You read that right. PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site, is on the cusp of dealing its 50 billionth hand. 50 billion! With such a major milestone to commemorate, PokerStars is busting out all the stops and dishing out $1 million in cash to its members.
In cash games, the PokerStars 50 Billionth hand promotion will actually kick in starting at hand #49,700,000,000 (that’s 49.7 billion for you non-mathematical whizzes out there). The players dealt cards in every one-millionth hand from there will receive $50 for every single VIP Player Point, or VPP, earned during the 50 previous hands at that table. The minimum payout is $50 and whoever wins the main pot is in store for a treat, as their bonus will be instantly doubled.
When the milestone 50 billionth hand is dealt, every player receiving cards in the hand will take home a colossal $500 per VPP earned over the previous 50 hands and the winner will also see their prize doubled. Text found on PokerStars’ website accurately points out, “This could mean a grand total of tens of thousands of dollars!”
Everyone dealt to in hand number 50 billion also lands a seat in the 2010 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Main Event on September 26th, a $5,200 value. Finally, the player who takes down the 50 billionth hand banks $50,000 on top of the pot and all of the extra goodies. Wow.
PokerStars also has a promotion suited for sit and go players. Between September 10th and 25th, there will be five constantly running 50-player Super Sit and Gos. Each one has a different price tag – $1.10, $5.50, $11, $22, and $55 – and the winners of every Super Sit and Go at a particular buy-in over the course of the promotion will split $50,000. If you click on “Sit and Go” and then “All” in the PokerStars lobby, then you can track down these unique tournaments being held as part of the 50 billionth hand festivities.
If your bankroll on PokerStars isn’t quite up to snuff, the 50 billionth hand promotion provides an excellent excuse to load back up. Just reload using the code “50BN” or deposit for the first time with the code “FREEROLL50” and you’ll receive a ticket into one of three $50,000 freerolls that will be held on September 25th. They’ll take place at 09:15 ET, 15:15 ET, and 21:15 ET on that date and you can locate the freebies in the PokerStars lobby by clicking on “Tourney” and “Special.”
Still not convinced? If you’ve currently achieved any level in the PokerStars VIP program, then you can purchase a $50 cash credit for 3,000 Frequent Player Points, or FPPs. This can only be done one time per person and is open to any VIP member. The 50 billionth hand promotion will come to a close on September 25th, so make sure to take advantage of these rock solid opportunities before they pass you by.
The 2010 WCOOP is also taking place on PokerStars, ensuring that both its cash game and tournament tables will be bustling like never before. The 62-event series wraps up on September 26th with a $5,200 buy-in Main Event that will dish out at least $10 million. It’ll be one of the largest online poker tournaments ever held and its winner is assured at least a $2 million payday.
Likely due to the ongoing WCOOP, PokerStars has seen a 24-hour peak of more than 40,000 real money ring game players placate its felts for the last five days, the only time in the last 60 days that’s happened according to PokerScout.com. The site boasts a seven-day running average of 27,000 cash game players and happily accepts action from the United States. At the time of writing, which is just after 1:00am ET early Saturday morning, 117,000 total players are logged in and 4,600 tournaments are in action.
Visit PokerStars today.
