Black Chip Poker Review

Welcome to our Black Chip Poker review. Black Chip Poker is a component of the Winning Poker Network, which started off in 2001 as the Merge Gaming Network. The poker site primarily caters to the European and American poker scenes as an online poker room.

Despite having its headquarters in San José, Costa Rica, the company has players all around Europe. Other poker rooms operated by the Winning Poker Network at the time were DSI Poker, Casual Poker, and Aloha Poker, but Americas Cardroom was and continues to be Black Chip's most well-known stablemate.

In fact, Black Chip Poker, a member of the same network as ACR, shares player liquidity, making it one of the busiest US online poker rooms.

Today, SJH Studio provides the software used by Black Chip Poker. All of the Winning Poker Network's skins were previously powered by IGSoft, and before that, Dobrosoft.

Even though Black Chip Poker hasn't exactly been what you'd call a household name, the company has built a solid reputation for itself, especially with online poker grinders who favor the site since it permits HUDs. Let's continue our Black Chip Poker review so you can decide whether or not to play at BCP.

Welcome Bonus

It should come as no surprise that you receive the same welcome offer as new players on Americas Cardroom since Black Chip Poker is a member of the WPN, or Winning Poker Network: a first deposit 100% match welcome bonus of up to $2,000.

There are no codes necessary; all you need to do is make your first deposit of at least $25 to receive your bonus.

When 27.5 Benefit Points are accumulated through the Elite Benefits Loyalty program, the bonus is then released in $1 chunks. These player points can be earned at a rate of 5.5 points for every $1 spent on fees or rake.

Just be aware that your bonus will only match your first deposit before you make that deposit. So you'll need to make a $2,000 deposit right away if you want to take advantage of that fantastic offer.

You have 60 days to use the bonus, no matter how much you opt to invest.

Promotions

There are numerous incentives available at Black Chip Poker that make it well worth your time.

The 100% first deposit offer up to $2,000 and the $250 new player freerolls are just the beginning. All throughout the day, $50 freerolls are also held.

The poker tournament offerings and schedule are on par with those of the top online poker rooms. The Beast is a weekly leaderboard that contributes a tiny portion of each rake to a prize fund each week. The top 800 players each week have the good fortune to get monetary awards and entry into competitions. There are distinct races for both cash tables and SNGs for those who enjoy rake competitions.

The Venom, however, is the biggest poker event. These competitions carry enormous guarantees. The most recent contest offered an $8 million guarantee and a $1 million prize for the winner. Not at all awful.

In addition, there are a few Cyclone Blitz tournaments and the customary Sit & Go tournaments. Players who participate in Sit & Gos can earn rewards on the Sit and Crush Leaderboard.

Traffic Overview

Unbelievably, Black Chip Poker is among the top 10 poker sites in the world in terms of player volume. When major poker tournaments are held, the number of players might quadruple from the daily peak of 1,000 to 1,500. (more on them in the promotions and campaigns section).

The Winning Poker Network's common poker player pool with Americas Cardroom and other poker sites contributes to this high traffic. Particularly for Sit & Gos, the poker tables are typically crowded within minutes.

We are aware of the good traffic, but what about the real money cash games and tournaments?

The clear leader among the most played poker variations is No-Limit Texas Hold'em. These are well-liked for micro stakes up to $5 or $10. Pot Limit Omaha and Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo real money games are both sufficiently well-liked, but the cash game tables for Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo can occasionally resemble ghost towns.

Blitz Poker, a variation of fast-fold poker, is another option for players at Black Chip Poker. It follows the typical fast-fold No-Limit Hold'em format that you can find at many online poker sites and is quick (as it should be).

The prize pools can be multiplied by anywhere between two and 2,500 times the buy-in in Jackpot Poker, which employs a randomized multiplier. Additionally, Black Chip Poker tournaments have respectable guaranteed prize pools.

You can play up to 10 Jackpot tables simultaneously thanks to a tool called the Maximizer. To accommodate people who enjoy playing poker at real-world casinos, the platform also offers satellites to live poker tournaments.

Depositing and Withdrawing

U.S. players can send money to Black Chip Poker using Visa, Bitcoin, or cash transfers. Deposits of $300 or greater pay the cost for cash transfers. Transfers from different bookmakers and athletes are also allowed. The same choices are available to players outside of the US, in addition to Mastercard, Neteller, and Skrill.

There are various ways for American players to withdraw money from Black Chip Poker. The debit card is the most widely used choice. The mail delivery of the card is $40. In two to four weeks, it shows up. Withdrawals are processed within a few days after receiving them. The debit card can then be used to withdraw cash from ATMs. A $4.95 monthly fee applies, and the same price also applies when a withdrawal request is made. When utilizing an ATM, a $3 fee is added to the charge the ATM owner makes.

Black Chip Poker gives Americans three ways to deposit money. There are up to three more deposit options available to players from various nations. Details of each choice are provided below in our review of Black Chip Poker.

Visa Credit Card

Every country's players can obtain a Visa. A prepaid debit card that supports international transactions is required for US gamers. Bank-issued debit and credit cards are acceptable for use by players outside of the US. The base amount is $25. The top amount is $1000. A credit limit increase can be requested by active players. Before a withdrawal may be processed, players who made their initial deposit using a Visa card must fill out an authorization form.

Mastercard Credit Card

Outside of the US, gamers can use Mastercard. It accepts credit and debit cards. The range is from $25 to $1,000. Limits can be raised at the players' request. After a Mastercard deposit, a credit card authorization document must be filled out in order to make a withdrawal.

Bitcoin (BTC)

The preferred deposit method for large volume gamers is bitcoin. Every country's players can access it. Bitcoin deposits start at $25. There is no cap on deposits.

Money Transfer

MoneyGram is a deposit option for players. The range is from $50 to $1,000. Cash transfers using MoneyGram can be conducted at an associated location, or online transfers via electronic check and credit card are also possible.

Neteller

Most players outside of North America can use Neteller. The initial down payment is $25. The top amount is $1000. For players who are active, this is boosted. Neteller accounts can be funded by bank transfer, debit card, or credit card.

Skrill

Many players outside of North America can use Skrill. Deposit amounts range from $25 to $1,000. A credit boost can be requested by active gamers. Skrill funding can be done via bank transfer, debit card, or credit card.

Cryptocurrencies

In 2018, Black Chip Poker will launch a large number of cryptocurrencies. You can find the ones that are currently accessible at the Black Chip Poker cashier.

Black Chip Poker Withdrawals

Black Chip Poker players both inside and outside of the US have a variety of payout alternatives at their disposal. These consist of digital wallets, bank instruments, and cryptocurrency.

Checks

Up to $2,995 in checks are given within a week or two. It costs $65. This charge may be waived once per month for players.

Debit Card

For $40, players can order a debit card. Each withdrawal costs $5, as does every use of an ATM. A $5 monthly maintenance fee is additionally charged. Withdrawals made with a debit card are handled in around two days.

Bitcoin (BTC)

The maximum withdrawal amount for bitcoin is $10,000. These transfers cost nothing. They take about a day to process.

Neteller

Many players in Europe can use Neteller. An eWallet, that is. Neteller withdrawal requests from Black Chip Poker are processed in roughly a day. $10,000 is the maximum amount. Neteller funds can be transferred to a debit card or bank account by users.

Skrill

Another electronic wallet accessible to players in Europe and beyond is Skrill. The maximum Skrill withdrawal is $10,000. Processing these requires a day or two.

Availability on Mobile

You can sign in to the Black Chip Poker mobile client using your regular account credentials. Since it is a web app, no additional software needs to be downloaded or installed in order to use it on any Android or iOS smartphone.

Sadly, this Black Chip mobile poker site is a bare-bones operation and doesn't offer the majority of the games included in the full desktop client. Only fast-fold Blitz Poker, jackpot games that resemble lotteries, and Cyclone satellites are available. In order to maximize your volume, we advise utilizing Black Chip Poker mobile-only as a supplement to the complete Black Chip Poker download client.

Customer Support

You will inevitably run across unforeseen problems at your poker site from time to time that need to be fixed. You should contact customer service at Black Chip Poker if this occurs so they can assist you in fixing the issue.

Email the Black Chip Poker support staff at support[@]blackchippoker.eu to get in touch with them. Another choice is to fill out a contact form and request a response from the website.

The website once had a live chat option that allowed users to ask questions and receive answers, which was incredibly helpful. The closest thing we have to Live Chat right now is an AI-powered virtual assistant that has picked up on frequent issues.

Safety, Security, and Trustworthiness

Black Chip is one of the many gambling websites that today pay close attention to safeguarding their clients from gambling-related hazards. While it is true that the website's responsible gambling page does not precisely feature prominently, the link to it is prominently displayed in the footer of each page.

Obviously, safeguards are in place to stop minors from gambling. You must be 18 years of age or older to open a Black Chip Poker account. Additionally, you must attest that the details you provide regarding your age are true and accurate. Any player whose account balance is found to have been used by a minor will have it forfeited.

Players have the option to self-exclude for a set amount of time from participating in various games, and this applies to both poker gaming and other types of gambling. Additionally, there are options inside the client to block access to a particular game by checking a box, albeit the player can readily undo this at any time. Any player may request that their account be permanently deactivated in the event of more serious issues or concerns. Upon written confirmation, BCP will in this situation disable all deposit possibilities and access.

There don't seem to be any links on the website to outside groups that favor gambling, and if there were, the BCP efforts in this area might be more fruitful overall.

Final Thoughts

We're in an excellent position to sum up our conclusions now that this Black Chip Poker review has come to an end. Only a few minor drawbacks have been observed, which has helped to keep our enthusiasm in check. Given the long history of this poker club as a member of the Winning Poker Network, none of the positives comes as a big surprise, and the negatives are easily overlooked when evaluating the total package.

The truth is that anyone who wants to play poker online will have a totally satisfactory experience at the Black Chip tables. It's a poker site that offers fantastic rakeback deals, a variety of tournaments, beneficial rewards programs, and good bonuses and promotions. Oh, and there is little possibility of coming on and not finding a game to play with good player numbers as well.

The WPN doesn't take its success for granted, though, and it appears that there is still a lot of gas in the tank for the future. BCP has adopted the use of cryptocurrency for deposits and withdrawals, similar to many other operators in the poker business. In the upcoming years, it might be necessary to focus on upgrading the software by one or two levels, but there are encouraging signals that player interest in the software as a whole will increase.

The Professional Rakeback crew has participated in a sizable number of online poker tournaments at various poker rooms over the years, and after reviewing BCP based on our own and other players' experiences, we can conclusively state that Black Chip Poker is a great poker room.