As 2009 comes to a close, many online poker rooms are looking to ramp up their promotions in 2010. The top online poker room in the business, PokerStars, is not only looking to create bigger and greater promotions, but is also making it easier for players to qualify for higher levels in its industry-leading VIP Program.
The VIP Program, which has been a staple of PokerStars since its inception, is something that all players become a part of once they join the site. Once a player plays their first hand on PokerStars, they enter into the Bronze Star level and, through continued play, can move up into higher monthly statuses, called Silver, Gold, and Platinum Star. The number of VIP Player Points (VPP) and Frequent Player Points (FPP) a person earns determine their level. In addition to these monthly goals, players can also earn yearly statuses by becoming Supernova and Supernova Elite members of PokerStars.
Starting on January 1st, most multi-table tournaments, sit and go tournaments, and cash games will award more points and enable players to reach their goals much more quickly. In tournaments, players will earn points based on the entry fee. Players will receive VPPs at the rate of 5.5 for each $1 in entry fees paid. The increase is greater for European players, as they receive 8 VPPs for each €1.00 in entry fees paid. In cash games, the number of points awarded will be based on the rake taken and the number of players on the table.
Players will be able to upgrade from Bronze Star to Silver Star status much more quickly under the new VIP Program. Whereas in the past a player had to accumulate 1,200 VPPs to reach the Silver Star status, in 2010 a player will only have to earn 750. Once a player reaches Silver Star status, multipliers take over and give players more VPPs and FPPs for playing.
PokerStars also offers special tournaments for players who have entered the upper echelons of its VIP Program. In the past, PokerStars held a weekly $75,000 freeroll exclusively for the VIP Program, with Supernovas eligible for free entry and Gold Stars and Platinum Stars eligible to get in through FPP satellites. In 2010, PokerStars will shift these tournaments to a quarterly schedule with $1 million on the line. In addition to this massive change, PokerStars is offering those VIP Program members who are Silver Star and above the chance to play against Team PokerStars Pros in sit and go action.
Finally, PokerStars will be offering a new reward program that all players will be able to participate in. Called the Stellar Rewards program, a series of 19 cash incentives are up for grabs and acquired by earning VPPs over the entire calendar year. The milestones, and their respective cash payouts upon reaching them, are broken down as such:
$10 available at 750, 1,500, 2,250, 3,000, 4,000 and 5,000 Yearly VPPs
$50 available at 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 25,000, 30,000, 35,000, 40,000 and 45,000 Yearly VPPs
$100 available at 50,000, 60,000, 70,000, 80,000 and 90,000 Yearly VPPs
If a player is able to reach all 19 milestones, the resulting cash benefit will be $1,000. The changes to the VIP Program and the introduction of the Stellar Rewards program are set up to allow more players to move up to the higher reaches of PokerStars VIP Club and reward loyal players. All of the changes should be seen on PokerStars by the end of January.
