Competition among online poker sites is as fierce as ever, with both US and international networks coming up with ever more creative promotions to attract new players. Here I list the 5 largest poker sites in size order, giving an overview of why each site made it onto the top list:

#1 - Pokerstars

Pokerstars are the biggest site by a considerable margin - with more than twice as many players as even their closest rivals. Welcoming US players after the passing of the UIGEA legislation gave this site the top spot, and their great software and promotions keep them there. This poker room are known for their excellent loyalty scheme, choice of games and tournaments including the infamous 'Sunday Million'.

#2 - Full Tilt Poker

Full Tilt poker bill themselves as the 'home of the pros' and have a huge number of big name live poker stars on their books including Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan and Chris Ferguson. This site also welcome US players, a factor which has seen them grow rapidly over recent years. Top rated software and a great selection of games keeps both cash game and tournament poker fans happy, while innovative games including Rush Poker continue to attract new players.

#3 - Party Poker

Before the 2006 UIGEA legislation, Party were the undisputed number #1. While closing their doors to US players had a huge effect, the brand is still very strong internationally - with almost as many players online now as the peak in 2006. Party feature easy games and recently completely upgraded their software. Regular promotions and bonuses helped them regain the number 3 spot after losing it to iPoker for a while.

#4 - The iPoker Network

iPoker are a group of sites who pool together their players. Joining any of the sites involved gives you access to the game games and tournaments though the bonuses and branding may be different. Titan Poker are the biggest site on the network, who do not accept US players. With many new countries the target of marketing campaigns, iPoker feature more beginners than almost anywhere online - making the tables very profitable for experienced players.

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