Hollywood Poker
One of the most popular poker rooms in the Ongame Network, Hollywood Poker has made a name for itself as the place where “celebrities come to play.” Endorsed by famous stars like James Woods and “King of the Hollywood Home Games” Vince Van Patten, the Hollywood makes it easy to tabs on the many different celebrities playing on the site through its Celebrity Sightings page. The site has slowed a little since they stopped accepting US players, but their player traffic is still among the highest in the world.
In line with the Tinseltown theme, Hollywood Poker is well known for their Celebrity Bounty Tournaments, where players can win prizes and cash whenever they knock out a celebrity player. Hollywood Poker’s regular tournaments and big money freerolls are also no joke, featuring over $15 million dollars in guaranteed monthly prizes. Their qualifiers give players the chance to win seats to major poker events around the world like the WSOP and GSP. Players can also set up their own Private Tournaments.
Hollywood Poker uses the same software is shared amongst all Ongame Network poker rooms. So it’ll be easy getting oriented if you’ve played at any other Ongame sites. The software features some attractive graphics, smooth functionality, and interesting features like advanced statistical analysis of your game, easy access to hand histories, fully customizable table settings, and the ability to track and take notes on other players. The software is available in both a download version and a Mac/Linux compatible Java version
Game variety is respectable, with the usual Texas Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo and Five-Card Draw. Most games are available in No Limit, Pot Limit, and Fixed Limit versions. As usual, the biggest action is to be found at the Holdem tables, and the Omaha tables also do decent traffic given the networks large European base.
Even with their decision to no longer accept US players, Hollywood Poker remains one of the busiest online poker rooms in the industry. Player traffic now peaks around European evenings, when the room attracts over 9,000 ring-game and 45,000 tournament players (May 2009). Even during non peak hours you’ll find approx. 2000 real money players at any given time.
Player competition is always a little tighter when you’re dealing with an older network like Ongame. However, Hollywood Poker’s celebrity factor lures in a good number of new and inexperienced players making for some juicy games at the lower stakes. You’ll find the skill level of players goes up significantly once you enter the mid to higher limits, with game play quite a bit tighter.
Hollywood Poker is well known for their unparalleled promotional offers and bonuses. There is something for everyone, with bonuses available for every stake and activity level, deposit bonuses, reload bonuses, freerolls- you name it and they’ve probably got it.
Customer support at Hollywood Poker is very good with email, phone, or live chat support all on offer. Email responses are of excellent quality, and most inquiries are answered within a respectable 12 hour period. The phone representatives are well trained and highly knowledgeable, and are quite efficient in addressing the majority of problems players may encounter.
With its unbeatable bonuses, strong software, a large player base, and the chance to go head to head at the tables with some of your favorite Hollywood celebrities – its no surprise Hollywood Poker has established itself as one of the leading rooms on the Ongame Network and a favorite amongst poker players around the world.
