Guts Poker Review (2024)

Our Guts Poker Review

Guts Poker is part of an online betting and gaming dynasty. Before this poker room launched in 2016, it was offering casino games and sports betting to the masses. It subsequently joined the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) before migrating to iPoker in 2020. Since then, it’s gone from strength to strength. It currently plays host to 2,000+ players at peak times, has a mega welcome bonus and offers rakeback up to 30%. 

This subsidiary of Zecure Gaming Limited is also licenced by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), which means it’s accessible from various European countries, as well as to play poker from Canada. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available in the UK when we carried out this Guts review. However, that’s a minor criticism of what’s an otherwise impressive package. 

To give you more insight into what this site has to offer, we went into the belly of the beast. Our team tested everything, from the software and game variety to promotions and bonuses. Thus creating a comprehensive Guts Poker review. So here’s the deal below.

Quick Preview

Promotions

The Guts welcome bonus is big. In fact, it’s one of the biggest we’ve seen in a while. As a new customer, you’re entitled to a whopping €1,000 in bonus cash when you use our registration link. 

• Get up to €1,000 free.
• Guts bonus cash released in $5 increments.
• Equivalent to 20% rakeback.

The new player bonus is designed to inspire loyalty and encourage action. Once you’ve completed the registration process, you’ll receive a 100% deposit match worth up to €1,000. To put that in context, many of the best online poker bonuses only give you as much as €500 in added value. So, based on this fact alone, the Guts welcome bonus is significantly more lucrative than other offers.

Of course, we all know the devil is in the detail when it comes to poker promotions. Ridiculous wagering conditions can kill an otherwise impressive deal. Fortunately, the release requirements for this promo are just as impressive as the amount you’ll receive. Each time you rake €25, you’ll release €5 of your bonus. The free credits expire after 60 days, which should be more than enough time for you to get maximum value. 

However, even if you don’t release the full amount, the fact credits are released in increments means you’re always going to get some value. What’s more, this system means you’re getting a form of rakeback. Based on a contribution to payout ratio of 25:5, you’re effectively receiving 20% rakeback as a newbie. That, again, is impressive. In fact, when you take the welcome bonus as a complete package, it’s hard to fault it.

How to Get Your First Deposit Bonus

1. Create an account by clicking ‘PLAY HERE’ on this page.
2. Input your details and create your Guts Poker login.
3. Verify your account and deposit at least €10.
4. Start playing for real money to release your Guts first deposit bonus.

More Poker Promotions

The first deposit bonus isn’t the only offer in town - you’ll also get access to the following promos.

• Top of the Flops

This Guts promo is all about flops. Play enough flops within a certain period of time and you’ll get to spin the Rewards Wheel. Depending on where the wheel stops, a prize worth between €1 and €5,000 would be yours.

• Guts Races

If you’ve got the guts to put in a bit of time and effort, there are rewards aplenty at this poker site. Although certain game rules may change, races always have the same basic premise: earn as many points as possible. The way you earn points will depend on the theme, but it’s usually based on the size of the buy-ins/amount you rake. The more active you are, the more points you can earn and the higher you can climb up the leaderboard. Rank among the top performers and you’ll win bonuses and/or cash.

Loyalty Program

The Guts Poker network values loyalty. If you put in time at the tables, there’s lots of rakeback to be had. At the lowest level, you’ll get 10% of your rake back. At the top level, it’s 30%. Before we outline the nuances of the system, it’s worth noting that 30% is a lot in today’s poker world. 

During the initial poker boom, certain sites gave as much as 50% rakeback to players. However, that was a different era. Now the most you’ll get at many of the leading online poker sites is 20%. So, to see Guts going above and beyond once again is certainly a positive. 

Something else we like is the fact it doesn’t take a ton of effort to reach the upper levels of the loyalty ladder. Everyone starts as a Silver VIP. You earn 10 points for every €1 you rake. This remains a constant. But, as your status improves, multipliers will boost your total. By the time you reach Diamond status, you’ll earn 30 points for every €1 you rake, thanks to a 3X multiplier. 

When you’ve accrued enough points, you can swap them for cash at an exchange rate of 100:1 (i.e. 100 points for €1). Naturally, the better your status is, the faster you’ll earn points. This, in turn, means your rakeback percentage improves the more you play.

Poker Software and Features

• Instant play and downloadable software.
• Mobile-design.
• Poker HUDs Use
• Casino side games
• Sportsbook bets.
• No fast-fold tables

Get to the Guts Poker site via ‘PLAY HERE’ on this page and you’ll have two options. If you prefer to jump straight into the mix, the instant-play software lets you play via your browser. If, however, you prefer to download the Guts Poker app, you’ve got that option as well. We love this. Although downloading a game client is fairly standard within the poker industry, there’s something to be said for having instant access to hundreds of games.

The instant-play software is unlike any we’ve seen before. Instead of a standard lobby filled with lists, you’ll be able to click through six options using arrow buttons. Each option is presented as a boxout in the centre of the page. For example, one of the boxouts has the heading “Hold’em”. Under the heading you can move a slider to increase or decrease the size of the buy-in. Once you’ve set it to the desired level, you hit “play poker” and you’ll be automatically seated at the next available table.

The same goes for Omaha tables and sit & go tournaments. The only boxout that’s slightly different is the one for tournaments. This features a selection of tabs that represent tournaments you can enter. Again, a single click will get you into the action. This set-up is unique and perfect for those that want a hassle-free poker experience. In fact, the pages are designed in such a way that they’re ideal for mobile users. You can swipe through the options, tap and play. That, for us, is hugely impressive. 

If you choose to download Guts, you’ll feel right at home if you’ve played on the iPoker Network before. For all intents and purposes, this site looks identical to other iPoker sites such as Bet365. For those that haven’t sampled iPoker just yet, the site has a mobile vibe. The homepage is full of multi-coloured panels that provide instant access to hot games. From there, you can move through the options using buttons at the top of the page. Everything has been kept as neat and compact as possible. Again, that makes it ideal for those that like to dive straight into the mix. 

TOURNAMENTS AND FREEROLLS

• MTTs - Multi-table Tournaments.
• Freezeout (one chance) and Rebuy Tournaments.
• Progressive Bounty (Knockout prizes).
• Satellites (qualify via another lower-buy-in tournament).

The Guts Poker tournament schedule benefits from this operator’s position on the iPoker Network. Had it been a casino and sports betting site that tried to go it alone in the poker world, it probably would have faltered. Indeed, there aren’t many standalone online poker operators that thrive in today’s market. So, in our opinion, it’s a good thing Guts is part of the iPoker Network. 

With that being the case, you’ll find everything from freerolls to high rollers on the weekly schedule. In general, freerolls are reserved for newbies or those that have won tickets as part of a loyalty rewards package. In most cases, you’ll have to spend at least €0.20 to enter a MTT. At the top of the shop, weekly showdowns cost as much as €200 and come with €5,000 guarantees. 

However, what’s neat about this site’s MTT schedule is that the real value isn’t always at the highest stakes. For example, the weekly €50 Main Sweat comes with a €10,000 guarantee. That’s double what the €200 Titan offers as a guarantee. For the most value, Guts’ Sunday Sweat has a €30,000 guarantee. Entry costs €100 and the re-entry format means the guarantee is often broken.

Now, in the context of the MTT schedule, the Sunday Sweat is great value. However, as Sunday majors go, it’s lagging behind the real money poker leaders. PokerStars, Partypoker and GGPoker all have weekly events with prizepools topping $1 million or more. So, while Guts offers a decent amount of value for a relatively small buy-in, it does need to increase certain guarantees if it wants to challenge the industry’s top dogs. 

More Poker Games

Away from MTTs, Guts has a full selection of Hold’em and Omaha cash games. The site also has 6+ Hold’em and its own unique sit & go tournaments. For something a little different, you could cross over and try Guts casino poker, blackjack, roulette and slots if you so desire. Then, for a final flourish, Guts also has a sportsbook you can try. However, if you’re all about poker, the two main variants at this site are Hold’em and Omaha. 

Before we dive into the Guts poker variations you can try, let’s quickly talk about rake. On average, cash game rake is higher on iPoker than other networks. For example, at 2NL and below, you’ll pay 6.67% per pot. At Partypoker, it’s 5%. The good news, however, is that rake decreases as you move up the stakes. By the time you get to 1,000NL, it’s 5%. Additionally, tournament fees are around 10%-11%. At PokerStars, they can be as high as 12%. So, even though it doesn’ have the best rake system, it does excel in some areas.

Cash Games

If you’re looking for something other than Hold’em or Omaha, you’re going to be disappointed. As strong as Guts is in some areas, it falls down when you go beyond the most popular cash games variants. That’s slightly disappointing because we know some players love diversity. 

However, if we’re being honest, the action in games such as 2-7 Triple Draw is rarely that interesting. So, even though it’s only Hold’em and Omaha, we can’t be too critical. Games start at 2NL/PL and climb as high as 5/10 NL/PL and 20/40FL. 

We’d like to see higher stakes games. But, given the average player’s skill level at Guts, it’s probably right that games don’t run into the nosebleed stakes. Finally, you can play heads-up, six-max and full ring games across all stakes and variants.  

• Brush up on Cash Game Strategy Here

6+ Hold’em

If you’re looking for Guts poker rules with a difference, 6+ Hold’em is perfect. This variant is based on traditional Texas Hold’em but all cards lower than a six have been removed from the deck. That changes the poker hands rankings slightly and creates a lot more action. 

Guts has cash games starting at 4NL and climbing up to 200NL. From what we’ve seen, the tables aren’t packed with players, particularly during the day. However, at peak times, there are a handful of low stakes games running. 

If you want more 6+ Hold’em action, you may be better off trying PokerStars or Partypoker. But, if you want to sample what this game has to offer without being attacked by sharks, Guts is a great place to do it.

Sit & Go Tournaments

If there’s one area where Guts gets the jump on many of its more established rivals, it’s sit & go tournaments. Alongside standard games (full-ring, six-max, heads-ups, turbo and hyper turbo), you’ll find themed games. Known as Twister tournaments, these games are similar to the lottery-style SNGs at PokerStars et al (e.g. Spin & Go). 

However, what makes some of these SNGs different is the fact they’re themed. So, in addition to standard Twisters with prizepools topping €100,000, you can play Age of the Gods Twister tournaments. These tables are based on the popular progressive jackpot slot Age of the Gods. As such, you can buy in for between €1 - €10 and play for progressive jackpots worth €100,000 or more!   

No Fast-Fold Poker

Unfortunately, Guts doesn’t offer fast-fold poker. The iPoker Network does offer these provisions but the tables underwent a revamp in 2020. During our Guts Poker review, there weren’t any of these new speed games available. That really needs to change if it wants to be regarded as one of the industry’s best poker apps. 

COMPETITION AND TRAFFIC

iPoker is among the top 10 busiest online poker sites in the world. Because of that, Guts averages 2,000+ players at peak times and around half that at other times. The bulk of the action is concentrated around the micro and low stakes levels. However, there is a decent amount of mid-stakes action at peak times. 

In terms of competition, you’re not going to run into many sharks. There are some. In fact, there are plenty of competent players. However, it’s not home to the game’s elite. Therefore, overall, the standard shouldn’t be too high. 

Indeed, the fact Guts has a casino and sportsbook means you often get customers drifting over to poker looking for another way to game. So, if you read through our latestpoker strategy article, there’s no reason you can’t get an edge on the average grinder. 

Making Deposits and Withdrawals

• Minimum deposit: €10 
• Minimum withdrawal: €20 
• Withdrawals processed in 24 hours. 
• Withdrawals credited in 1-5 days.

Finally, as a licenced and regulated operator, Guts is legally bound to store your money in secure bank accounts and guarantee all withdrawals. Therefore, you can rest assured that your bankroll is safe at all times. Guts offers the most popular and reliable Payment Options of 2021:

*Winners will likely need to use their deposit method as their default withdrawal option.

How to Download the Software

You don’t have to install this poker app on your device. Instead, you can follow the steps below to create an account and start playing via your browser. However, if you do want to go through the Guts Poker download process, you can register for an account and perform a few extra steps to install the software. 

1. Click here to head to Guts Poker Online.
2. Enter your email address, choose a username and password. 
3. Enter your mobile number. This is an important step because Guts will send you a text explaining how to verify your account. 
4. Enter your address, name, gender and date of birth. 
5. Accept the terms and conditions. 
6. Set your marketing preferences. 
7. Select “play in browser” to join the action instantly. 
8. Select “download client” to install Guts Poker on your desktop and/or mobile. 
9. Once you’ve chosen your entry point, you’ll be able to find the Guts Poker game that suits you
10. Make a deposit and start playing with friends and foes!

Help and Customer Support

The Guts FAQ is pretty slick. As well as category pages, there’s an option for “most popular”. This is cool since you don’t have to search the database to find answers to common questions. Like how to withdraw or open an account. 

If you’d prefer to speak to a Guts customer service agent, the team is available 24/7. During our tests, the agents were not only responsive but helpful. We particularly liked the callback service because it means you don’t have to waste time on hold.

You can use the FAQ to answer some commonly asked questions. This could be a little more extensive but it will set you on the right path in most instances. When it comes to more direct forms of support, we spoke to two customer service agents. Both were polite but the response times could have been slightly quicker. The first agent we spoke to was also a little vague with some of their answers. But, on the whole, we got the information we needed.

• Live Chat: Typical response time = 30 seconds.
• Local Email Support: Via internal link - with 30-60 minutes response time.
• Phone: Callback service.

Our Guts Poker Rating

Guts might not be the best poker room in the world but it definitely has some impressive attributes. The €1,000 Guts poker bonus is great and the loyalty scheme offers rakeback that few can match. On top of this, there are plenty of soft low stakes cash games and the themed SNGs are excellent. If we’re being critical, we’d like to see some bigger MTTs and a few more non-standard poker variants. 

Additionally, it would be nice if there were more players during non-peak hours. But, having said that, this is a great poker site that operates on one of the biggest networks in the world. So, as well as having tons of impressive features, you know it’s safe and secure. With that being the case, we’d suggest joining Guts today using our PLAY HERE signup link on this page and seeing what it’s all about for yourself. 

Get a bonus as a first-time player by clicking below, opening an account and making a minimum deposit: