Amaya-owned PokerStars has stated that it intends to go ahead with a number of changes to its VIP rewards programme despite an ongoing boycott by players in response to the proposed move.
PokerStars last month unveiled sweeping changes to its online poker platform, including the introduction of a new ‘VIP Steps’ programme from January.
‘VIP Club’ rewards will be capped at 30%, while customers at the ‘PlatinumStar’ level will see a 10% drop in overall rewards. ‘BronzeStar’ and ‘GoldStar’ players will continue to receive rewards similar to those at the current level.
Players with ‘Supernova Elite’ status will have access to more rewards, capped at 45% for 2016, while there will no longer be VIP Player Points (VPP) for pot-limit and no-limit games with blinds of $5/$10 or higher, eight-game with limits of $10/$20 or higher, and other limit games that feature blinds of $10/$15 or higher.
The proposed changes have sparked a strong reaction from customers, with over 2,000 players opting to boycott PokerStars in recent weeks due to the changes.
However, despite the changes not being popular with all players, Eric Hollreiser, vice-president corporate communication at Amaya, said PokerStars will go ahead with the plans, stating that the brand’s current VIP programme is no longer “fit for its purpose”.
“We will not alter those plans,” Hollreiser wrote in a blog post on the PokerStars website.
“The current VIP program is no longer fit for its purpose.
“When combined with the increasing skill gap in the online poker market, the result is an increasingly poor experience for recreational and new players.
“We’re doing everything we can to make 2016 an exciting year for poker, but recognise that 2015 has been tough for many of our players.”
Hollreiser admitted that the operator “could have communicated to players more often that significant changes were coming in 2016” and apologised to players who “did not expect cuts as significant in 2016 as we announced on November 1, and recognise that some players may have chosen not to participate in the rewards program in 2015”.
He added: “A tremendous amount of analysis goes into making these decisions by PokerStars.
“Our poker room management team is staffed with many former poker pros, and we have examined all possible scenarios.
“We are making these changes for the long-term health of the poker ecosystem and to put in place a system that is sustainable…changes are needed and we are making them.
“The funds that previously went to these rewards will be placed in more and bigger online promotions, more consumer marketing campaigns to attract new players and research and development of innovative new products and feature.”
Meanwhile, PokerStars’ sister brand Full Tilt Poker has reported an increase in profit in Ireland.
Accounts filed by Full Tilt Poker’s Irish division show that pre-tax profits almost doubled on a year-on-year basis to €3.3 million ($3.6 million), with profits after tax also increasing from €1.7 million to more than €3 million.
Turnover was down from €39 million to €36 million, while the company was able to employ an additional 12 people to 343 during the 12-month period, up significantly from 175 when Rational Group acquired the brand in 2012.
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
