Rakeback up to 65% at PokerStars: how the new loyalty program works

In July 2021, PokerStars began testing an updated Stars Reward. It involved 20% of players chosen at random. As of October 1, the touted loyalty program applies to all PS users. Will it help bring back the first place in traffic and is the rakeback of 65% realistic?

Why did players hate the old VIP program?

There were several reasons to dislike Stars Reward:

• It replaced the legendary loyalty program with its supernovas, $1,000,000 quarterly freerolls and porsche in exchange for a million FPP;
• Real rakeback from the chests was a tiny 4-5%;
• Rewards were given to players at random and in most cases were ridiculous.

PokerStars experimented with them a bit, slightly changing the size of the rewards and types of chests. On the output received a logical result - the first place by the number of players in 2021 went to GGPokerok. PokerStars was not in first place for the first time since 2005.

What does Poker Stars' new loyalty program offer?

The main achievement of the new VIP program is transparency: instead of random freeroll tickets and starkoins, fixed rewards will fall out of the chests. The 65% rakeback is formed from two elements:
1. Rewards from the chests will give up to 25% rakeback;
2. Challenges (aka Missions) can yield up to 40% rakeback.

Chests. PokerStars Reward system consists of 6 levels and looks like this:

Players who still have unfinished chests need to finish off the scale and then switch to a new loyalty program

In order to move to a new level, you need to accumulate the required number of chests in 28 days. You started on October 20 and to advance to bronze chests, collect 5 blue chests by November 18. The reward scale is filled with Stars Reward points. A $1 rake in cash games or tournaments earns 100 points. The system is woven into the casino and sports betting, so points are given for playing there as well.
Players who have unfinished chests need to finish the scale and then switch to a new loyalty program.

Challenges. Monthly Challenges can increase your rakeback by a substantial amount, but there are a number of caveats:

• Challenges are only available to players with Silver level chests or higher.
• You must complete the challenge 100% within the time limit, or your bonus will be forfeited. Let's say you were given a $500 bonus with a $2,000 rake and you have only raked $1,600. If it were a first deposit bonus you would shrug your shoulders and be glad your bankroll has grown by $400, but you will not get anything for $1,600.
• The criteria for issuing tasks to players are unknown. That is, you will not get a stable challenges and get a specific reward for it.

To see available missions, click on "Challenges" on the right side of the PS client

How do I play more hands at PokerStars?

PokerStars' new loyalty program is a fitting incentive to break in and play tight. And to roll big hands, you'll need an assistant program. StarsCaption will automatically move tables around your screen, create a betting profile for any situation, display a helpful built-in HUD, and block pop-ups and other distractions. Up to and including nl10, the program is free with no time limit. You can download StarsCaption here.

Conclusions

Access to 25% direct rakeback instead of the previous 4-5% is great news for all poker fans. For that alone, Poker Stars' new loyalty program should be praised.

Some questions are raised by the additional 40% rakeback due to the tasks - to calculate the real figure it is worth waiting for the feedback from the grinders in a couple of months. Suppose that at the output instead of the exorbitant 65% players will see rakeback of 45-50%, which is still a great result.