Latest on PokerStars VIP Program Changes

On April 3, PokerStars revealed further details of its upcoming rewards program changes via the corporate blog of Séverin Rasset, who is the Director of Poker Innovation and Operations for the site. According to Rasset, the changes due to take effect in May, starting in Denmark, will help to provide its players with a “rich, exciting, and personalised experience”.
This is the third year in a row that PokerStars has decided to introduce changes to its VIP Program, and if the past two years is anything to go by, then once again it is likely to receive a negative reaction from the site’s online regulars. At the heart of the new innovations is a shifting from being a monthly rewards program to a daily one in which players can be rewarded during a single playing session, thus providing more immediate benefits for its recreational players.
According to some estimates, this could lead to an 85% reduction in rakeback for high-volume poker players, but in his blog Rasset was keen to point out that these changes are necessary in order to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the industry. Elaborating further, Rasset stated:
“Our new loyalty program will reward play across poker, casino, and sports, without forcing anyone to play any particular product. Players should feel that no matter what they play, we appreciate their loyalty. Our current reward, StarsCoin, will become the common currency for poker, sport and casino, maintaining its current value.”
The changes being implemented by PokerStars means that its reward will more closely resemble the programs being offered by its competitors in which volume is just one factor used to determine what bonuses a player receives. Other actions that will also help accrue rewards for its customers include stakes and games played, as well as how much they deposit.