PokerStars’ Flawed Reward System
PokerStars needs to restructure their VIP system.
Almost a month into the new year has passed and there are still no answers as to what PokerStars is going to change with their reward system or if they will change their reward system. The current structure greatly rewards the long hour grinder yet it leaves the lower levels out in the dark. From a straight forward financial stand point, this idea makes sense: reward more to those who bring in more rake, reward less to those who do not.
However, I think there needs to be a lower end focused incentive that entices the casual player and even new comer to play more. Currently the low end FPP items are all clothing based, and frankly not really even worth having. The casual player gets much more out of the 33% rakeback on Cake and the 27% on Full Tilt than they currently do with Stars very lopsided reward system. Some people may say, who cares? It is the higher ups that generate all the rake, who cares about the lower end that plays $0.10/$.025 blinds?
First, these players greatly outnumber those who can even attempt to reach SuperNova Elite and should be viewed as a important part of the PokerStars structure and not just handed what is left over. They make up an enormous % of the overall poker community and though when viewed at individually their net rake may be insignificant, combined it is a large chunk of any poker sites revenue.
Next, the heart and soul behind the VIP system is the Frequent Player Point (FPP) and the VIP player points (VPP). As it currently stands, the lower limit games earn absolutely no reward for the player seeing as the rake must reach X amount before a VPP is awarded. This means a player could play thousands of hands, yet if the rake does not reach $0.40, it is not recognized by the VIP system.
An easy solution for this: fractional VPPs. Fractional FPPs already exist, so why not implement them on VPPs too? This would at least recognize the volume a lower tiered player puts in.
Finally, as mentioned previously, the lower end players make up the vast majority of the players online. As any poker player should now, the money flows up. When the bottom of the well dries up, there will be no influx of new money or “fresh blood” so to speak. This makes this an online poker-wide issue seeing as the survival of poker as a game depends on the new players and with them, their new money being brough to the game.
It is yet to be seen what PokerStars will do (if anything), but hopefully it will be a new system with different bonus levels that offer a cash bonus. This not only encourages players to play and move up, but also directly rewards them for doing so instead of having to unlock a small bonus or buy a plain white t-shirt.
Related posts:
- New Pokerstars Deposit Bonus
- Double or Nothing SNGs on Pokerstars – Building Your Bankroll the Easy Way
- Contributed Rake Method
- Getting Started at Microstakes Poker: Full Tilt vs. Pokerstars
- June Pokerstars Reload Bonus
Categories: PokerStars
