29 Dec 11

PokerStars Change To Weighted Contribution VPP Model

2012 will see PokerStars change the way rake is calculated from 'dealt' to 'weighted contributed' in ring games. Find out what that means inside.

Rake calculations??In the first few days of January, 2012, PokerStars will be changing the way that VPPs are calculated in cash games. The new model will be "weighted contributed" instead of "dealt".

Sit & Go or Multi-table Tournament players will not be affected by these changes.

Weighted Contributed

The new method awards VPPs to each player based on how much they contribute to the pot. Previously using the dealt method, anyone who had been dealt into the hand would share an equal percentage of the VPPs, even if they did not put money in the pot.

With the new rake model, a player's rake contribution is calculated with the following formula:

VPPs = (your contribution to pot / total pot) * (rake collected * VPP multiplier)

This means that players who fold before the flop will not be considered when rake is distributed and VPPs are awarded.

The number of VPPs given out as a result of each hand will be the same as before. PokerStars confirmed no immediate plans to change the VIP Program in 2012, but could not guarantee there won't be meaningful changes to it during the year.

PokerStars did consider a Winner Take All method of VPP allocation, but decided that this was too volatile a system.

PokerStars.be, PokerStars.dk, and PokerStars.ee players who share ring games with PokerStars.com players will be subject to the same rake calculation method, however VPP multipliers and VIP club rewards will be announced separately.

Multi-tabling on PokerStars
PokerStars players will see changes in
the VPPs they earn at the tables.

VPP Changes for Euro Currency Tables

The VPP Multiplier for some tables using the Euro Currency, including both tournaments and ring games, are being modified to better reflect the exchange rate between the Euro and US Dollar.

The following list reflects the new VPP multipliers for Euro tables based on game type:
• Tournaments and ring games with 7 or fewer seats - 7x
• Ring games with 8 or more seats - 8x
• PL/NL @0.01/@0.02 - 12x
• PL/NL @0.02/@0.05 - 10x
• PL/NL @0.05/@0.10 - 8.5x

The number of FPPs earned per Euro of reward in a standard FPP satellite to a Euro currency tournament will be reduced from 85 to 81, making FPPs used in such tournaments more valuable.

Additonal Changes

There is no further plans to change ring games on PokerStars at this time, other than a planned addition of a fast moving ring game product in the first quarter of 2012.