Poker Plex uses the Cryptologic software and network. Big names such as Betfair, William Hill and Inter Poker are part of the Cryptologic network. So in effect, if you join via Poker Plex, you will be playing against Betfair and Inter Poker players as well as a number of other rooms. This ensures decent player volumes. Although not remotely as large as Party Poker or the Prima Network, the Cryptologic network is growing rapidly with more poker rooms joining. During peak times, up to 8,000 active players are logged on whereas off peak, this can drop down to below 1,000, although this is getting an infrequent occurrence.

What is attractive with Poker Plex is the monthly $50 bonus (rakeback) after having played 250 hands each month. Combined this with extremely loose games the monthly rakeback is a seriously tempting proposition for anyone who plays 10 hours of poker a month or more.

• Texas Hold Em
• Omaha
• Omaha Hi/Lo
• Seven Card Stud

The Poker Plex player tables are clear and uncluttered. The Player's Name and the size of his stack are superimposed over the chair. The cards are clear and easy to see. Only problem is when you try to play two or more tables as the screens auto flicker when it is your turn. This can make you click the wrong button at a different table than you intended to. You can check from where each player is coming from by moving the cursor over the name plate; don't really know how useful that is but guess there must be a reason for it.

The chat function is very small and open to observers whose comments are in green whereas players chat is in blue. Luckily, it is possible to block observer comments as sometimes there can be some very annoying individuals watching the play.

When it is your turn to play, you have the option in player preferences to set the sound on or off. A useful function is to select the voice option which will call out "It is Your Turn". This is extremely handy if you are making a cup of tea, or not by the screen as you will have time to get back to the table to make your play.

You can write notes on various people that are present at the table and then look them up when you see them again. Any player that you have written a note on will have a white sheet of paper icon appear within the name plate.

Poker Plex has plenty of Texas Hold Em ring games at all times of the day. However, there are few players of the other forms of poker if any at all. Texas Hold Em is the name of the game at Betfair Poker. Betfair Poker has some of the highest limit stake tables online with a maximum of £150/£300 where average played hand is around £1,500 ($3,000). A lot of short-handed tables (max. 6 players).

Poker Plex's multi-table tournaments are reasonable whereas their Sit and Go tournaments are poor. It is difficult to get to play in a single table tournament as you can be waiting a very long time before it starts; only for the most patient. The multi-table tournaments occur approx. every 30 minutes or so. The tournament list has grown considerably in 2005 and now has a much wider range and frequency than a year ago. As with almost all online poker rooms, there are qualifiers to the big poker events.

DEPOSIT OPTIONS:
VISA, MasterCard, NETeller, FirePay, Citadel, electronic cheque, wire transfer or check.

CASH OUT OPTIONS:
VISA, MasterCard, NETeller, FirePay, Citadel, electronic cheque, wire transfer or check. A PIN code is required for payout which is sent via land based mail to the account holder at first deposit.

There is a 24-hour telephone help desk. The 24/7 telephone and email support are slow and the callback telephone support is unreliable. Their live chat support has been temporarily put on hold. It seems as if Poker Plex is still ironing out some internal issues.

$50 rakeback upon playing 250 raked hands where the rake is $1 or more (played at any table limits). Royal Flush bonus of up to $500 (both hole cards must be used), as well as a Progressive Bad Beat bonus paid out when quad Jacks or better are beaten.