Black Chip Poker Review

  • Bonus CodeNone Needed
  • Sign-up Bonus150% up to $1,000
  • Rake Calc MethodContributed
  • Bonuses DeductedNo
  • Tournament Fees IncludedYes
  • Rakeback PaymentsDaily
  • Rakeback27%
  • NetworkMerge Gaming
  • Max TablesUnlimited
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Black Chip Poker was one of the more popular skins on the Merge Poker Network, founded in 2008.  At that time, their online poker room is one of the fastest growing on the network.  However, they have recently moved to the Winning Poker Network, which helps players as most WPN skins have some of the fastest cashout timeframes in the industry.  Currently, Black Chip is licensed in Kahnawake, Canada and Malta.

Get 27% rakeback and your $1,000 bonus today at Black Chip

VIP and Bonuses at Black Chip

Black Chip Poker’s VIP Program is straightforward and lucrative.  All real money play – whether it is cash or tournament fees will earn players VIP Points.  These points will gain VIP Levels in Black Chip’s Ace High VIP Program.  Rewards will increase with each existing level and as players gain higher levels they will be entitled to special perks.  Players will be able to use their points for a VIP Points to cash exchange or to buy luxury items at the VIP Store.  Also, players will earn free entry to monthly freeroll tournaments, which increase in prize pool each succeeding level.

Black Chip Poker offers a current first deposit bonus of 150% up to $1,000 to new players.  In addition to this lucrative deposit bonus, new players will also get a 10% bankroll boost of up to $30.  If that wasn’t enough – Black Chip Poker also offers a reload bonus of 75% up to $375 on all future deposits.  In addition to all these bonuses, Black Chip also has a monthly rake race for players, in which they offer thousands of dollars of rewards.

Black Chip Poker offers rakeback to players at a rate of 27%.  Players who have rakeback will not be eligible for VIP rewards, but deposit and reload bonuses will not be deducted from rakeback earnings.

Software

The client is quick and offers no slowdown even when multi-tabling a large number of games.  The lobby is refined and has streamlined filters along with buttons to make it easier for players to select the type of games they want.  Along with regular features, such as resizable tables, and the ability to cascade and tile tables, the software offers more unique features.

For example, the “Deal it Twice” offers players a chance to deal the river and turn cards twice.  If both players agree – the turn and the river will be dealt twice, and depending on the outcome of both deals the pot with be distributed.  Exposing one card is also a refreshing feature, which allows players to expose one of their hole cards after the hand has ended to play mind games with their opponent.

Black Chip’s client has support of PokerTracker 4 and Holdem Manager 2 – so players won’t have any trouble tracking their performance and improving their results.  The room is also available on both PC and Mactintosh.

Support

Black Chip has 24 hour support via email, and responses are usually within just a few hours.  In addition, they have service representatives at most of the larger poker forums, which are available to provide support and suggestions to players.

Cashier Options at Black Chip Poker

Black Chip Poker takes players from both the US and internationally, and deposit options will vary depending on location.

USA Players

US players have a much smaller list of options.  The best option for US players currently is cash transfer, which can be done by sending Western Union to a Black Chip Poker Representative.  These can be sent online and through thousands of Western Union locations, which are picked up by customer service and deposited into player accounts.  In addition, players can deposit funds using their Visa or MasterCard.

Payouts are processed in a timely manner at Black Chip and are some of the best in the industry.  Two options are available for US facing customers, paper check and Western Union transfers.  Paper checks have a $2500 limit, and cost $15 to process.  Checks are getting to customers faster as of that, and normally reach customers in 15-20 business days.

Western Union transfers are much faster and have a $900 max per transaction and a $30 fee.  These are normally processed within five business days.  Not all players will eligible for cash transfer as a payout method, as it may be reserved for VIP players or those who deposited several times using the method.

International Players

International players will have a wide variety of deposit options available.  At Rake Monkey, we usually recommend an e-wallet, such as Neteller and Moneybookers for international players.  Both are fully trusted, have a decade of experience in the industry, and have instant deposits and fast withdrawals.  In addition to those, Black Chip offers many other options including, Click2Pay, credit cards, Paysafecard, QuickPay, Entropay, Giropay, QIWI, Ukash, iDeal, Online Bank Transfer, Ecocard, WebMoney, ClickandBuy and Instadebit.

International withdrawals will normally be processed using the same method a player deposits with.  International payouts will normally be much faster than US payouts and are usually free.

Player Traffic and Competition

There has always a large influx of inexperienced players coming to the Winning Poker Network, the site has become the “go to” room for most American grinders.  Players will see a lot of the same screen names if they become regular players.  This doesn’t make Black Chip Poker a room full of sharks, but it is essential to exercise excellent game selection.

Cash Games

Black Chip Poker has all the regular action and also offers lesser known poker variants like Omaha Hi/Lo, Stud and Five Card Draw.  No Limit Hold Em’ and Pot Limit Omaha are the most popular games on the site.  The games range from micro limits to $10/$20 NLH, and higher.  There are typically a few tables around the clock at most limits, but evenings will bring the most action.  US Limit Hold Em’ players will likely want to choose Black Chip Poker, because it is the only US facing online poker room with consistent action for Limit Hold Em.

Tournaments

Black Chip offers a lot of action in daily and weekly tournaments.  The room offers weekly $100k+ Guaranteed Tournaments each Sunday and has tons of action throughout the week.  Including daily freeroll tournaments for all players, and new depositor freerolls, as well.  Choices are extensive, including Deepstack Tournaments, Shorthanded Tournaments, Bounty Tournaments and re-buy and add-on options.  There is also a ‘Tourney King’ leaderboard, where players will get a chance to win prizes for their multi-table tournament production at Black Chip.

Sit N’ Go tournament action is excellent and is probably the best for US players available online.  There is an SNG leaderboard that offers players $10k in prizes each month.  Double ups, 6-max and regular 9-man games are options.  Nearly all buy-in levels are active from the low limits to the $50s.  Above that, action is sporadic.

Overall

Black Chip Poker is an outstanding choice for online poker players, especially those from the much maligned US poker market.  Offering a dedicated support team, awesome deposit and reload bonuses, and security that players will be paid, makes them a tremendous option.