PokerStars is in the process of unveiling their mobile poker client for iPhone, iPad and Android and this summer they’ll be adding Zoom Poker to the app’s already robust functionality.
In January PokerStars introduced real money mobile poker in Italy and followed it up by making the app available in the UK in February, and France just last week.
The app is now available in all areas that have access to the PokerStars.eu client, and it’s coming to more and more .com regions as PokerStars continues their multi-phase release.
The Android version is not available in the Android Marketplace but can be downloaded directly from PokerStars.
Zoom Poker on Mobile
“We want to cater to players on whatever devices they may have, wherever they might be and whenever they want to play poker,” said Jeffrey Haas, Director of New Platforms, Mobile & Social Gaming at PokerStars.
The real-money app supports cash games, sit and gos and tournaments in all games and stakes, and once Zoom Poker is introduced it will boast all the same functionality as the PokerStars desktop client.
"Expect to be playing Zoom Poker on your mobile device this summer," said Jeffrey Haas.
“I can’t put an exact date on it but expect to be playing Zoom Poker on your mobile device this summer,” Haas told PokerListings.com.
PokerStars Mobile has been in development since 2010 and it shows. The app is slick and undisputedly sets a new standard in mobile online poker.
Taking advantage of mobile devices’ native gestures and hands-on interface, the app gives players a level of tactile interaction that’s never been possible with a keyboard and mouse.
Players can play up to five tables on tablets and as many as four on smart phone devices.
“We don’t want to force players into a certain behavior, we want to compliment whatever they’re doing naturally so wherever people are, if they’re traveling or watching TV or whatever, we want to be there,” said Danny Kashti, Head of Mobile at PokerStars.
Player Input Drives Mobile Product Development
In the roughly two years that PokerStars has been working on the app, developers have been going straight to the source to understand how players use mobile devices, and how best to tailor the product to players’ habits.
“PokerStars is a company of poker players and our staff has had the earliest version of this software installed on their devices as early as December of 2010 and since then it’s been constantly evolving,” Danny Kashti told PokerListings.com.
Play Zoom Poker on PokerStars Right Now!
“We don’t have the attitude that we know better than the user what the product needs so we’re trying make it easy for poker players to get their feedback to us so we can learn from it,” he added.
"We’re trying make it easy for poker players to get their feedback to us so we can learn from it,” said Danny Kashti.
Since launching the app PokerStars has been communicating with players through their customer support, forums and discussions with members of Team PokerStars Pro in order to continue making improvements.
“We’re very proud of this product but it’s always evolving and there’s always going to be a long list of improvements we want to make,” said Kashti.
Emphasis on Responsible Gaming for Mobile Poker
Because the mobile poker client will give players more access to online poker than ever before, PokerStars has made responsible gaming a priority.
“We’ve worked very closely with our responsible gaming team to make sure that all the functionality we’ve put in place in the PokerStars client is also available on the Mobile app,” said Jeffrey Haas.
Functions include self-imposed deposit restrictions and the ability to cut yourself off from accessing the site for a certain amount of time.
“And we feel like these issues are especially important for the app because players are no longer tethered to their desk so they have more opportunities to play,” said Haas.
Check the App Store and the PokerStars site to find out if the app is available for download in your region. Here's a sneak peek at the what the app looks like in action.
*Any mention of a bonus or discussion of such terms is not in relation to the province of Ontario.
