When we reported last week on the boycott of PokerStars by many of the game’s biggest online MTT stars, we focused on the understandable anger towards the site rather than the details of PokerStars changes.
So, let’s take a look in closer detail at what they are actually doing to player rewards…
a glimpse into what 2019 brings for Pokerstars grinders pic.twitter.com/AxDaU8xjKt
— Bryan Paris (@bparispoker) 13 February 2019
SuperNovaElite grab all over again
Unlike the SuperNovaElite grab just a few years ago, which saw PokerStars effectively steal cash game players’ rewards mid-season, the target this time is MTT players – hence last week’s boycott.
In what appears to be a now deleted blog piece outlining their changes, PokerStars announced that: “The first change will be implemented on Friday, February 15, when the reward point earning rate for scheduled tournaments will change from 100 reward points for every $/€1 in tournament fees paid to 45 reward points.”
The maths isn’t difficult – that’s a full 55% rakegrab by PokerStars. The justification for it sounds just as bad as the numbers.
“This is a reduction in the overall amount of rewards some players will receive, but made in an area that we believe will have the least impact on their experience and enable us to place even more focus where we know it matters most.” So stated Severin Rasset, the PokerStars Director of Poker Innovation and Operations.
Innovation wasn’t exactly how the players reacted to news that their already meagre rewards were being butchered yet again. And the language, understandable given the circumstances, reflected their anger…
This just shows pure contempt for the grinders, they (barely) care about cash players and just want people to gamble and play fucking gimmicky games.
— Michael Leonard (@Unshookone) 13 February 2019
Why is PokerStars going against the stream?
While other sites are actively boosting player rewards, for example partypoker’s rake-free bounty elements and Phil Galfond’s new RIO site offering 51% across the board, the PokerStars changes didn’t stop at the 55% rakegrab that was widely publicised.
- For those who play on the site, the Stars Rewards Chests introduced a year and a half ago will now be 3 times less frequent and contain ‘roughly’ the same increase in prize. This to all but PokerStars sounds like another opportunity to skim money.
- Changes to the Boost feature (the “majority” of the value being transferred to the chests, but where is the minority disappearing to is the big question?) and also to how the Chest levels operate, are also planned.
PokerStars claims the changes are being made on the back of player feedback. But judging by the public response that’s a far-fetched premise. The trust, it seems, has well and truly left The Stars Group building…
Congratulations from Pokerstars, you have won entry into a mediocre freeroll tournament at some God awful time.
— Harry D (@glesgayesser) 13 February 2019
“Less rewards” how’s that even possible?
— Martin Jacobson (@Martin_Jacobson) 13 February 2019
The boycott that emerged from the latest moneygrab by PokerStars was led by Belgian highstakes online MTT pro GirafGanger. It saw last Sunday’s $5200 buy-in Turbo Series PSKO targeted, in a statement designed to get PokerStars to respond to player concerns.
So far there has been nothing forthcoming from The Stars Group HQ, despite the horrendous publicity. The boycotted tournament did eventually reach its guarantee, although for a long time that looked unlikely. What happens next is unclear.
The players most-affected by the rakegrab are looking to have a dialogue with the PokerStars management. Nonetheless the silence has been deafening this week.
For online poker players, the silver lining around the dark clouds is that all the other major sites seem to be stepping in to offer what PokerStars won’t.
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