Guts Poker Review

From the operator that brought you Guts Casino and Sportsbook, Guts Poker is a topnotch poker site that's built on the perfect combination of innovation and experience. Indeed, thanks to a partnership with MPN (formally the Microgaming Poker Network), Guts Poker is always buzzing with players.

Using this as a platform, the team at Guts has put together a unique selection of deals, bonuses and offers to ensure new and old players have something to satisfy their poker urges. Indeed, when you combine this with a steady stream of traffic courtesy of MPN, you've got a site that's perfect for poker players of all persuasions.

Promotions

In order to claim any Guts Poker bonus you must first verify your account. Once you've clicked the link in your welcome email, a ton of free cash starts flowing your way. A welcome bonus worth up to €1,000 is the first gift. Based on a 100% match, the bonus will be released in €5 increments for every €25 you rake.

Beyond this bonus, all new players will gain exclusive access to newbie tournaments and freerolls which are only open to recent sign-ups. This allows you to not only play for less, but compete against fellow newbies who may not be particularly experienced.

Finally, the Guts Poker loyalty scheme allows you to earn as much as 30% rakeback. In a nutshell, the more you rake, the more you'll earn based. For every 30 Guts Points you generate you'll earn $1 based on the following structure:

Cash Games and Tournaments

Free play poker games at Guts are contained in their own special tab, which is a nice touch. Instead of rifling through a myriad of real money cash games, newbies can hit the "free" tab and play everything from Hold'em and Omaha to Stud, Draw and Razz.

For real money gaming, cash games stakes start at €0.01/€0.02 and reach as high as €50/€100. For tournament and SNG players, the lowest buy-in limits are an extremely affordable – €0.01 at the lowest level. At the top of the tournament ladder, €1,000 games can earn you a pretty penny in a matter of minutes.

Looking at the range of games from a general perspective, Guts Poker offers the following:

Competition Level

MPN is one of the largest online poker networks in the industry, which means Guts Poker contains a broad spectrum of players. For those who like to test themselves against the best, mid-stakes tables from €3/€6 up contain a selection of established grinders grinding out a living.

At the lower limits, newbies and novices abound, which means there's plenty of fish ripe for the picking. In fact, if you want to win some progressive jackpots against some less than stellar competition, the special "Fish Party" SNGs allow you to play against two other players and win in excess of €200,000 for as little as €50.

Software

Depending on your preference, Guts Poker is available as an online platform and a downloadable desktop suite. For those who simply want to find a game, ante-up and start bluffing, the Flash version of the site is the perfect option. Although it could be described as "Guts Poker Light", the online version still has everything you need to play in a way that suits you.

Microgaming is the driving force behind the site and that means the games are crisp, clear and easy to navigate. From an aesthetic point of view, a simple racetrack style table doesn't contain a myriad of unnecessary features, while the avatars are unobtrusive squares. Essentially, if you're looking for a poker site that's economic, ergonomic and efficient, Guts Poker is all that and more.

Support and Banking

When it comes to support, Guts Poker offers a 24/7 service via the following channels:

• Email: support@guts.com
• Skype: guts.poker

When you sign-up to Guts Poker you have to input your geo-location, which then allows you to select one of the following currencies:

User Experience

On the homepage you'll find a toolbar with timers to the next big money tournaments, while a bad beat jackpot counter at the top of the page highlights the amount you could win if you're luck is in (or not, as the case may be). In terms of finding a game, the "play now" button on the homepage will take you to a sortable list of cash games, tournaments and SNGs.

Finding a game is relatively easy thanks to standard filters like game limits, format and betting dynamics and once you've loaded the table everything is clear and concise. Thanks to Microgaming's well-honed poker package, those with experience in the online poker industry will be familiar with the overall layout. If you're not familiar with a Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) site, the overall look is minimalistic and that makes for a fast, efficient and enjoyable experience.

If you want greater control over the games you can see in the Guts Poker lobby, the desktop software allows you to set preferred filters. For example, if you hit the "preferences" tab you'll be able to set tournament reminders, customise in-game settings, show free games and toggle game sounds. Essentially, if you download the software, you'll have more opportunities to refine the interface to suit your personal needs.

The goal of every online poker player, whether they're playing for free or real money, is to get into the best games and make the most +EV moves possible. For this, you need a site that's easy on the eye and that's Guts Poker to a tee. Playing online poker shouldn't be aesthetically complex or mentally taxing and Guts Poker's developers have ensured this is the case for all of its players.