PokerStars, the biggest online poker website in the world is always looking for new ways to develop its product offering and enhance its customer service experience. The Amaya Inc owned PokerStars recently announced on the popular Two plus Two poker forum that it planned to do away with its existing PokerStars VIP system and replacement it with a new VIP Steps program.
PokerStars plans to roll out this new system on the 1st of January 2016 and wants to prepare its players in advance as the website is aware that most players are hesitant to adapt to new changes. The website has cautioned players to be prepared for a few challenges at the start of the New Year as PokerStars looks to streamline the entire process. Players have been accustomed to working with the current VIP system for a number of years and have been happy with the system. The new VIP steps program will also utilize the existing VIP levels but the biggest difference will be that Frequent Player Points (FPPs) will be rewarded only towards the end of each month.
The new system has 20 VIP levels and each level has different criteria for players to earn a certain amount of FPPs. In the old VIP level, players who started at the lowest level would be categorized as a bronze star and will have to earn 100 VPPs to go to the next level which is a chrome star. However, the new VIP system will have 20 different steps that players will have to cross before they get to the next level. Each of these 20 steps will require players to earn 5 VPPs.
While the main launch of the new VIP system is scheduled to take place at the start of 2016, PokerStars would like to demo its product by launching it first in the United Kingdom at the start of 1st October 2015. “PokerStars Dylan“, a representative of the PokerStars VIP Team posted a thread on the Two plus Two poker forum confirming that a beta version will initially launch in the U.K and that the company will take player feedback to fix bugs and ensure that a smooth roll out is possible in Jan 2016.
PokerStars released a statement which said
Given our commitment to keep 2015 VIP Club Rewards unchanged, for the 2015 United Kingdom implementation players will receive the full 100% value, and will thus earn either the same amount of FPPs, or more, than in the current UK VIP Club. VPPs requirements for monthly and annual statuses are not affected by VIP Steps for the UK implementation.
