Changes to the PokerStars Rewards program in North America are set to take effect on Monday July 15, 2024. The changes impact PokerStars NJ, PokerStars MI, and PokerStars PA in the US and PokerStars Ontario in Canada.
On Monday, PokerStars is ending the use of StarsCoin — virtual coins that could be exchanged for cash prizes, tournament tickets, and goods via the Rewards Store — and shutting down the Rewards Store.
This move comes six months after PokerStars overhauled its rewards program in the global dot-com and other European segregated markets, ending personalization and increasing transparency in its loyalty program. That overhaul also included the removal of StarsCoin and the Rewards Store in those markets.
However, in North America, PokerStars is only implementing the removal of StarsCoin and the Rewards Store. For now, the rewards structure and the mechanism of how rewards are awarded will remain unchanged, but rewards will now be direct; instead of StarsCoin, players will receive cash prizes or tournament tickets in chests.
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“We’re constantly trying to improve the way PokerStars Rewards works,” stated the email sent to players on July 8 that will be impacted by this move. “As part of ongoing changes, the Rewards Store will soon be removed and we’ll no longer offer StarsCoin.”
The email further announced key changes as follows:
- End of StarsCoin: StarsCoin will no longer be offered as an in-game reward starting July 15, 2024. This change aligns with the updates made in other markets earlier this year.
- Withdrawal of the Rewards Store: With StarsCoin no longer in use, the Rewards Store will also be discontinued. Instead, merchandise, tournament tickets, and other items will be available through the PokerStars Store, which offers the operator’s full merchandise collection.
- Conversion of StarsCoin: Any remaining StarsCoin balances will be converted to cash at a rate of 1 StarsCoin = $0.01.
Previously, players earned points toward their progress bar by playing real money games, and once the progress bar was fully filled, they received a Chest with a reward. These rewards mostly contained StarsCoin, and occasionally, players would also receive tournament tickets along with StarsCoin.
Now, the rewards contained in the Chest will consist entirely of cash or tournament tickets. This change has been made in response to player feedback, as PokerStars notes that most players prefer direct rewards over substitutes like StarsCoin.
No Changes to PokerStars Rewards Structure Yet in the US and Ontario
Earlier this year, PokerStars made some radical changes to its rewards program, impacting several markets, including the global dot-COM and European markets. However, PokerStars US and PokerStars Ontario were left out.
Under the revamped PokerStars Rewards program, the maximum level of rewards on the base program went up from 25% to 40%. It also addressed some core issues players had with the earlier setup, such as discontinuing the controversial weekly challenges, which offered additional rakeback of up to 40%. These challenges were never available in the US and Ontario. The new system also shifted away from penalizing winners, instead focusing on volume over win rates and ensuring consistent rewards for all players, regardless of their profiles.
The operator also introduced two new tiers, Select and Select+, reminiscent of the Supernova and Supernova Elite programs from over a decade ago. Through these tiers, high-volume players can earn up to 60% rakeback.
However, the minimum requirement to earn a Chest also increased. Previously, players needed to rake about $3.33 to earn rewards. Under the new system, players need to wager at least $20 to earn rewards. Of course, they now receive bigger rewards, such as $3 instead of $0.50.
None of these changes have been implemented in the PokerStars US and Ontario markets.
There are still six Chest tiers: from Blue to Black (the highest level), but the reward percentage remains low.
In the US, players still earn rakeback ranging from 15% to 33%. In Ontario, it is capped at 25%. However, rake requirements in these markets are lower compared to the dot-COM market. For instance, in the US, players need to earn a minimum of 333 reward points (worth $3.33 of rake) to receive the minimum rakeback of $0.50. In Ontario, to earn the minimum reward, players must earn 665 reward points (worth CAD $6.65 of rake) to win a reward of $1.
PokerStars US Rewards
| Chest Level | Reward Points Requirements | Rake Required (CAD) | Chest Value | Poker Reward % | Number of Chests to Level Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 333 | $3.33 | $0.50 | 15% | 5 |
| Bronze | 935 | $9.35 | $1.50 | 16% | 5 |
| Silver | 2850 | $28.50 | $5 | 17.50% | 7 |
| Gold | 12,500 | $125 | $25 | 20% | 7 |
| Diamond | 40,000 | $400 | $100 | 25% | 10 |
| Black | 100,000 | $1,000 | $330 | 33% | N/A |
PokerStars Ontario Rewards
| Chest Level | Reward Points Requirements | Rake Required (CAD) | Chest Value | Poker Reward % | Number of Chests to Level Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 665 | $6.65 | $1 | 15% | 5 |
| Bronze | 1250 | $12.50 | $2 | 16% | 5 |
| Silver | 2,850 | $28.50 | $5 | 17.50% | 7 |
| Gold | 10,800 | $108 | $20 | 18.50% | 7 |
| Diamond | 37,500 | $375 | $75 | 20% | 10 |
| Black | 100,000 | $1,000 | $250 | 25% | N/A |
It remains to be seen whether PokerStars will implement these changes in the North American markets. The operator might be awaiting regulatory approval, or the rewards could remain limited due to higher operational costs in these regions compared to the global dot-com market.
