While Poker Stars do not offer rakeback in the same format as many other leading online poker sites, their acclaimed VIP club does offer cash bonuses which reward loyal players. This article compares these cash rewards with the best rakeback deals - to help you decide whether the world's number one poker site is suitable for you.
We start with a brief description of the Poker Stars VIP Club, the levels and how points are collected faster as you move up the rungs. Next we draw parallels with rakeback deals on offer at the leading sites. Finally we will bring this information together and suggest that Poker Stars VIP Club is better suited certain player types.
Poker Stars VIP Club has 6 levels, starting with the default 'Bronze Star' then going through Silver, Gold and Platinum before reaching the upper levels of Supernova and Supernova elite. While the labels for levels stop here, the rewards do not - with many milestones within Supernova Elite giving progressively better cash rewards. While the 'star' levels require monthly points collection, the Supernova is calculated on a yearly basis and remains for the following year.
Key to moving up the levels and gaining bigger cash bonus equivalents to Poker Stars rakeback is the fact that each level will see progressively faster accumulation of points. Silver Star status required 1200 Frequent Player Points, however once you get there the points for Gold Star will accumulate 1.5 times as fast - going up to 5 times as fast for Supernova elite. What is more the cash bonuses you are able to claim become easier to reach as you move up - meaning you are quickly in a virtuous-circle of faster benefits.
> The following figures are estimates of how each of the Poker Stars VIP club levels relates to the best rakeback deals on offer at rooms which offer this directly. As you will see PokerStars rakeback equivalent reserves the best deals of all for those players who attain the 'Supernova VIP club status.
- VIP Bronze Star = 8% Equivalent Rakeback
- VIP Silver Star = 12% Equivalent Rakeback
- VIP Gold Star = 16% Equivalent Rakeback
- VIP Platinum Star = 20% Equivalent Rakeback
- Supernova = 28% Equivalent Rakeback
- Supernova Elite = 30% to 57% Equivalent Rakeback
For players reaching the million points required for Supernova Elite the higher levels are possible as you collect milestone bonuses - you'll need to have significant volume to reach the very highest levels. We should also note that benefits including WSOP and Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure seats are given free to Supernova elite players.
While the middle levels provide some rakeback-type rewards you actually need to play a lot of hands at Poker Stars before you match the best rakeback deals available elsewhere. For those players who multi-table the mid-limits or are higher stakes players the quest to become a Supernova Elite will pay dividends over time. However smaller stakes players or those who play only occasionally would probably find better rewards via a standard rakeback deal.
Of course, we are talking about the cash equivalents only in this article. Poker Stars is the world's most popular poker site for many reasons, including fantastic game selection, great software and some of the online poker scenes biggest tournaments. All players serious about their online poker game should at least check out Poker Stars for themselves. You can claim your 100% to $50 sign-up bonus with Marketing Code PAWSUB20 when you check out Poker Stars for yourself now!
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