PokerStars US Rewards: Everything You Need to Know

In the US, PokerStars Rewards is the loyalty program available to players on PokerStars’ regulated platforms in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. It mirrors the core design of the international PokerStars Rewards system while staying compliant with state gaming regulations governing each jurisdiction.

Players earn Reward Points for the rake and tournament fees they generate during real‑money play. As those points accumulate, they fill a progress bar that unlocks Chests containing instant cash prizes and bonuses. Each PokerStars US site runs the same six‑tier structure—Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Black—with the Black Chest offering up to 33% rakeback, the highest return available under the current system.

Unlike the international program, PokerStars US Rewards does not include the elite Select or Select+ tiers, and rewards cannot be combined across states or with global accounts. However, each licensed poker room gives players in its jurisdiction the same transparent, progression‑based path to earn value back from their play, ensuring that PokerStars US delivers consistency, fairness, and clear rewards for every real‑money hand dealt.

How PokerStars US Rewards Works

PokerStars US Rewards uses the same fundamental system as the global PokerStars Rewards program but operates within strict state regulations. The goal is simple: reward players for every real‑money hand they play with clear, consistent value.

Each time a player pays rake in a cash game or a tournament entry fee, they earn Reward Points. 100 Reward Points are generated for each $1 in rake or tournament fees paid. As points accumulate, they fill a progress bar that appears in the My Rewards section of the PokerStars client or mobile app. Once that bar is complete, the player unlocks a Chest containing instant cash prizes or bonuses.

There are six Chest levels — Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Black — each offering higher prizes and larger potential rakeback. Opening several Chests within a 28‑day period increases a player’s level, while remaining inactive for 28 days resets progress to a lower tier so that Chests are easier to win again.

The US version is unified across licensed states: New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania all use the same level structure with the top Black Chest offering up to 33% rakeback. Each state’s program runs independently under its local license — balances and progress cannot be shared between poker rooms — but the mechanics, percentages, and experience are the same across all PokerStars US sites.

PokerStars US Rewards Levels and Rakeback

The PokerStars US Rewards program features six Chest levels that determine how much rakeback players can earn. Each Chest represents a step up in value, rewarding players with larger cash prizes as they increase their play volume. The system is identical across all three licensed PokerStars US markets — New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania — with the top level offering a maximum of 33% rakeback.

Here’s the current breakdown of the six Chest levels and their approximate returns:

Each tier operates on a 28‑day rolling period. Players who open multiple Chests within that time move up to the next level, while going 28 days without earning a Chest resets progress to a lower level. All rewards are paid in cash, and Chests expire 30 days after being issued if unopened.

Although the rewards structure is standardized nationwide, each state program is licensed separately, and balances or progress cannot be shared between PokerStars NJ, MI, and PA accounts. All three offer identical returns, providing U.S. players with a consistent and transparent system that mirrors the global PokerStars Rewards experience while staying compliant with local regulations.

Where PokerStars US Rewards Is Available

PokerStars US Rewards is active in all U.S. jurisdictions where the operator is licensed to offer real-money poker—currently New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Each market operates under its own state license and regulatory framework, but all three follow the same six-tier structure and 33% maximum rakeback cap.

While the programs are administered separately, PokerStars New Jersey and PokerStars Michigan now share a combined player pool through the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). This means players in both states sit at the same tables and compete in the same tournaments. However, because each license must maintain separate financial and rewards accounting, each site continues to run its own Rewards system. Balances and progress earned in one state’s client cannot be transferred or redeemed in another.

Pennsylvania remains a self-contained market, operating its own version of PokerStars US Rewards under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Players on PokerStars PA enjoy the same chest levels and reward percentages as NJ and MI users, though their poker pool is segregated from the shared NJ-MI network.

In summary, all three US poker rooms offer identical PokerStars Rewards structures with consistent rakeback rates and chest values—but participation, deposits, and rewards remain tied to the state where a player’s account is registered.

Rewards Expiry and Terms

PokerStars US Rewards follows the same expiry and policy rules across New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Chests and bonuses must be opened or used within specific timeframes to remain valid. Unopened Chests will automatically expire 30 days after they are earned, and their contents cannot be recovered once expired. Individual rewards found inside a Chest—such as cash bonuses, tickets, or free-play credits—may carry shorter expiration periods. These details are always displayed in the “My Rewards” section of the PokerStars app or desktop client.

Participation in PokerStars US Rewards is subject to the official Rewards terms established by the local regulator in each state. Players are required to opt in through real-money play and must maintain good standing under their state’s licensing agreement. Rewards and Reward Points are non-transferable, non-sellable, and cannot be moved between PokerStars NJ, PokerStars MI, or PokerStars PA accounts.

Fraud, collusion, or any abuse of the Rewards program may result in forfeiture of all accumulated rewards or permanent account closure. PokerStars reserves the right to alter the value of Chests, point requirements, or rakeback percentages at any time in accordance with state gaming regulations.

For the most accurate and current information, players should review the local Terms and Conditions found within each state’s PokerStars client or their official website before playing.

PokerStars US Rewards FAQ

What is poker rakeback?

Rakeback is how online poker sites reward players for their real-money play. It gives back a portion of the rake paid at cash game tables and tournament entry fees, usually as cash or bonuses. In the PokerStars US Rewards program, rakeback is earned by filling progress bars and unlocking Chests that contain instant cash prizes worth up to 33% of the rake paid.

How do I earn Reward Points?

Players receive 100 Reward Points for every $1 paid in rake or tournament fees. These points fill a progress bar that, once completed, unlocks a Chest containing cash rewards or bonuses. Each state version of PokerStars US (NJ, MI, and PA) uses the same earning rate and six-tier structure.

What are the different Chest levels and rakeback percentages?

There are six Chest levels—Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Black—each offering higher-value rewards. Blue starts at around 15% rakeback, while the top Black Chest offers up to 33%. Players move up by earning multiple Chests in a 28-day period and can drop a level if no Chests are won for 28 days.

Are PokerStars Rewards combined across states?

No. While PokerStars New Jersey and Michigan share a poker player pool under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), each site runs its own Rewards program due to licensing requirements. Balances, Reward Points, and Chests do not transfer between states.

How do I opt in to PokerStars US Rewards?

All registered PokerStars US players are automatically enrolled in the program when playing for real money. Progress and Chests can be viewed and managed in the “My Rewards” section of the PokerStars client or mobile app.

Do Chests or rewards expire?

Yes. Unopened Chests expire 30 days after they are earned and cannot be recovered once expired. Individual rewards, like cash bonuses or tickets, may have shorter expiration dates, which are displayed in the My Rewards section.

Is PokerStars US Rewards the same as PokerStars International Rewards?

The structure and mechanics are similar, but there are differences. The U.S. version is capped at 33% rakeback and operates in three regulated states only. The international program includes higher-value tiers (Select and Select+) that can offer up to 60% rakeback. Players cannot share balances or progress between their U.S. and international accounts.

Where can I play PokerStars US Rewards?

PokerStars US Rewards is available to players physically located in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Each state requires its own verified account and operates under local gaming regulations.