PokerStars Bonus

First Deposit Bonus

When signing up through Max Poker Bonus PokerStars will reward your first deposit with a poker bonus of 100% up to $600 as of August 2009. This is a significant improvement over their prior regular offer of $50.

While some may argue that the previous bonus was aimed at beginners in the online poker world (everyone remotely interested should be able to clear $50 in 6 months time) PokerStars has reacted to their players' request for a higher first deposit bonus. And in order to make it still attractive for new players, the deadline for this incremental poker bonus (released in $10 increments) is still set at 6 months.

Another very nice feature and a more than fair approach is the fact that you do not have to make your first deposit at once. PokerStars allows you to make a smaller first deposit (for example $100) and then decide to add some more to it as you go along, giving new online poker players the opportunity to start slowly and potentially increase their bankroll once they get some feel for the game. The first three deposits will be taken into account in order to claim the full bonus amount - however keep in mind that these deposits have to be made within 60 days of the first deposit in order to be considered.

PokerStars Reload Bonus

PokerStars will frequently offer their existing players a reload bonus either via e-mail, on the PokerStars website or directly in the poker client. On that occasion you will also receive information about the details for that particular bonus offer.

For instance in August 2009, with the introduction of the new and higher first deposit bonus, PokerStars didn't want their existing players to feel left out and thus offered them their biggest reload bonus so far with a 50% up to $300.

Clearing Your PokerStars Bonus

PokerStars offers their first depositors the best of both worlds: You will receive a high poker bonus (100% up to $600), a huge space of time to clear it (6 months) and the possibility to do so in small steps ($10 increments). All in all PokerStars' bonus offer has to be considered one of the best in the industry as it is well suited for beginners as well as advanced players.

With that long timespan that you are given to clear your bonus you may also want to take advantage of a reload bonus that is only offered for a limited time as you can simply stack these bonuses and clear them one after the other. Remember to make sure to gather the information on how to clear that particular reload bonus before.

In January 2010 PokerStars has made some changes in their VIP Programme. These changes were aimed to make it easier for you to earn points, clear your PokerStars poker bonus and offer you more options to use your points for buy-ins and such. The most obvious change for long time PokerStars players will be the increased rate of earning points as well as the lower requirements to advance in VIP levels.

Thanks to some loose games in the lower limits you will find that even at the micro limit tables the pots will amount to enough money to warrant a rake sufficient to earn VIP Player Points. Cash games will generate 6 VPPs per $ of rake for 8+ seat tables (which will then subsequently be divided by the number of players dealt in) or 5.5 VPPs per $ of rake for tables with 7 seats or less. This is regardless of the actual amount of players currently at the table. So a 8+ seat table with only 6 players playing will still reward you at the higher rate. The ratio will be 8.5 VPPs or 8 VPPs respectively per €.

If you prefer tournaments over cash games, you will of course also earn VPPs. Tournament fees will earn you 5.5 VPPs per $ (or 8 VPPs per €). A $30+3 tournament would give you 16.5 VPPs for example. You will of course also receive points for a $5+0.50 tournament, to be exact 2.75 VPPs. Accordingly a €5+1 would earn you 8 VPPs.

You will be able to clear the poker bonus at a rate of 17 Frequent Player Points per bonus $. Now don't get confused, Frequent Player Points (FPPs) are not the same as VIP Player Points (VPPs). They are however directly connected. The higher your VIP Level the more FPPs you will receive per VPP earned. At the loweset VIP Level (BronzeStar) you will simply earn 1 FPP per VPP. At SilverStar you will earn 1.5 FPPs per VPP, at GoldStar 2 FPPs per VPP and so on.

With the VIP Programme changes from January 2010 you will have a much easier time reaching higher VIP Levels and maintaining them. Becoming a SilverStar has been made quite easy now, as you will only need to gather 750 VPPs a month to get there and enjoy the benefits.

And once again, since this cannot be emphasised enough: you will have half a year to do clear your PokerStars poker bonus. And the poker bonus will be released in small steps of $10. That easily makes the PokerStars bonus one of the best for beginning as well as more advanced poker players.