ITH Poker Forum

[ciaran]

Apparently for May only, need to be Silver or better.

$8 for 500 FPP
$16 for 1000 FPP
$160 for 10000 FPP

All available through the Stars client in the FPP store. One purchase per item per player.

There's been some talk that Stars was considering putting a largish cash credit in the store for Silver+ to give more low-stakes/occasional players an incentive to play more and/or recognize the value of the VIP system. This could be a test of what sort of incentives people will go for.

[the_hawk]

They seem to be concerned that the indirect nature of rakeback in the VIP system (real and/or perceived) presents a problem. They clearly aren't ditching the VIP system altogether but it might be that instant cash credits become the norm. If so I'll be a little sorry to see the FPP sat system collapse (as it will?) but I would take 1.6c per FPP with zero opportunity cost in a heartbeat. In fact I'd take a little less - although maybe not if I become SN via the UK promo...

[ciaran]

I think the goal is to set the bar for the cash credit high enough that not everyone will cash it, but it will become much more obvious what the effective rakeback level is. So, the FPP sats should remain, though perhaps with fewer silver+ players playing (which is actually probably a good thing for those playing them).

[Misunderstud]

Just be aware that, in certain circumstances, it is slightly more profitable not to take these instant bonuses. If you're kicked up from gold to platinum for June and July you'll be eligible for the $650 platinum bonus, provided you have 50k FPPs. If not buying these bonuses means you can reach 50k and vice versa, you might be better off not buying the $160 bonus now. (In my own case, $34 better off.)

[the_hawk]

Mis: huh?

[Misunderstud]

Mis: huh?

I presently have 32k FPP and am at Gold. If I earn 3k VPP per month, by July I'll be Platinum (because of the promo - if that's how it works; see other thread) and have 53K FPP, so I'll be able to buy a $650 bonus. If I buy the instant bonuses now, I won't have 50k FPP before my Platinum runs out, so my FPP will be worth less, bonus-wise.

[the_hawk]

OK.

Is the combination of the instant cash bonuses (at supernova rate, you notice - hence the huh) plus a gold bonus (if your instant cash bonuses rule you out of the plat) put together a better rate than the plat bonus? If so, my bad.

[Misunderstud]

OK.

Is the combination of the instant cash bonuses (at supernova rate, you notice - hence the huh) plus a gold bonus (if your instant cash bonuses rule you out of the plat) put together a better rate than the plat bonus? If so, my bad.

As usual, I haven't thought it through properly. I was overlooking the fact that, at some stage (August, probably), I'm going to get to SN, so then will be eligible for the plat bonus anyway whenever I get to 50k points. The point in time I need to consider is the end of Feb 2010, when I'll be dropping back to gold. If spending the 10k FPP now means that I'll be left with >40k but <50k FPP at that time, I'd be better not spending the 10k now and snagging a final plat bonus then. That's rather harder to calculate, unless I can accurately predict how many hands I'm going to play between now and then. I think I'll just buy the insta-bonuses and have done with it.

[Triks89^]

sounds interessting.. still, i think i could use those points for satellites