An In-Depth Look At The Top Online Poker Rewards Programs

Although I would place an Online Poker site’s VIP rewards program a distant third, behind a rakeback deal and a good deposit bonus, the incentives available through the various rewards programs can make a solid contribution to your bankroll -whether it’s with a cash bonus, free tournament entries, or simply allowing you to purchase an item without using your own money.

In this article I will examine the four main sites available to US players, and detail their rewards system:

• Poker Stars
• Full Tilt Poker
• UB (formerly Ultimate Bet)
• Cake Poker

The Poker Stars VIP Program

PokerStars VIP Program rewards the site’s high volume players. Unfortunately, if you don’t play mid to high-stakes games you will perpetually be near the bottom of their rewards scheme.

There are six separate levels in the program: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Supernova, and Supernova Elite. A player must earn a certain number of VIP Player Points (VPPs) to attain each level. Additionally, a player must maintain their rank each month or they will be demoted down.

Each level also unlocks more items in the PokerStars store, allows a player to accumulate Frequent Player Points (FPPS) faster, as well as gain entry into exclusive tournaments. Occasionally points can be exchanged for cash as well through special promotions.

Full Tilt Poker Points

Full Tilt Poker uses the most simplistic method of the four Online Poker sites. Players simply accrue points by playing in real money cash games and tournaments, which can be used to purchase tournament entries or items in the Full Tilt Poker Store.

Unlike Poker Stars, Full Tilt’s rewards program isn’t as biased toward high-limit/high-volume players: There are no levels to achieve, and items in the store are available to all players. Full Tilt also runs Happy Hours where players will accumulate points 2-3x faster than usual.

UB’s RAI$E Program

UB has perhaps the best rewards program in Online Poker. I say this because players can convert their points into cash, as well as use them to purchase items or enter tournaments.

The RAI$E Program is a tiered program where high-volume players are rewarded with increasing prizes and promotions. However, unlike Poker Stars program, the RAI$E Program lets even low-limit players reap some of the rewards. Players will gain access to more items in the UB Store, tournament entries, as well as other incentives as they continue to progress to higher and higher levels.

Cake Poker’s Gold Stacks

Cake Poker recently changed its rewards program: The site has revamped its Gold Chip Program to include Gold Stacks. The main difference is that players will now receive instant rewards as they create stacks of Gold Chips (the first stack is a mere 2 Gold Chips and earns you a free Gold Chip). These rewards are in addition to being able to cash in your Gold Chips for tournament entries and Items from the Cake Poker Store.

There are a total of 50 Levels in the Gold Stacks Program, and beginning at level 10 players will be rewarded with cash. However, unlike the tiered structure at UB and PokerStars, Cake Poker’s VIP program starts anew every month.

Additionally, players can earn larger rewards by completing their stacks faster: At level 10 you will receive $12.50, however, if you manage to create the level 10 stack in less than 6 days you will receive $18.50; accomplish the feat in less than 3 days and the reward is $24.50!