PokerStars Makes Changes to Benefit Recreational Players

8 years ago
20:14
02 Nov

PokerStars has announced that it will revamp its player loyalty program and eliminate certain third-party software in an effort to level the playing field and improve the overall poker-playing experience.

The announcement follows a growing trend in online poker that has shifted in favor of recreational players, much to the dismay of grinders who were, at one point in time, the players that online poker sites catered to. But with online poker player traffic on a steady decline in recent years and the skill level of players continuing to rise with the aid of third-party software that provides vital stats on making optimal decisions, the poker ecology has gotten out of whack to a certain degree.

Recreational players currently stand little chance of stretching their dollars and enjoying themselves while playing online poker, which tends to keep them from coming back to the tables. As the world's top poker site, PokerStars has taken on the "responsibility to make sure that every player at PokerStars -- advanced, recreational or new - can enjoy this game as much as we do."


What's in Store

PokerStars will introduce a new VIP Steps program that changes the currently used Frequent Player Points (FPPs) into a currency known as StarsCoin. The revamp is being billed as a simplification of the player reward system that will benefit some players more, some less, but continue to be "very much in the same ballpark" as the old VIP rewards program.

The players most likely to see fewer dollars in their pockets are the high stakes and high volume players. Supernova and SupernovaElite will see their rewards capped at 30%, PlatinumStar level players can expect their rewards to be reduced by 10%, and players in no-limit and pot-limit games at $5-$10 and above stakes, limit games at $10-$15 and higher, and 8-game $10-$20 and up will no longer receive VPPs while playing.

Those massive changes affect only about 2% of PokerStars' customer base, a minority who seemingly play with more of an eye toward gaining rewards via volume of play rather than skill or the outcome of the games. As pointed out by Amaya and PokerStars VP of Corporate Communications Eric Hollreiser on the PokerStars blog when announcing the changes, the rewards for those players "have become so enticing that we have inadvertently altered why some people play and how they play."


Third-Party Software

Technological aids for improving one's play have changed online poker considerably over the years. While anybody is free to invest in HUDS and poker-tracking software, the use of such programs are being viewed more and more as an unfair advantage versus those who don't employ such software while playing.

One can argue that the fun has been taken out of the game, replaced with technology that provides "harvested stats" that tell players the proper decisions to make at any given time. PokerStars sees the competitive aspect of poker as "something that needs to be protected" and has decided that the best way to do that is by eliminating certain third-party software programs.

Q:We want to make clear that the line will be drawn to preserve poker as a battle of wits and a test of heart," Hollreiser stated. "This [getting rid of third-party software] will only have a direct effect on a small proportion of players and builds upon our responsibility to provide a level playing field for all players."


Other Highlights

Footballers Neymar Jr and Cristiano Ronaldo will be part of new campaigns designed to attract new players and recall others who have stopped playing at PokerStars. Hollreiser called the as yet unveiled strategy "the biggest global consumer marketing campaign in PokerStars history."

The new PokerStars VIP Club loyalty program begins on January 1, 2016 and will result in "improved rewards for the vast majority of players." PokerStars began some of the third-party software restrictions last month and plans to continue on a grander scale in the new year.

Naturally, some of the changes will provoke outrage from PokerStars loyalists who for years have been relying on the rewards bestowed on high stakes, high volume players. It is often those same players who are employing third-party software programs to increase their win rate.

However, PokerStars sees the changes as necessary in order to "enhance the playing experience and to re-emphasize the fun and social aspects of online poker while attracting and retaining more players to the game."


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Charles is a Chicago native and long time poker player who dusted off his journalism degree and began writing about poker following the events of Black Friday in 2011. He has written for a number of leading poker websites, offering his insights and expertise on subjects ranging from online poker leg...Read more

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