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I’ve come across some pretty heated discussions about how one can use PokerStars’
loyalty poker points, on poker message boards here and there recently. Before we venture any deeper into the issue though, let’s set one thing straight: when you’re talking about using your PokerStars VPPs you’re really talking about FPPs. That’s right. The FPPs are the ones that buy you tournaments entries, PokerStars hats and t-shirts and chipsets. The VPPs determine your VIP level (there are 6 different VIP levels at PokerStars) and thus your FPP multiplier. Just to illustrate how the VPPs and the FPPs relate: on SilverStar level, you collect 1.5 FPPs for every VPP you earn. On GoldStar level, that ratio increases to 2 FPPs for every VPP. Basically, the higher up you are on the VIP ladder, the easier it’ll be for you to collect those valuable FPPs that you can spend on various things.
Now that we have this set, let’s re-phrase the title of this article: How to use your PokerStars FPPs to make the most of them? There…that’s better.
Because these FPPs are the reward you get for all the money you wager at
PokerStars’ real money tables, you obviously want to squeeze the most juice out of them.
Here’s what most people do with their PokerStars FPPs: there are all sort of FPP tournaments running on PokerStars all the time. Your FPPs can be used as buy-in for these tourneys. Mind you however that most of these FPP tournaments are satellites into larger buy-in events like the
Sunday Million. These satellites will give you the chance to win a ticket to a larger event. Some people who win, take that ticket, register for the event with it, then un-register and they get T$ (tournament dollars) which they can then use to buy into any
real money tournament they want to. Still others prefer to use the ticket for its intended purpose. This is one way to add to your bankroll using your FPPs. Those who are not interested in building their bankrolls this way though, can use their FPPs for other things. PokerStars’ VIP store is one of the best in the industry, and it offers a wide range of quality merchandize, beginning with hats and T-shirts, all the way up to iPods, Plasma TVs, Wiis and bonuses. That’s right, you can use your PokerStars FPPs to purchase bonuses too.
As you advance up the VIP ladder, bonuses purchased through FPPs become more and more valuable. At SilverStar level it already makes sense to spend your FPPs this way, though it only truly becomes profitable on Platinum Star level. That’s when you begin to get about $0.015 for each of your FPPs.
While PokerStars offers no rakeback, if you use your FPPs wisely, you can easily squeeze the equivalent of a stingier rakeback deal out of them. That, given PokerStars player base, promotions and overall value, is a great deal indeed. You won’t be able to sell or transfer your PokerStars FPPs in any way.
