Stars (!) VIP program
 

From an email I received:

"While we’re here, we also want to sneak out an announcement about the PokerStars VIP program. Make sure you keep checking www.pokerstars.com for the latest news, because if you think it sounds exciting, chances are you’ll be even more thrilled when it’s unveiled. You won’t be disappointed."

interesting...

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

Now that IS interesting.

Did you hear that? I think I just heard Party's death rattle in the background. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
Now that IS interesting.

Did you hear that? I think I just heard Party's death rattle in the background. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

If it does indeed thrill, then I see Party coughing up blood. Stars will take the serious players, and when poker hits a downswing, Party will hemhorrage players and Stars will not.

However, I didn't get this e-mail. Then again, I haven't been playing much on Stars lately.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

Pokerstars has been so active and responsive in the last month it's quite impressive.

I wonder what the VIP will be all about? I don't see any news on the site.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

Sounds intriguing. I will say a good VIP program with cash incentives is the only way I will consistantly play there without a bonus.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

Don't everyone get too excited, I'd imagine this will be a pretty exclusive club. I know that they were going around asking some of the high limit regulars what they wanted out of a poker site as rewards-type stuff goes.

However, if they do extend this to everyone who plays there, it would be amazing for people like us. I'm just not sure how beneficial it would be to PS.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

Got this one too. Congrats.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

From the Dear Lee Jones thread, a response by Lee Jones:

[ QUOTE ]
A15: Short answer first: We don’t plan to offer rakeback. However, we do plan to introduce a VIP program (soon) which will give substantial awards to high volume players. For instance, how'd you like to trade your FPPs for a WSOP, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure or European Poker Tour package?

[/ QUOTE ]

I take two things from this.

1) It will be at least moderately exclusive.

2) A WSOP or PCA package would be plenty for me. The Main Event buyin itself approximates $833 per month.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

Yes, but it isn't as good as cash in hand for everybody. I'm likley -EV in MTTs because I rarely play them.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, but it isn't as good as cash in hand for everybody. I'm likley -EV in MTTs because I rarely play them.

[/ QUOTE ]

True enough, and I'm sure the big tourney buy ins won't be the only things available.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

Isn't this going to be called VIP program?
How many in here are VIP? (I don't thing grinding it at the 1/2 tables is going to do the trick)
This should be posted the NL and high limit forums.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

It looks potentially interesting to me.

But I would think that a WSOP or WPT-PCA package would cost somewhere around 1-million-trillion-gazillion FPP's.


But if it comes close to approximating a decent rake-back plan then I would be more than happy to accept the payment in the form of a big tourney entry.

But I'm hesitant to start earning my FPP's now because it is also likely that I will look at it and won't think it's such a hot deal.

I played a few of those FPP tourneys ranging from 1k to 3k FPP's each mostly....and my FPP balance is almost down to zero now. So I'll be starting from scratch if I do this.

At least they are looking into offering more alternatives than just the FPP tourneys and the books and Stars gear.


I got the e-mail too btw. the main purpose was to thank me for playing in the online-blogger poker-championship. i registered, but forgot about it and didn't play a hand and got blinded away. but they thanked me for playing anyway.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
i registered, but forgot about it and didn't play a hand and got blinded away. but they thanked me for playing anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe they thought you were just a really tight player...?

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

I mentioned this on my blog as well as the fact that I finished something like 800/1700.
Some guy commented that I finished higher than him....and he was actually there to play the thing.

this isn't unusual of course....you can get blinded-off in almost any tourney and stand a good chance to finish in the top-half. But I still think it's funny the number of players you can beat by not even showing up.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
I mentioned this on my blog as well as the fact that I finished something like 800/1700.
Some guy commented that I finished higher than him....and he was actually there to play the thing.


I played in a sit and go last week ($215 buy-in) in which there was a guy who was sitting out for either the entire time or the latter half of it (I didn't pay great attention to the first half of the tourney since i'm multi-tabling). Well, he wound up 2nd behind me. He must've been surprised the next morning logging into his account and finding himself a few hundred dollars richer.
this isn't unusual of course....you can get blinded-off in almost any tourney and stand a good chance to finish in the top-half. But I still think it's funny the number of players you can beat by not even showing up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't this going to be called VIP program?
How many in here are VIP? (I don't thing grinding it at the 1/2 tables is going to do the trick)
This should be posted the NL and high limit forums.

[/ QUOTE ]

I play 4 tables of $1/$2 NL on stars....and would play more if need be...

I would only play there as my main base if there was the necessary incentive to....A VIP program that rewarded lots of play....By limiting the VIP club to the higher limit players, Stars would be alienating the core group of players that it has...

Its a known fact that the majority of Stars' players are micro-cash players/play money players and tourney players...

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't this going to be called VIP program?
How many in here are VIP? (I don't thing grinding it at the 1/2 tables is going to do the trick)
This should be posted the NL and high limit forums.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this about poker? No.
Is this about internet gambling? Yes.

Right forum.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

if i look up the rest of your posts will i find anything of substance?

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

i think a player can be high volume, without being high stakes. someone multitabling 3-6 or 5-10, or playing 40-50 sitngos a day should receive some sort of vip status.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
if i look up the rest of your posts will i find anything of substance?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you know both where and how to look, you can probably improve your game a lot.
As far as me posting "gold nuggets" I believe those days are kind of over.
And if you are a little clever (notice that the cut isn't very high, lucky you) you can certainly find content in most of what I post nowadays. You just have to know how to read them (I agree, not all can)

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
if i look up the rest of your posts will i find anything of substance?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you know both where and how to look, you can probably improve your game a lot.
As far as me posting "gold nuggets" I believe those days are kind of over.
And if you are a little clever (notice that the cut isn't very high, lucky you) you can certainly find content in most of what I post nowadays. You just have to know how to read them (I agree, not all can)

[/ QUOTE ]

Big words from someone who can't figure out when he's being replied to and when he isn't.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
if i look up the rest of your posts will i find anything of substance?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you know both where and how to look, you can probably improve your game a lot.
As far as me posting "gold nuggets" I believe those days are kind of over.
And if you are a little clever (notice that the cut isn't very high, lucky you) you can certainly find content in most of what I post nowadays. You just have to know how to read them (I agree, not all can)

[/ QUOTE ]

Big words from someone who can't figure out when he's being replied to and when he isn't.

[/ QUOTE ]

Your absolutely righ, my mistake! [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
if i look up the rest of your posts will i find anything of substance?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you know both where and how to look, you can probably improve your game a lot.
As far as me posting "gold nuggets" I believe those days are kind of over.
And if you are a little clever (notice that the cut isn't very high, lucky you) you can certainly find content in most of what I post nowadays. You just have to know how to read them (I agree, not all can)

[/ QUOTE ]

a little too much caffeine tonite? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

and now i'm gettin as bad as the phish [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

So whats this all mean??
 

Quite simple. Stars games get tighter with all the 2+2ers moving their play over there and NO PROGRAM will be good enough to compensate for bad games. Wondering why nobody else has thought about this angle yet?

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

I have not seen this posted anywhere either - it was also in the email:

[ QUOTE ]

Lastly, have you heard about the PokerStars affiliate program? If you haven't
and want to learn how you can earn money by promoting PokerStars on your blog,
check it out at:
http://www.pokerstars.com/affiliate_program.html



[/ QUOTE ]

My only concern is ... Doesn't everyone in the world already have a Stars account??

Re: So whats this all mean??
 

[ QUOTE ]
Quite simple. Stars games get tighter with all the 2+2ers moving their play over there and NO PROGRAM will be good enough to compensate for bad games. Wondering why nobody else has thought about this angle yet?

[/ QUOTE ]
So true. Stars is horribly, horribly tight. Impossible to make money there. Just can't do it, even with incentives!

Nope, no fish at Stars.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
Pokerstars has been so active and responsive in the last month it's quite impressive.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: So whats this all mean??
 

This seems really really good. Maybe the VIP program will suck, but even if it does look at what has been happening. Tons of bonuses and sites trying to offer incentives for players. Seems like competition is rising and players will be benefiting.

Re: So whats this all mean??
 

exactly what i've been thinking.

empire's response to the party VIP-club was pretty pathetic.
The jury's not completely back yet on how good the party VIP club will be.
I have hopes that Stars will REALLY do their VIP club RIGHT.

And if they don't, then that's kind of okay...because the table has been set.
If it takes a zillion hands to get a WSOP entry via Stars...then perhaps prima or crypto or full-tilt or absolute or somebody will come along with an attempt to attract such a high-volume player who wants to try doing something like this.


I've never been one to believe that increasing competition amongst the sites will induce them to lower their rakes. Most players don't take rake into consideration at all.

But I do believe that competition to attract the high-volume players to grind-out anywhere from 6k-20k hands per week on their site (with various incentives) could bring about significant rewards for us players.

Re: So whats this all mean??
 

[ QUOTE ]
The jury's not completely back yet on how good the party VIP club will be.
I have hopes that Stars will REALLY do their VIP club RIGHT.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is where i think that the competetion will be. "PARTY VS STARS: A FIGHT FOR WORLD POKER SUPREMACY" Honestly i cant see smaller sites putting up enough to make me play on bad tables with limited selection. Ive tried absolute,prima,x-skins and even with rakeback and bonuses its just so much easier to play stars and party with amazing table selection 24 hours a day.

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
I mentioned this on my blog as well as the fact that I finished something like 800/1700.
Some guy commented that I finished higher than him....and he was actually there to play the thing.

this isn't unusual of course....you can get blinded-off in almost any tourney and stand a good chance to finish in the top-half. But I still think it's funny the number of players you can beat by not even showing up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bob, you're playing at the wrong site. I presigned up for a $20+2 at doyles room yesterday, then the internet provider lost all connections to teh whole island here. I get back from shopping in town and check out of curiosity...

120 entrants, 18 paid. I made 23rd.

Reinventing the wheel
 

"If it takes a zillion hands to get a WSOP entry via Stars...then perhaps prima or crypto or full-tilt or absolute or somebody will come along with an attempt to attract such a high-volume player who wants to try doing something like this."

Hmmmm, why didn't someone think of that before ...... wait, I think ODoyle did .... even if it turned out my head was much bigger ....

You do not need a VIP program to do this, but I would appreciate crtiques and plaudits for the current offerings, so I can figure out what we might be able to better.

Thanks,

Truepoker CEO

Truepoker CEO

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

this would be great if it is going to be available to players at all the limits and not just a mtt freeroll every month or something like that.

Re: Reinventing the wheel
 

[ QUOTE ]
but I would appreciate crtiques and plaudits for the current offerings, so I can figure out what we might be able to better.


[/ QUOTE ]

OK. With all due respect: 20x bonus/no RB is not competitive.

Re: Reinventing the wheel
 

In your player points program you mean??

Hey, I would love to get 50k or 60k points for a Vegas trip or Bahamas cruise.
But your site is just too difficult to play on.
I have a very difficult time seeing the board-cards and who is betting. The board cards are very small and are angled away from me.

I don't know if you have responded to the request for a 2d and/or mini-view version (like UB or Prima) but if you have I would love for you to repeat your thoughts on this.

I could play more at True if the tables were more user-friendly.

true has great incentives for high-volume play...and happens to be the site where it might be the most difficult to actually play a high-volume (trailing only pacific of course).

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

Any updates on this?

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
But I would think that a WSOP or WPT-PCA package would cost somewhere around 1-million-trillion-gazillion FPP's.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe 800K is the going rate, or at least that's what one player I know of was offered.

Also, can I have a link to your blog?

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

"or at least that's what one player I know of was offered."



really?? that's pretty interesting.

we'll see what they come up with for the vip-club.


blog hasn't been updated in forever. Travelling and not playing.

but, fwiw, it's at bobspokerblog.blogspot.com

it's also listed under my profile (just click on my name).

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

Crikey!

WPT package would seem more like 500-600k, but I guess I was wrong. I mean, if you do the math from the PCA sats, that's the going rate, but straight buy in must cost more...

Re: Stars (!) VIP program
 

[ QUOTE ]
"or at least that's what one player I know of was offered."

really?? that's pretty interesting.

we'll see what they come up with for the vip-club.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah; If, as Clayton suggests, that's 200K FPP overpriced, I think he's still getting a good deal, being one of the few--if not only--players to preview a VIP-type package. I don't think anyone can complain about turning monopoly money into a WPT entry and Carribean vacation.