Online poker provider Pokerstars has unveiled details of forthcoming changes to its loyalty program, triggering reactions from some sections of its clientele that are less than enthusiastic.
Writing on the company blog, Pokerstars innovation and operations director Severin Rasset outlined some pretty fundamental revisions, indicating that the program will move away from a monthly tiered reward structure to a more immediate and occasionally randomised daily format that will appeal more to recreational players.
“Most of our players are playing in the moment,” Rasset wrote in the blog post. “Wanting a fun and exciting experience every time they play. With that in mind, the upcoming program is focused around rewarding players more frequently within a single playing session rather than providing month-long goals.”
The revised program will be applied across all Pokerstars online gambling assets, embracing also online casino and sports betting activity.
“Our new loyalty program will reward play across poker, casino, and sports, without forcing anyone to play any particular product,” Rasset wrote. “Players should feel that no matter what they play, we appreciate their loyalty. Our current reward, StarsCoin, will become the common currency for poker, sport and casino, maintaining its current value.”
The plan appears to be a trial start in the Danish market around mid-year, followed (assuming that works well) with a phased introduction to other national markets by the end of 2017.
The company has forestalled criticism that it has not timeously communicated the proposed changes by airing the subject last year in September (see previous InfoPowa reports) and now by giving more details on the company blog.
The consensus on poker forums reacting to the news appears to be that high-volume players will be worse off under the new program, whilst the majority of Pokerstars fans will notice little change.
Some high rake back players claim that they might be prejudiced by as much as 85 percent under the new scheme, and they are therefore hardly ecstatic about the prospect.