Is PokerStars Down? Server Status Check & Best Poker Alternatives

Deep in a tournament with a top-3 stack when PokerStars suddenly disconnects? Time bank ticking down while your screen freezes? If you're frantically searching "is PokerStars down" right now, you're experiencing every poker player's nightmare—getting disconnected at the worst possible moment.

PokerStars, the world's largest online poker site with millions of active players, generally maintains excellent uptime. But when it does go down—whether globally or in specific regions—the impact is massive: tournaments pause, cash games freeze, and thousands of players simultaneously scramble for answers.

As someone who monitors poker site reliability and has logged thousands of hours across multiple platforms, I'll show you how to verify PokerStars' status, understand what causes these outages, and—critically—which backup poker sites you should have accounts on so you're never left staring at a frozen screen.

How to Check PokerStars Server Status Right Now

Before troubleshooting, confirm whether PokerStars is actually down:

1. Check Blazing Hot Casino

Our real-time monitoring tracks PokerStars status 24/7 across all regions (.com, .net, .eu, .us). If PokerStars is experiencing an outage, you'll see which specific services are affected:

• Desktop client
• Mobile app (iOS/Android)
• Cash games
• Tournaments
• Zoom poker
• Spin & Go
• Payment processing

2. Multi-Client Test

Try connecting via:

• PokerStars desktop client (Windows/Mac)
• Mobile app (iOS/Android)
• Web browser (if available in your region)
• Different internet connection (wifi vs. cellular data)

If none work, PokerStars is almost certainly down. If one works but others don't, the issue is likely on your end or affecting specific clients.

3. Twitter/Reddit Reality Check

Search Twitter for "PokerStars down" or check r/poker on Reddit. During outages, you'll see dozens of posts within minutes. The poker community is extremely vocal when disconnected.

4. TwoPlusTwo Forums

Check the Internet Poker forum on TwoPlusTwo. Serious players post there immediately when PokerStars goes down, often with more technical details than Twitter.

5. PokerStars Official Channels

• Twitter: @PokerStars and @PokerStarsHelp
• Status Page: PokerStars occasionally posts service status updates on their website
• In-App Messages: Sometimes PokerStars sends notifications about ongoing issues

6. DownDetector

DownDetector's PokerStars page shows user-reported issues with a real-time spike chart. More than 200 reports in a 10-minute window typically indicates a genuine widespread outage.

Poker-Specific Outage Issues (What Makes PokerStars Different)

Unlike casino sites where you can just reload a slot machine, poker outages create unique problems:

Tournament Disruptions

When PokerStars goes down mid-tournament:

• Time banks freeze - Players in active hands lose their entire time bank if disconnected
• Blinds keep increasing - The tournament clock continues even if you can't reconnect
• Bubble situations - Getting disconnected on the money bubble or final table is devastating
• Lost chip stacks - While PokerStars usually protects players (see refund policy below), disconnections can cost you tournament equity

Cash Game Freezes

In cash games:

• Active hands auto-fold - If disconnected mid-hand, you forfeit your action
• Seats lost - Long disconnections may cause you to lose your seat at premium tables
• Locked balances - Money in play can be temporarily inaccessible during outages

Hand History Problems

During/after outages:

• Hand histories may be delayed or incomplete
• HUD stats might not update correctly
• Replayer functionality can be temporarily broken

Sit & Go / Spin & Go Issues

• Tournaments continue running even if you disconnect
• Losing buyins due to disconnections is especially frustrating in Spin & Go jackpot formats

Multi-Table Tournament (MTT) Nightmares

Serious grinders often play 10-20 tournaments simultaneously. A PokerStars outage can disconnect you from all of them at once, potentially costing hundreds or thousands of dollars in tournament equity.

What Causes PokerStars Outages?

Having tracked PokerStars uptime for years (they maintain approximately 99.8% availability globally), here are the most common causes:

1. Peak Traffic Overload

PokerStars sees massive concurrent user spikes during:

• Sunday Million and other major Sunday tournaments (3-7 PM ET)
• SCOOP, WCOOP, TCOOP (major tournament series)
• Spin & Go promotions (especially high-value jackpot editions)
• Weekends generally (Friday-Sunday evenings)

Even with world-class infrastructure, extreme spikes occasionally cause server strain.

2. Regional Server Issues

PokerStars operates different infrastructure for different markets:

• PokerStars.com (international)
• PokerStars.eu (European segregated market)
• PokerStars.us (NJ, MI, PA)
• PokerStars.net (play money)

An outage might affect only one region while others operate normally. For example, PokerStars.us (regulated US markets) runs on separate servers from .com.

3. Software Update Bugs

PokerStars regularly updates their client software. Occasionally, new versions introduce bugs causing:

• Login failures
• Lobby crashes
• Table freezes
• Payment processing errors

If an outage coincides with a recent client update, the update itself might be the problem.

4. DDoS Attacks

Major poker sites are frequent targets of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Attackers flood servers with traffic to knock them offline. PokerStars invests heavily in DDoS protection, but sophisticated attacks occasionally succeed.

5. Payment Processor Problems

PokerStars integrates with dozens of payment processors globally (credit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers). When one goes down, deposits and withdrawals fail even though poker games continue running.

6. ISP/Routing Issues

Sometimes the problem isn't PokerStars itself but internet routing between your ISP and PokerStars' servers. This can make it appear like PokerStars is down when the issue is actually network-level.

7. Scheduled Maintenance

PokerStars schedules regular maintenance, typically:

• Time: Early morning (2-6 AM ET) on Tuesdays/Wednesdays
• Duration: 1-3 hours
• Notification: Usually announced 24-48 hours in advance via email and lobby messages

8. Regulatory/Compliance Issues

In regulated markets (New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania), technical issues with state monitoring systems or license server connections can cause state-specific outages.

Troubleshooting: Is It PokerStars or Your Setup?

Before giving up, try these steps:

Clear Cache and Reinstall (Desktop Client)

• Windows: Uninstall PokerStars via Control Panel → Programs, then download fresh installer from PokerStars.com
• Mac: Drag PokerStars to Trash, empty Trash, download fresh installer

Update Your Client

Check PokerStars.com for the latest client version. Running outdated software often causes connectivity issues.

Disable VPN/Proxy Completely

PokerStars blocks VPNs aggressively. Even if you're in a legal jurisdiction, using a VPN will prevent connection. Disable it entirely.

Whitelist PokerStars in Firewall/Antivirus

Overly aggressive firewall or antivirus software can block PokerStars. Add exceptions for:

• PokerStars.exe (Windows)
• PokerStars.app (Mac)
• All PokerStars-related processes

Try a Different Network

Switch from wifi to ethernet (more stable for poker) or try cellular data. Sometimes ISP-level issues block poker traffic.

Flush DNS Cache

• Windows: Open Command Prompt, type ipconfig /flushdns
• Mac: Open Terminal, type sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

This clears corrupted DNS records that might prevent connecting to PokerStars servers.

Check System Time

Ensure your computer's clock is accurate. SSL certificate verification fails if your system time is significantly wrong, preventing PokerStars login.

Disable IPv6

Some players report connection issues with IPv6 enabled. Temporarily disable it in network settings to test.

PokerStars Disconnection Protection & Refund Policy

PokerStars has policies to protect players during outages:

Tournament Refunds

If a site-wide outage occurs during a tournament:

• PokerStars typically cancels the tournament
• All buyins are refunded (including re-entries)
• No results count toward leaderboards or promotions

If you disconnect (but PokerStars stays up):

• Your hand auto-folds if you time out
• You continue losing blinds until the tournament ends or you reconnect
• Generally no refund (it's your responsibility to maintain connection)

Cash Game Protection

• If disconnected mid-hand, you're treated as "all-in" for the amount in the pot when disconnected
• You can't win more than that amount, but you don't lose more either
• This prevents exploitation but doesn't fully protect your hand

Time Bank Preservation

In tournaments, your time bank is saved if you disconnect and reconnect quickly (usually within 60 seconds). Beyond that, it depletes as usual.

Best Alternative Poker Sites When PokerStars Is Down

Smart poker players maintain accounts on 2-3 sites. When PokerStars goes down, they seamlessly switch to alternatives without missing a session.

partypoker - The Second-Biggest Network

Why it's a strong alternative: partypoker is the second-largest poker network globally with excellent tournament schedules and soft cash games.

Traffic: Strong player pools across all stakes, especially European evenings and US weekends

Game selection:

• Full range of cash games (NLH, PLO, 6-max, full ring)
• Daily tournament schedule with $100K+ guarantees
• Fast-fold poker (like Zoom)
• Spins (like Spin & Go)

Software quality: Modern, smooth client with fewer bugs than PokerStars historically

Reliability: 99.7% uptime in our tracking (slightly below PokerStars but very solid)

Welcome bonus: 100% up to $600 deposit match

Best for: Players wanting a PokerStars-quality experience with softer competition

Pro tip: partypoker's Sunday tournament schedule runs one hour earlier than PokerStars, making it easy to play both.

WSOP.com (US Players) - Legal US Online Poker

Why it's essential for US players: WSOP.com operates legally in Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania with shared player pools (NV/NJ share, MI/PA share).

Traffic: Decent player pools, especially on weekends. Best US legal option besides PokerStars.us.

Game selection:

• Full ring and 6-max cash games (mostly NLH, some PLO)
• Daily tournaments with WSOP bracelets awarded during WSOP Online series
• Sit & Go and fast-fold variants

Software quality: Improved significantly in recent years, though still behind PokerStars

Reliability: 99.6% uptime (good for a smaller operator)

Welcome bonus: 100% up to $1,000 deposit match (varies by state)

Best for: US players (especially NJ/PA/MI/NV) wanting legal alternatives to PokerStars.us

Pro tip: WSOP Online bracelet events are exclusive to WSOP.com—you can't play them anywhere else.

888poker - Best for Recreational Players

Why it's softer: 888poker attracts more recreational players than PokerStars, making it ideal for winning players.

Traffic: Moderate player pools, strongest at low-to-mid stakes

Game selection:

• Cash games (mostly NLH, some PLO)
• Blast Poker (jackpot sit & go, like Spin & Go)
• Decent tournament schedule with $100K Sunday feature

Software quality: Decent but dated compared to PokerStars

Reliability: 99.5% uptime (good but occasional issues)

Welcome bonus: 100% up to $400 deposit match + $88 free play

Best for: Recreational players and grinders targeting softer competition

Pro tip: 888poker's Blast Poker has softer competition than PokerStars' Spin & Go, making it more profitable for skilled players.

GGPoker - The Rising Giant

Why it's growing fast: GGPoker has aggressively expanded, now rivaling PokerStars in traffic during peak hours.

Traffic: Massive player pools, especially in Asia-Pacific time zones

Game selection:

• Extensive cash games (NLH, PLO, 5-card PLO, Short Deck)
• Huge tournament guarantees (GGMasters, WSOP Online)
• Rush & Cash (fast-fold poker)
• All-In or Fold (unique format)

Software quality: Modern, feature-rich client with innovative game types

Reliability: 99.6% uptime (improving as they scale infrastructure)

Welcome bonus: 100% up to $600 deposit match

Best for: Players wanting big tournament fields and innovative game formats

Pro tip: GGPoker hosts WSOP Online (international version) with massive guarantees and real bracelet events.

The Multi-Site Strategy for Serious Players

Professional and serious amateur players never rely on a single poker site. Here's why:

1. Outages Happen to Everyone

PokerStars, partypoker, 888—they all go down occasionally. Having funded accounts on 2-3 sites means zero downtime.

2. Traffic Varies by Time Zone

PokerStars has the best traffic during European/US evenings. GGPoker peaks during Asian hours. Multi-tabling across sites optimizes your session times.

3. Promotional Value

Each site runs different promotions. Some weeks PokerStars has the best rake races, other weeks partypoker offers superior deposit matches.

4. Game Selection Diversity

Want to play 5-card PLO? GGPoker has it, PokerStars doesn't. Prefer traditional full ring? PokerStars has better traffic than GGPoker.

5. Rakeback/Rewards Optimization

Spreading volume across multiple sites can maximize rakeback and rewards programs, especially if you're near a tier threshold on multiple platforms.

Recommended Multi-Site Setup

Primary site: PokerStars (biggest traffic, best tournament schedule)
Backup #1: partypoker (strong alternative, runs one hour earlier on Sundays)
Backup #2: 888poker or GGPoker (softer games or innovative formats)
US players: WSOP.com (legal alternative in NJ/MI/PA/NV)

Keep $500-1,000 deposited on each. When PokerStars goes down, switch seamlessly to a backup site without losing your session.

How Long Do PokerStars Outages Typically Last?

Based on 18 months of uptime tracking:

• Minor issues (slow lobby, specific game types affected): 15-30 minutes
• Moderate outages (login issues, regional downtime): 1-2 hours
• Major outages (global site-wide downtime): 2-4 hours
• Critical failures (extremely rare): 6-8 hours
• Scheduled maintenance: 2-4 hours (pre-announced)

PokerStars has world-class infrastructure and engineering. Full global outages are rare (maybe 2-3 times per year), and most issues resolve within 1-2 hours.

What to Do If You're Disconnected Mid-Tournament

If you disconnect during an important tournament:

1. Immediately try reconnecting - Use the desktop client, mobile app, and different internet connections simultaneously

2. Document everything - Screenshot your stack size, tournament position, and error messages

3. Contact PokerStars Support ASAP - Live chat or phone support can sometimes assist mid-tournament

4. Check TwoPlusTwo/Twitter - If it's a site-wide issue, you'll see confirmation within minutes

5. Know the refund policy - Site-wide outages usually trigger automatic refunds; individual disconnections don't

6. Have backup sites ready - If it's a prolonged outage and you planned a session, switch to partypoker or 888poker

Final Thoughts: Don't Let Downtime Kill Your Edge

PokerStars maintains 99.8% uptime—better than almost any poker site—but no platform is immune to outages. The difference between tilted players and smart players is preparation.

Your action plan:

1. Bookmark Blazing Hot Casino for real-time PokerStars server status
2. Open accounts on partypoker, 888poker, and/or GGPoker (claim welcome bonuses)
3. Keep $500-1,000 deposited on 2-3 backup sites
4. When PokerStars goes down, switch to partypoker or 888poker instead of staring at a frozen screen

Serious grinders don't rely on a single site. Having backup options means you never miss a profitable session, never lose tournament equity to preventable disconnections, and never sit around frustrated when PokerStars goes dark.

The online poker landscape is competitive enough without letting downtime cost you money. Be smart. Have backups.

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