PokerStars Casino Rewards — Everything You Need to Know
Learn all about the PokerStars Casino Rewards program, its personalized chests, and how to unlock bigger and better prizes through real-money play.
Last updated: May 24, 2023
PokerStars is one of the leading online gambling brands in the US, offering the full slate of iGaming products: casino, poker, and sports betting. PokerStars Casino is available to players in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania who enjoy a broad scope of gaming options. Aside from the great selection of casino games, players in these states can also enjoy an exciting and fairly generous PokerStars Casino Rewards program.
Like with many other multifaceted platforms, PokerStars rewards players for real-money play across all of its products, and it offers a somewhat unique approach, where your rewards are tailored to match your particular preferences, which is one of the many reasons why it ranks as one of the best online casino rewards programs.
While the operator may be more well-known for its poker room, this guide will focus on the casino side of the program and explain how PokerStars Rewards work for casino players. If you are more into poker, you can check out our detailed PokerStars Rewards guide that focuses on the online poker platform instead.
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PokerStars Casino Rewards Key Facts
- Engaging rewards program spanning across all verticals (casino, poker, sportsbook)
- All real-money play counts
- No special opt-in is required
- Fill the Progress Bar to unlock chests
- Six reward tiers available (Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Black)
- Chests contain personalized prizes
- Unlock a chest every time you fill a Progress Bar
- Chest values increase with each new tier
PokerStars Casino Rewards: The Basics
The entire concept of PokerStars Rewards revolves around personalized chests, adding an element of mystery and anticipation to the mix. The idea may not appeal to all players, as some prefer to know exactly what they are getting back for the time and money invested. On the other hand, this way of doing things makes for a more involved experience, which particularly appeals to lower-stakes players.
The process itself is pretty straightforward, and it consists of several steps:
- Play PokerStars Casino games for real money
- Collect points to fill the Rewards Bar
- Every time you fill the bar, you will unlock another chest
- Chests contain personalized prizes (free spins, cash bonuses, tournament tickets, etc.)
Of course, the more you play and the more progress you make, the better the rewards get. There are six distinct VIP levels to progress through, each giving you access to bigger and better rewards.
Chest Levels Explained
There are six chest levels available in PokerStars’ rewards program. To unlock the next level, you will need to fill the progress bar a certain number of times. Every time you do, you will receive a chest of the appropriate level, eventually moving up into the next tier.
| Chest Level | Value | Reward Points per Chest | Total Chests in the Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | $0.50 | 333 | 5 |
| Bronze | $1.50 | 935 | 5 |
| Silver | $5 | 2850 | 7 |
| Gold | $25 | 12,500 | 7 |
| Diamond | $100 | 40,000 | 10 |
| Black | $330 | 100,000 | - |
Accumulating Rewards Points
As you can see in the table above, you will fill the progress bar and unlock chests by collecting Rewards Points. You do not need to do anything special to achieve this — play your favorite casino games for real money, and the bar will keep moving.
However, it is important to know that not all games contribute equally. The type of game and the Return to Player (RTP) rate plays a vital role in how many points you will receive for every dollar wagered.
The full breakdown is available at PokerStars’ sites, but here is the earn rate information for some of the most popular games:
- Slots: The number of Reward Points earned per dollar wagered depends on the game RTP. For slots with RTP under 95%, you must wager between $0.50 and $1 to earn one point. On the other side of the spectrum, games with RTP of over 99% will require you to play through at least $5.33 to get a single Reward Point.
- Video poker: Players must wager between $2.33 and $11.67 to earn one Reward Point. This depends on the variation. For example, the popular Jacks or Better yields the lowest points per dollar wagered, while Bonus Deuces Wild offers the highest return.
- Baccarat (including Live Baccarat): $5 for one point
- Classic Blackjack: $9 for one point
- Roulette: $2 for one point
- American Roulette: $1 for one point
The full list of games on the PokerStars Casino US sites is quite long, but it is worth checking out before you chance your luck with a lesser-known game. That said, the same basic principle applies to games across the board — the bigger the house edge in a game, the more points per dollar wagered you will receive.
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Exchanging Chests
Another crucial thing to know about the PokerStars Casino Rewards program is that it works on a monthly basis. If you fail to fill the progress bar within 28 days, all your progress will be lost, and the bar will reset.
With this in mind, knowing that the operator allows you to exchange a chest for a lower-tier chest is important. If you are above the Blue level and realize you cannot complete the progress bar to unlock the next chest, you should check your Rewards section to see if there is an option to claim a lower-tier chest.
For example, you have a Gold status and are about halfway through unlocking the next chest. You only have a few more days to go before the bar resets, and you do not plan on playing in the coming days. In this situation, claiming the lower-tier (Silver) chest is better than losing all your progress.
Who Is PokerStars Casino Rewards Good For?
Like most US online casino rewards programs, you should temper your expectations from this one. The overall return rate is relatively small. That doesn’t mean there is no value in participating, especially as it’s free to join and can add extra excitement to your play.
Even at the Black level, you must accumulate 100,000 Reward Points to unlock a chest valued at $330. Even if you only stuck to lower RTP games, where every dollar wagered returns one point, you would need to play through $100,000 to get back $330.
To have this type of return, you will need to play games where the house edge is around 5%, which means, on average, you will lose about $5000 to unlock the chest. This constitutes a return of about 7% on your losses, which is not too shabby for a real money online casino in the US, but you must be a high-roller to achieve these returns.
At lower levels, returns are not nearly as generous.
However, PokerStars Casino Rewards are actually quite appealing to lower-stakes players. The monetary value alone may not be massive at Bronze or Silver levels, but chasing after the next chest adds to the overall experience and makes your gaming sessions more enjoyable.
Rewards contained in lower-tier chests may not make a big dent in your losses, but they are a nice perk to keep you motivated and entertained. If you occasionally play $50 or $100 online to have fun, this is a pretty good deal.
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FAQ
Does PokerStars Casino have a rewards program?
Yes, the program is called PokerStars Rewards, and it is designed to reward all your real-money play across all electronic and live games available on the site — the same reward program also applies to the affiliated PokerStars poker room and sportsbook.
What are Chests at PokerStars Casino US?
Chests represent the basis for the PokerStars Casino Rewards program. Every time you fill the Progress Bar, you will unlock a chest containing your reward. There are six chest levels: Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Black. The chests contain bigger and better prizes as you progress through the different levels.
Is PokerStars Casino Rewards program any good?
Rewards at PokerStars Casino are similar to other online casino rewards programs in the US. The monetary value is limited, although returns for the players who reach the highest (Black) tier are pretty decent.
For lower-stakes players, the program adds an exciting layer of engagement, where chasing the next chest may be just as entertaining as playing the games. The monetary value may not be high, but it helps enhance the experience.
Can I exchange my Reward Points directly at PokerStars Casino?
No, there is no loyalty store or anything similar at PokerStars Casino. The only way to redeem your points is by unlocking chests and claiming rewards contained inside.