Black Chip Poker Review

Black Chip Poker opened its virtual doors in 2008 and wasted no time in establishing itself as a major player in the online poker community.

Black Chip Poker then joined the Winning Poker Network in 2012 and has continued growing from strength to strength ever since. This move helped secure bigger games and tournaments for players, plus a consistent and committed customer support team and cross-platform playing options.

Black Chip Poker is widely regarded as a top real money online poker site in North America… but does it live up to its reputation? I needed to find out for myself. To do that, I’ve looked into every aspect of the site. As well as playing on the site and testing its games, I looked into other areas such as its bonuses and promotions, customer service team, and mobile gaming options.

Only after evaluating all these features have I been able to create this review. If you’re looking for a new site or want to see what options are, I’d recommend reading on.

PROS AND CONS

Black Chip Poker is a poker room bursting at the seams with quality. As part of the Winning Poker Network, the site has a well-established reputation. Its sibling site, America’s Cardroom, is more well-known, but the two offer a very similar service.

A range of top tournaments and promotions should be enough to attract most players, and the site sees strong traffic year-round. While the customer service options could do with a bit of work, the overall user experience at Black Chip Poker is solid, and the mobile experience here is outstanding.

One of the most significant selling points for Black Chip Poker is its use of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies. At the time of writing, the site now allows players to deposit with over 60 different cryptocurrencies, giving it a significant advantage over much of the competition.

POKER GAME SELECTION

Black Chip is a major operator, so it has no shortage of different games for players:

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO PLAY?

So, now that we know a little bit more about the games on offer at Black Chip Poker, let’s take a closer look at another important aspect of a poker site – what it’s like to play on it. In my time as a poker player, I’ve realized just how important it is for a site to have a pleasant gaming experience. After all, if the site looks like it was made in the 90s with an interface that’s as confusing as the London Underground map, then you won’t have much fun playing there!

Unlike most US-facing sites, Black Chip Poker does not offer a web client, only a downloadable poker client that you need to install onto your computer. While this is the way that 90% of players enjoy the game, it would be nice to have the option to play from a web browser.

That being said, let’s take a closer look at what the poker client has to offer.

POKER CLIENT

One of the things I love about the Black Chip Poker lobby is how easy to use it is. Everything is clearly labeled at the top of the page, making it extremely easy to log on and start playing your favorite game. Plus, it also looks great; the black and blue color scheme works well, and is in line with their branding.

Once you’ve found your favorite game and you open up the table, you’ll find that the great design choices have carried over to the table design. The default green felt on black background is a classic look, but nonetheless is pulled off well, and I like the light effects at the base of the rail. If want something a little different from your table design, then don’t panic, as you can change the table theme in the settings and pick from a variety of different options.

As you can see above, all the information on the table is clearly readable, so there’s no danger of accidentally misreading your hand or the size of the pot. Even when your opponents’ hands are turned over, you can clearly see what they have, and there’s a replay button available if you miss any of the action.

I like the simple, yet elegant designs of these tables, and I especially like that you have a number of options on the left-hand side of the table. Being able to quickly and easily sit out and come back makes grinding long sessions that little bit easier, and the ability to decide whether or not I want to run it twice at the table is definitely a welcome one.

Another area of the site that I always like to check out is the Settings. While they’re not particularly glamorous, the settings can tell you a lot about a site – the more customizable settings there are, the more a poker site cares about the user experience.

Black Chip Poker certainly delivers in that regard, as there are dozens of customizable options available to play with. Whether you want to change the design of your table down to the colors of the cards, or if you want to create the ultimate poker-grinder set-up, you can do it here! I especially love how granular you can get with the default bet buttons; anyone who’s had to play a long session without being able to change these will know how annoying it is to constantly type in your bet size!

Overall, it’s hard to find a fault with the Black Chip Poker client! The lobby looks great and is really easy to navigate around, the tables look just as good and clearly display all important information, and there are plenty of customizable settings that allow you to tailor the client to your needs.

FEATURES OF THE SITE

• Clear, Easy-To-Use Lobby – While some sites have made their lobbies more complicated in an effort to improve the design, Black Chip Poker has managed to create a fantastic-looking lobby that’s incredibly simple to use. As soon as you log on you’re greeted with a range of poker options at the top of the page, and it doesn’t take long to find your favorite game and jump into the action.
• Anonymous Table Viewing – One of the ways that Black Chip Poker fights against bum-hunting is by making all tables anonymous until you bring chips to the table. This prevents weaker players from being targeted by regulars, ensuring that the poker ecosystem remains as balanced as possible.
• Variety Of Customizable Settings – Another part of Black Chip Poker that I love is the number of customizable settings they have available. You can customize a number of different areas of the gaming experience; from the color and design of the table to the default bet sizing options for preflop and postflop, to create your ultimate poker set-up!

WHAT IT’S MISSING

Black Chip Poker has a number of features that make it a fantastic poker site – but it’s by no means perfect. Here are a few things that are missing from the site that we’d like to see implemented in the future.

• Web Client – One of the biggest things that Black Chip Poker is missing is a web client that allows players to play their favorite games directly from a web browser. This option is perfect for players who want to log on and play a quick session without having to wait for an update to download. We can only hope that Black Chip moves in line with its competition and implements a web app soon.
• Staking – While it’s still there in the poker lobby, Black Chip Poker has currently suspended its staking service. When this service was up and running, it allowed players to sell pieces of their tournament action directly on the site, giving them an easy way to reduce variance in higher buy-in games.
• Quickplay Options On The Homepage – When you first open the Black Chip Poker client, you’re taken to a homepage advertising the latest promotions available on the site. While this is all well and good, it would be nice to have some quickplay options that allow you to immediately jump into the action.

BONUS AND PROMOTIONS

One area where Black Chip Poker performs well is bonuses and promotions. Various bonuses can be claimed here by both new and existing customers alike. In addition, as part of the Winning Poker Network, many promotions can also be found on other sites like America’s Cardroom.

DEPOSIT AND WITHDRAWAL OPTIONS

Black Chip Poker wants to make it as easy as possible for players to get money in and out of their accounts. It has done this by providing a range of excellent services for both deposits and withdrawals. While Bitcoin is the primary cryptocurrency the operator promotes, it also offers players the chance to deposit with over 60 other cryptos. In addition, the operator provides a lot of information on the use of cryptocurrencies for those new to using them.

Besides, it allows players to deposit using a range of e-wallets and credit/debit cards. There is also the option to deposit cash in person and receive your money by cheque. However, I wouldn’t recommend doing that, as the waiting times are extraordinarily long! Using crypto or e-wallets is the fastest way to get my money. Some additional fees are attached if you opt to go down the latter option, making it the least advisable method.

DEPOSITS

WITHDRAWALS

MOBILE GAMING

Black Chip Poker has several options for those wanting to test their luck on mobile devices.

The site is supported on iOS and Android and offers its own mobile application. The mobile application provides a similar experience to the website and features a solid, easy-to-use UI. The operator describes its mobile offering as an app, but don’t let this fool you–the mobile play is all in-browser.

However, even though there wasn’t a mobile app, I found the mobile gaming experience really simple. The site worked well on my phone, and all the games ran smoothly.

CUSTOMER SERVICE OPTIONS

Black Chip Poker’s primary source of support for customers is its virtual assistant. This live-chat bot can provide players with links to helpful information and covers a range of frequently asked questions. I found the bot to be extremely helpful when I used it, as it was able to help with the majority of the issues I had. Even if it couldn’t, connecting to a customer support agent wasn’t hard. There is also an email form to fill in, though there is no specified period for a response. This is definitely one area that Black Chip Poker could work on improving.

WHAT MAKES THIS POKER SITE UNIQUE?

Black Chip Poker stands out in the prize pools of its tournaments. With so many tournaments running every day, there are plenty of chances for players to land some big wins on the felt. The Million Dollar Sunday tournament/promotion is one of the most significant selling points, boasting massive cash prizes for players. This, combined with the selection of cryptocurrencies that users can play with, makes Black Chip a solid operator.

CONCLUSION

Since joining the Winning Poker Network, Black Chip Poker’s reputation has rocketed.

I love their big-prize tournaments, and their cash game traffic is among the best in the industry.

I also like the many deposit and withdrawal options, and the welcome bonus significantly boosted my bankroll. With the operator now offering its services across all platforms, Black Chip Poker is a site that is only going to continue to grow stronger.

Is Black Chip Poker not for you? Check out how other poker sites compare:

Rating

Welcome Bonus

Known For

Type of Player

Mobile Capabilities

Payment Speed

Min/Max Withdrawal

RECOMMENDED

Play Now

Rating

5/5

Rated 5/5 stars.

Welcome Bonus

150% Up To $1500

Known For

Anonymous Tables

Type of Player

Beginner

Mobile Capabilities

Mobile Browser

Payment Speed

1-2 Days

Min/Max Withdrawal

$10/$9,500

Play Now

Rating

3.6/5

Rated 3.6/5 stars.

Welcome Bonus

100% Up To $2000

Known For

Welcome Bonus

Type of Player

Intermediate

Mobile Capabilities

Mobile Browser

Payment Speed

24 hours

Min/Max Withdrawal

$10/$25,000

Play Now

Rating

4.9/5

Rated 4.9/5 stars.

Welcome Bonus

100% Up To $500

Known For

Anonymous Tables

Type of Player

Beginner

Mobile Capabilities

Mobile Browser

Payment Speed

1-2 Days

Min/Max Withdrawal

$10/$9,500

Play Now

Rating

4.5/5

Rated 4.5/5 stars.

Welcome Bonus

100% Up To $1000

Known For

Crypto Payment Options

Type of Player

Intermediate

Mobile Capabilities

Mobile App

Payment Speed

1-7 Days

Min/Max Withdrawal

$20/$2,500