Sun Poker is one of those online poker rooms that doesn't really lack anything, yet fails to stand out among the crowd. Simply put, Sun Poker is an 'average' online poker room. There is nothing special about the software, promotions or tournament schedule. The best features of Sun Poker is the unsurpassed customer support and multi-currencies play/deposits. On the lower side of the spectrum, the graphics aren't as clean and crisp as many sites, the software can be slow and even buggy on occasion, and the competition is well known to be very tight.
Sun Poker does not accept US player deposits at this time.
Sun Poker Software
Sun Poker is powered by WaterLogic software, providing decent quality and functionality, but lacking many cutting-edge features of today's most sophisticated poker software clients. The graphics are not up to par - even the front page of the poker site offers a somewhat blurred view of a tropical coastline. All of the standard lobby stats are supplied (viewed-flop%, hands/hour, avg pot size), but sorting between limits/stakes is limited. The game play itself is quick and smooth with well-organized tournaments. Inexperienced players will probably enjoy the in-game commentator, bolstering "your turn!" and "dealing flop!" at the appropriate moment, but veterans will be happy to know there is a 'mute' button.
Sun Poker provides its software in two forms; a downloadable client compatible with Windows computers, and a no-download Java client that operates in much the same way, but is also compatible with Mac and other major operating systems.
Sun Poker Games
Once again, Sun Poker follows the industry standard by offering the typical online poker game variety. Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi/Hi-Lo, Seven Card Stud and Hold'em Blackjack are available in Fixed Limit, Pot Limit and No Limit varieties. Heads-up play is particularly popular at Sun Poker. Sit'n'Go tournaments are also known to draw a large crowd. Multi-table tournaments are consistent, guaranteeing at least $4,000,000 awarded every month.
Sun Poker Promotions
Sun Poker offers a large variety of values in the promotional department, including WSOP prize packages and monthly bonuses that don't require a deposit.
Sign-up Bonus - Players depositing in USD can earn up to $500 in their first month at Sun Poker, or £250 for GBP depositors. According to the bonus terms, a player does not need to make a deposit to earn player points (MPP) and receive the bonus, but collecting MPP would be extremely difficult otherwise. Earning 160 MPP awards $20 (£10), scaling up to a $500 (£250) bonus for 5,000 MPP.
Monthly Bonuses - Much like the first deposit bonus, players can earn $200 (or £100 GBP) every month by collecting enough MPP; 160 MPP awards $20 (£10) where 1,600 awards $200 (£100).
Refer-A-Friend - Earn $25 for each friend successfully referred to Sun Poker. Once the friend has participated in 250 real-money ring games, the $25 will be credited.
$30k Leaderboard Freeroll - Each month at Sun Poker, the top 500 MPP collectors, top 400 tournament players and top 100 on the Headhunter Leaderboard will be automatically entered to participate in a monthly $30,000 Leaderboard Freeroll.
WSOP Prize Packages - Sun Poker is currently guaranteeing 25 WSOP Main Event, $12,000 prize packages to its members. There are many ways to win a seat at the WSOP Main Event, the cheapest being 10 MPPs to enter Satellites to the Weekly Finals (2,000 MPP for direct entry), which awards entry to the $300k WSOP Mega Freeroll coming up in May.
Vegas Vacation: World Series of Poker - Get to Vegas for the World Series of Poker for as little as $4!
$5k WSOP Weekly Freeroll - Everyday that you generate 100 MPPs you will have the chance to win $5,000 by qualifying for an entry into a daily WSOP Satellites.
$10,000 WSOP SunPoker Monthly New Player Freeroll
Bad Beat Jackpot - Each day a minimum of $2,500 will be added to the bad beat jackpot and that value will increase every hour.
Sun Poker Rake
Sun Poker again follows the industry standard for rake taken, but in this instance, that's a good thing. Sun Poker collects a 5% rake from each pot, capped at $3 per hand. The online poker room does not collect a rake from any poker hand that does not reach the 'Flop' (all players fold).
Sun Poker Traffic
Sun Poker has a decent rate of traffic, averaging near 5,000 active players at peak hours, with about 2/3 of those in tournaments, 1/3 in cash games. While those numbers aren't high enough to compete with the big boys of online poker, it is more than enough to ensure a good variety of active games in all limits and stakes. Sun Poker is known as an online poker community of veteran players, therefore soft competition is very hard to find, even at the lowest of limits.
Sun Poker Withdraw/Deposit Options
Members of Sun Poker will find the cashier to be quite accommodating, offering multiple currency deposits and an assortment of viable methods.
Deposits - Visa, MasterCard, Visa Electron, Visa Delta, Solo, Switch, Maestro, Laser, NETeller, Citadel, FirePay, Click2Pay, Paysafecard, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), Bank Wire Transfer, Personal or Certified Check.
This is one department where Sun Poker really shines. The customer service is top of the line, providing lighting fast responses with knowledgeable answers to most questions. Contact support by email, live chat, telephone or fax. There are many toll-free numbers available, though live call-back support allows members to leave a number and time, and a member of Sun Poker support will call you directly.
Sun Poker E-mail Contacts
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Increase Credit Limits -
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Conclusion
While Sun Poker may not be the most elaborate, sophisticated or graphically aesthetic online poker room, there are plenty of qualities that make it worth playing at. Promotionally speaking, players have a lot to be thankful for at Sun Poker, but skilled veterans looking to cash in on soft competition will have to find it elsewhere.
