Riva Poker is one the up-and-coming poker rooms in the United Kingdom and Europe. One of the newest members of the iPoker network, they offer strong software, customer support, and very generous welcome bonuses to new players.
Player at Riva enjoy all the benefits from playing on the iPoker network, as well as some unique features such as a referral program where players can win free gifts by referring their friends, as well at their poker school program for new players who want to learn the ropes of online poker.
While offering the standard ring games and tournaments that can be found at most online poker rooms, Riva is a haven for Sit and Go players, as they offer a huge selection of buy-ins and game speeds.
However, as a newer poker site, Riva suffers from some downtime, especially outside of peak European hours. They also don't offer quite the amount of perks and special tournaments that can be found at some of the larger poker rooms. However, players who choose to play at Riva will find it quite accommodating, with enough games and features to keep every level of player interested.
As with other poker sites, Riva Poker offers generous welcome bonuses to players who register with them for the first time. One of the best bonuses is their $10 no-deposit bonus for players who register a new account. Released in two $5 payments, it is basically just free money to play with while trying out the site.
Riva also offers a huge first deposit bonus of 200%, with the maximum bonus amount reaching a sky-high $2000. While it takes some work to clear the full bonus, the range of buy-ins available makes it possible to achieve for players willing to put in the time grinding at the tables.
Riva Poker offers a full range of promotions which are standard at online poker rooms on the iPoker network. These include a special tournaments and satellites which can send lucky players directly to some of the world's biggest tournaments, including the WSOP and EPT. Like every poker room worth its salt, they also host a guaranteed big-money tournament every Sunday, with a chance to win big through microstakes satellite tournaments.
As Riva Poker, there is also a chance to get $75 every time a player gets a friend to open a new account. This referral program is one of the best in the industry, and great chance to boost bankroll while also taking on friends in the poker rooms.
Riva Poker is considered a Sit and Go paradise, and one of the reasons for this is their weekly Sit and Go jackpots, with upwards of $100,000 to be won every week. These jackpots are awarded to players who win a certain number of tournaments in a row, with different jackpots available for different buy-in levels.
Riva Poker is powered by iPoker, which is developed by Playtech. This trusted software platform is popular around the world for its ease of use for players and up-to-date technological innovations.
Riva runs nicely on the software, however players that may be accustomed to more bells and whistles at other sites may be somewhat disappointed. The software package employed by Riva is good, but quite basic, lacking some of the features found on larger poker sites.
The poker school feature is nice, with explanations of rules and basic strategy. While veterans will have little use for it, beginning players may benefit from the advice offered there.
As with most poker rooms, Texas Hold'em is the king at Riva Poker. There are hundreds of ring games, tournaments, and Sit and Go's available at any one time, with limits and stakes ranging from $.01/$.02 all the way up to $300/$600.
Other games such as Omaha, 5 Card Stud, and 7 Card Stud are also available, but tend to see little play. One exception is the massive Monday night Omaha tournament, which tends to see most of the site's Omaha players come out for a chance at huge paydays.
Riva Poker's customer service is available 24 hours a day through email and by telephone. While the customer support is quite friendly and helpful, there could be more options available for support. Email is often the best way to reach support, as there is no in-game customer support option. Also, the telephone numbers are not toll-free, so while customer service can be reached over the phone, international players may find themselves with a hefty phone bill.
Riva Poker is a safe and secure online poker room, which has not been the subject of any complaints about deposits or banking methods. They accept most of the standard European payment methods, including Visa, MasterCard, Skrill (Moneybookers), Neteller, uKash, and ClickandBuy. Each method requires a minimum deposit of $20.
