PokerStars USA Rewards

The US program has been built to fit the wants of our players and the needs of our single state liquidities. PokerStars’ generous rewards program with fixed cashback prizes has finally made its way to the US regulated markets in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

As was anticipated, the new program under the name PokerStars Rewards promises flatter, more transparent, easier to understand, and generous rewards with fixed cashback.

Players on PokerStars USA can now earn a rakeback equivalent of 15% to 33% regardless of the player profile. This means that every player — winning or losing — will now earn a guaranteed 15% in rewards. It represents a major reversal to PokerStars’ previous scheme, where some high-volume winning players reportedly received rewards in a single-percentage point.

Under the new system, PokerStars has also reinstated reward points at high stakes games — something that had been excluded from the old rewards program. Furthermore, moving up to higher Chests is much easier now.

The new loyalty program retains the six-tier Chest system, where players work their way from Blue Chest to Black tiers by filling the progress bar from playing real money games across the three verticals. Rewards still come in the form of cash prizes or tournament tickets in Chests, but the randomization is removed completely and the rewards are now more predictable and much fairer for all players.

The new rewards were deployed in 2022 across its three sites: PokerStars NJ, PokerStars PA, and PokerStars MI, some five months after its roll out in the international market.

What is PokerStars Rewards?

PokerStars Rewards is a rewards program for online poker players in the US. The PokerStars USA Rewards program promises flatter, more transparent, easier to understand, and generous rewards with fixed cashback. Players can earn rakeback equivalent of 15% to 33% regardless of the player profile.

New PokerStars USA Rewards Program: What You Need to Know

What Has Changed: Fixed Rewards From 15% to 33%

• Randomization element removed. Every player earns the same cashback for the same amount of games they play, regardless of the player’s profile.
• Rewards are fixed, with cashback starting at 15% at the entry-level tier and topping at 33%.
• Players now earn reward points at high-stakes games too.
• Number of Chests required to unlock to move to higher now varies from five to ten instead of ten that was fixed previously.

What Remains the Same: Tiers and Chests

• The Chests mechanism remains with six tiers of Blue through Black.
• Players are rewarded across all verticals — Poker (PokerStars), Casino (Stars Casino), and Sports (FOX Bet).
• Personalization of reward prizes still remains.
• Players need to earn points to unlock Chests or move to higher-value Chests. The higher the Chest tier, the greater the rewards.
• Points earn rate at poker remain fixed at 100 points per $1 paid in rake across all formats
• The 28-day rolling period to upgrade to a higher chest stays the same.
• Players can still use the exchange feature, allowing players to cash in on partial progress and move to a lower chest.

How Does it Differ From the Global Market?

• PokerStars’ rewards program in the global market boasts a notably more generous rakeback ranging between 15% and 65%.
• In the dot-com market, the number of reward points needed to earn a Chest is substantially higher.
• Global players on PokerStars have access to two Supernova-inspired tiers: Select and Select+.
• Chest values in the global market are considerably higher compared to the US market, ranging from $3 to $1000.

How PokerStars Stacks Up Against WSOP and BetMGM

The program is built to create the best poker experience and reward like no other poker site, with more value, more ways to earn, and more transparency. The operator claims the new rewards scheme is “the richest and most rewarding in the US” market.

Indeed, the revamped rewards make it one of the most generous programs in the market, as compared to the operator’s competitors — WSOP’s loyalty program tops at 32%, partypoker in New Jersey at around 30%, and BetMGM offers similar level rewards.

“The US program has been built to fit the wants of our players and the needs of our single state liquidities,” a PokerStars spokesperson told pokerfuse. “The program is built to create the best poker experience and reward like no other poker site, with more value, more ways to earn, and more transparency.”

However, as pokerfuse had anticipated, the launch of the new PokerStars Rewards in the US market came with some tweaks. The Monthly Poker Challenges (MPCs) that offer an additional rakeback of up to 40% on top of the fixed cashback (thus allowing rewards of up to 65% in the dot-com market) have been excluded in the US.

To offset that, the operator has instead, increased the rewards at the top three-tiered Chests: Gold, Diamond, and Black.

PokerStars Rewards in the US Market vs Global Dot-Com Markets

The rewards program offered by PokerStars in the US market differs significantly from what is available in the dot-com market. This is because, in early 2024, PokerStars introduced a major overhaul to its program in the global market, improving its generosity, increasing transparency, and making it easier to understand. However, this revamped program was only introduced in certain markets and the US was left out.

As a result, PokerStars US players continue to operate under the older program, where they can earn up to 33% rakeback.

The revamped PokerStars Rewards program represents a substantial shift, embracing a more conventional approach to player incentives and prioritizing rewarding high-volume gameplay. While US market rewards allow for up to 33% rakeback, the new program for dot-com market players offers rakeback of up to 60%.

Additionally, the prize value of each Chest is considerably higher compared to the US market. However, this comes with a trade-off: the reward points required to earn a Chest are significantly higher in the dot-com market compared to the US.

For instance, a US player can earn a minimum 15% rakeback by contributing just $3.33 in rake. Conversely, in the international platform, players need to wager $20 in rake to achieve the same percentage.

Furthermore, international players have access to two new tiers: Select and Select+, reminiscent of the Supernova programs offered by the platform a year ago. However, these tiers necessitate a very high volume of play, which is currently not feasible in the US market due to the closed liquidity.

At present, there are no indications as to whether the revamped rewards program, offering up to 60% rakeback, will extend to the US market. Should any developments arise, we will ensure you are kept informed.

US Market

Dot-com Market

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PokerStars Rewards USA FAQ

How can I make the most of PokerStars Rewards?

Similar to other online poker platforms, PokerStars US rewards its players for their play. This is accomplished by offering them a portion of the rake paid on cash game tables and tournament entry fees back in the form of rewards. Typically, players receive this rakeback as cash or a prize equivalent to cash. Occasionally, rewards may include a combination of cash, tournament tickets, and additional perks.

In which US states are PokerStars Rewards available?

PokerStars Rewards are available to players in all states where the operator operates, including New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

How do players on PokerStars US earn reward points?

Players accumulate reward points by participating in real-money games. For every $1 spent on rake in Zoom or cash games, or tournament fees, players earn 100 reward points.

What are Chests?

Chests serve as the means for players to claim their rewards. Each time players engage in a real-money game, they earn reward points. As players accumulate a certain number of reward points, they progress through a bar. Upon completing the progress bar, players unlock a Chest containing their reward. There are six levels of Chests: Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Black. The value of the Chest corresponds to the magnitude of the rewards, with higher Chest levels offering greater rewards.

How much rake must a player generate to earn a reward on PokerStars US?

The minimum rake required to earn a Chest and its associated reward is $3.33, equivalent to 333 Reward points.

What is the maximum rakeback percentage available through Chests under the PokerStars Rewards Program for US players?

US players on PokerStars can earn a maximum rakeback percentage of 33% by achieving the highest Black tier status.

What is the minimum rakeback percentage for PokerStars US players?

The minimum rakeback percentage available to PokerStars US players is 15%.