens and free poker bonuses.
Summary: It is definitely worth keeping up-to-date with Netbet´s promotions and following the site on social media. Whereas a lot of the network-wide promotions culminate in “All-In Shootouts” or protracted tournaments, Netbet´s own promotions are individual and instant. Rating 8/10
The Level of Competition is a Mixed Bag
As Netbet Poker is a skin on the iPoker Network, you will find a mixed bag of skill sets at the tables. Some players will originate from online bookmakers such as William Hill, whereas others may come from dedicated online poker sites such as Genting Poker. Although playing against skilled players will raise the level of your own game, few people would choose to encounter skilled players within minutes of making their first deposit.
Consequently we suggest sticking to a conservative level of bankroll management while you are getting familiar with Netbet Poker and using the notes facility to distinguish between highly-skilled players and those you feel a little more comfortable playing against. Unfortunately Netbet Poker does not host tables exclusive to new or its own players (except for its own promotions), so you do have to be careful when first playing at the site.
Summary: It really is a case of safety first at Netbet Poker. Sticking to the microstakes tables is no guarantee of avoiding predatory players, so do not take more to the tables than you can comfortably afford to lose. Rating 6/10
Strong Traffic at Netbet Poker
One of the advantages of being part of the iPoker Network is that there is always a good level of traffic at Netbet Poker. Naturally there are more games and more valuable tournaments during the peak European hours and at weekends, but it is not difficult to find a cash game of NL Texas Hold´em or a tournament about to start during the off-peak times either.
During the off-peak hours, the opportunity often exists to get extra value from under-subscribed guaranteed poker tournaments or from satellites guaranteeing a minimum number of seats to more valuable events. If you choose your times and your games carefully, there is the potential for some extra value at Netbet Poker during the quieter times.
Summary: The iPoker Network is one of the largest in the world. This guarantees strong traffic levels almost around the clock with not so many peaks and troughs in traffic as you may find elsewhere. Rating: 7/10
The Netbet Poker Download
I rarely see Netbet Poker reviews go beyond the promotions available from the site, and can count on one hand the number of review sites that actually provide any assistance with the processes of downloading the poker software and registering an account, so I felt it would be appropriate to include this information in my review of Netbet Poker.
Netbet Poker Compatibility
Unfortunately Netbet Poker is only available to players with Windows PCs or players using a mobile app. There is no Netbet Poker for Mac or an Instant Play version of the software that can be played via a web browser, so Mac users will have to use an emulator program such as Bootcamp if they wish to take advantage of the potentially lucrative online poker experience at Netbet.
The Netbet Poker download for Windows is exceptionally easy. Simply follow the links on this page to Netbet Poker and then click on the large red button that reads “Play Now”. A “setuppoker.exe” file will download onto your computer within a few minutes; after which you simply click on the file to start the installation process.
An online wizard guides you through the installation process, asking you to read the terms and conditions before accepting them (recommended) and giving you the option of placing the Netbet Poker software in a designated folder (alternatively one is created by default). Once the installation process is finished, the poker client will launch on your desktop and you will be invited to create your account.
Summary: The Netbet Poker download and installation is very simple – and quick depending on the processing power of your computer. Most computers purchased within the last five years and operating Windows XP or later will be able to cope with the Netbet Poker system requirements. Rating 8/10
Creating an Account with Netbet Poker
Players at Netbet Poker have the option of creating an account via the download poker client or via the site´s home page. Both routes take you to the same secure web page, where you are asked to enter your personal details, a username and password, and your Netbet VIP code (“POKERWEB”). Live chat is available to help you if you encounter any problems.
I always recommend that players enter their personal details in the same format as they appear on the documents that will be used to verify their IDs. This saves a lot of time later and can avoid potential problems when you request your first withdrawal. It is also advisable to select the same currency for your account as you will be using for your source of funds. This will avoid having to pay foreign exchange fees to your bank or eWallet provider.
Summary: Another recommendation I always make is to verify your account as soon as possible as this adds an extra layer of protection against fraud or theft. Rating 10/10
Making Your First Deposit at Netbet Poker
Although you do not have to fund your account at Netbet Poker immediately, it is understandable that you would want to get straight onto playing online poker and clearing the Netbet Poker bonus. When you are ready to make your first deposit, click on the “Cashier” button to be taken to a secure web portal where you will be presented with a choice of secure funding options for making your deposit.
The funding options vary according to players´ countries of residence, but usually include MasterCard, Visa, Neteller and Skrill. The minimum deposit is usually €20.00, but bear in mind that only your first deposit counts towards your first deposit bonus, and although reload bonuses can be won through the SNAPWIN promotion or purchased through the VIP Club, this is your only opportunity to get a 200% Netbet Poker bonus.
Summary: I recommended using an eWallet for your online poker activities. They only take a few minutes to set up and enable you to keep your bankroll separate from your living expenses. Rating 10/10
Fair Gaming and Player Security at Netbet Poker
Netbet Poker dedicates several pages of its online help section to explaining how the site ensures a fair gaming experience and player security – not just for online poker players but for all gamblers using the site. Being licensed and regulated in the UK by the UK Gambling Commission, and licensed by the Malta Gaming Association for its European operations, Netbet Poker has to adhere to a strict set of guidelines to ensure players are treated fairly.
Netbet Poker operates in a marketplace where there is plenty of competition. If there was any suspicion of foul play or that players were not getting paid out on time, word would spread quickly and you would see an exodus from the site. The fact that Netbet Poker has grown significantly since taking over the Poker 770 database in 2014 is testament to the site´s integrity.
Summary: I looked, but I could not find a complaint about Netbet – even an unjustified complaint – in any of the online gambling forums. Rating 10/10
Netbet Customer Services on a “Mission to Please”
On the Netbet website, there is a small mission statement concerning Netbet´s Customer Service. It reads: “Every member of Group Netbet shares the same goal: to satisfy the needs of our users. At Netbet, we strive to meet those objective by offering a highly professional customer service team”. From my experience, I can confirm the customer service team is definitely doing a good job.
It is unlikely that you will have much contact with Netbet´s customer services. A comprehensive help guide on the Netbet website answers practically every question you might have; but, if you do need to communicate with a real person, the customer services team can be reached by Live Chat, phone (UK number), fax and email both day and night.
Summary: A very good service, manned by competent and professional personnel. Probably could do with more international telephone support with toll-free call rates. Rating 9/10
What Else Does Netbet Do?
As mentioned at the beginning of this Netbet Poker review, the site offers a comprehensive range of sports betting and horserace betting opportunities and multiple casino options – each with their own special offers and promotions. Players can exchange funds from one Netbet wallet to another to take advantage of these opportunities, but please be aware that wallet transfers do not count as deposits for bonus purposes.
One area briefly touched upon above was poker on a mobile. The Netbet Poker apps have only recently been released, but there have been no bugs or glitches reported so far. Sports betting and casino apps for mobiles also exist for Netbet customers, so you will never be very far away from the action – whatever type of action it is that you prefer.
Summary: The range of sports betting opportunities and casino games is quite breathtaking. I had not really investigated that side of the site before looking into it for this Netbet Poker review. Now I worry that I will not be spending enough time developing my game! Rating 10/10
Netbet Poker Review Conclusion
I feel that the stack of high individual scores is an accurate reflection on the merits of Netbet Poker – although the site is not a perfect match for everyone. I would suggest that if you like around-the-clock high-stakes action, or want to play online poker on a Mac, you may not be impressed with Netbet Poker.
These two issues aside, I have difficulty in finding much wrong with the site. Sure, there are bigger first deposit bonuses at some other sites and more valuable tournaments; but, at Netbet Poker, there are plenty of reload bonuses available and, if you want valuable tournaments, you can qualify to play in a Netbet Live event for free. There´s not many websites that can beat Netbet Poker´s Overall Score of 8.54/10.