 POKER
ROOM REVIEW - EMPIRE POKER |
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Empire
Poker has undergone a major transformation with it separating
from the Party Poker network. From having formed the largest
online poker network, Empire Poker is now standing on its
two feet. This has meant a huge reduction in the player volumes
at Empire Poker from 70,000 plus to just over 10,000 at peak
hours. Off peak, the player volumes are as low as 2,000 or
so. This is still greater than most other poker rooms and
even poker networks. However, Empire Poker has lost its major
attraction of being part of the largest online poker network.
So now the negative aspects become much more apparent.
|
| EMPIRE
POKER - FEATURES |
| POSITIVE
FEATURES |
NEGATIVE
FEATURES |
- Many juicy "easy to make money" games
- Lots of short handed tables (6 players maximum
- Decent loyalty programme
- Reasonable player volumes 24 hours per day
|
- Sub standard software (limited functionality and
poor graphics)
- Very small chat area
- No statistics function
- Limited poker game variety
- No statistics on number of hands played per hour
- No live table hosts
- No telephone support compounded by often slow e-mail
support
|
|
| EMPIRE
POKER - POKER VARIANTS |
Empire
Poker supports the following forms of poker:
- Texas Hold Em
- Omaha
- Omaha Hi/Lo
- Seven Card Stud
- Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
|
| EMPIRE
POKER - INTERFACE |
| Empire
Poker software works well although the graphics could be
greatly improved upon as could the functionality. Limited player
information and nothing to assist the player when it comes to
statistics, find player or note taking. Empire really needs
to improve the user friendliness of the interface and player
functions. Play can be fairly slow as each player receive up
to 20 seconds to make a decision. |
 |
| EMPIRE
POKER - PLAYER TABLES |
The
graphics are rather rudimentary. However, the software functions
well. There are very limited player options. It is possible
to turn sound on or off, muck losing hand but not much else.
No table statistics function. 3 tables simultaneously per
player is allowed. The average pot size of the last 20 hands
is available. The personal playing statistics function is
basic but works reasonably well. Limited sound functions and
small chat window. Not our favourite player interface. |
|
| EMPIRE
POKER - RING GAMES |
Empire
Poker has now far lower player volumes and off peak it
can be difficult to find a game at your desired limits. From
several thousand guaranteed at the ring games at any time
of the day, Empire Poker has now only a few hundred players
online off peak. There is a limited game variety as well.
However, there is quite a lot of high limit action for the
high rollers. |
|
| POKER
VARIANT |
FORM |
STAKE
IN US$ |
MAX
NO. PLAYER |
| Texas Hold Em |
Limit |
0.50/1.00 to 100/200 |
6 or 10 |
| Texas Hold Em |
Pot Limit |
0.10/0.25 to 10/20 |
6 or 10 |
| Texas Hold Em |
No Limit |
0.10/0.25 to 10/20
|
6 or 10 |
| Omaha |
Limit |
0.50/1.00 to 15/30 |
6 or 10 |
| Omaha |
Pot Limit |
0.10/0.25 to 20/50 |
6 or 10 |
| Omaha Hi Lo |
Limit |
0.50/1.00 to 20/40 |
6or 10 |
| Omaha Hi Lo |
Pot Limit |
0.10/0.25 to 20/50 |
6or 10 |
| Seven Card Stud |
Limit |
0.50/1.00 to 20/40 |
6 or 8 |
| Seven Card Stud Hi Lo |
Limit |
0.50/1.00 to 10/20 |
6 or 8 |
|
| EMPIRE
POKER - TOURNAMENTS |
Empire
Poker still retains strong tournament player volumes due
to its regular and frequent guaranteed tournaments. This is
where it seems most people are playing when they are logged
onto Empire Poker. The traffic for the regular sit-and-go
tournaments is still high. Besides no-limit and limit Texas
Holdem, there are tournaments in both 7-Card Stud and Omaha.
The traffic for Empire Poker reaches somewhere between 3000-3500
real money tournament players at peak hours in November 2005.
5 daily freerolls (2 $500 and 3 $200).
|
|
| TOURNAMENT
ENTRY |
ENTRY
FEE |
FREQUENCY
+ START TIME |
AVE. NO.
OF PLAYERS |
MAX. PLAYERS
|
$5,000 Guaranteed
No Limit Holdem |
$50 + $5 |
Mon - Sun
20.00 EST / 01.00 GMT |
N/A |
N/A |
$5,000 Guaranteed
No Limit Holdem |
$25 + $2 |
Mon - Sat
23.00 EST / 04.00 GMT |
N/A |
N/A |
$5,000 Guaranteed
No Limit Holdem |
$25 + $2 |
Mon - Sat
14.00 EST / 19.00 GMT |
N/A |
N/A |
$10,000 Guaranteed
No Limit Holdem |
$50 + $5 |
Sunday
14.00 EST / 19.00 GMT |
N/A |
N/A |
$10,000 Guaranteed
No Limit Holdem |
$100 + $1 |
Mon - Sun
22.00 EST / 03.00 GMT |
N/A |
N/A |
$50,000 Guaranteed
No Limit Holdem |
$100 + $10 |
Sunday
21.00 EST / 02.00 GMT |
N/A |
N/A |
$200,000 Guaranteed
No Limit Holdem |
$250 + $20 |
Sunday (last each month)
21.00 EST / 02.00 GMT |
N/A |
N/A |
|
| EMPIRE
POKER - DEPOSIT & WITHDRAWAL OPTIONS |
DEPOSIT
OPTIONS:
VISA, MasterCard, NETeller, FirePay, ePassporte, Citadel,
eChecks, bank draft, cashier's check, money order, inter-account
transfers .
CASH OUT OPTIONS:
EChecks, NETeller, wire transfer and check. |
| EMPIRE
POKER - SUPPORT |
There
is no telephone support. The 24/7 e-mail support has worked
less than satisfactory during our testing. Many of our users
have complained about a "non-existing live support"
on a frequent basis and also about "irrelevant automatic
email responses". If they are going to be at the head
of the class, they really need to sort out their support.
A definite BIG minus score. |
| EMPIRE
POKER - LOYALTY PROGRAMME |
|
Empire Poker has a new VIP program for the big players who
accumulate more than 5,000 player points. There are free rolls
and promotions for frequent players based on raked hands.
It is also possible to convert Empire Poker Player Points
for gifts in their well stocked online shop. |
| EMPIRE
POKER - MEMBER COMMENTS |
|
| MEMBER |
DATE
POSTED |
COMMENTS |
| Chessprat |
15 Jan. 2005 |
Empire Poker offers a lot
of fun tournaments to play in, and is not as crowded as
Party Poker which is appealing. If you want to play in
a 10-person tournament for example, it doesn't take you
5 or 6 tries on average to get on the table (because swarms
of people are trying to get on the same table as you and
actually DO get on more quickly than you do). A very fun
place overall! |
| Eurobonus |
17 Jan.
2005 |
Pretty good poker room. Some
pretty loose games. Only real concern is that Empire offer
no telephone support and their e-mail support is very
very slow in responding. |
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