30 Jan 12
PokerStars Responds to Player Complaints with Rake Changes
In response to complaints from players and meetings with several player representatives, PokerStars has decided to implement changes to their rake structure. The changes should decrease overall rake taken in by the site, and they will go into effect on February 1st.
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The change was not viewed favorably by a large number of high-volume players for a variety of reasons. Some players even decided to express their outrage by sitting out at cash game tables as part of a protest.
PokerStars did not turn a blind eye to these upset players, and the company offered to bring five player representatives from the TwoPlusTwo forums to the Isle of Man to meet with PokerStars management and discuss compromises between the site and its players.
This weekend, those representatives returned from their trip with news that:
• The maximum rake percentage across all stakes has been reduced to 4.5%.
• Overall rake will be reduced by approximately 2% relative to 2011 rates, fully making up for the recent 1.5% loss in rewards.
• Supernova & Supernova Elite players who earned at least half of their 2011 VPPs at ring games will maintain their status for 2013 if they simply meet monthly VPP maintenance requirements throughout 2012. This is a one-time benefit and will only apply for 2013.
• Players at these levels can also now miss 2 months of monthly VPP maintenance before losing status (this is a permanent change, not just for this year).
• Supernova monthly VPP maintenance will be lowered to 6,500 VPPs/month.
• Two new NLHE cash-game limits are being added with $0.03/$0.06 and $0.08/$0.16 blinds.
• Rake caps at high stakes are increasing, while caps at most stakes are decreasing.
• Player meetings with PokerStars will continue to occur twice a year.
All of these changes, including the rake structure changes below, will be implemented on February 1st, 2012.
Rake Changes
Rake structures will specifically change as follows:| No-Limit Rake Changes | ||||||
| New Structure | Old Structure (2011) | |||||
| Limit | Players | Rake % | Cap | Players | Rake % | Cap |
| NL 2 | 2 | 3.5% | $0.30 | 2 | 5% | $0.50 |
| 3-4 | 3.5% |
$0.30 |
3-4 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 5-9 | 3.5% |
$0.30 |
5-9 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| NL 5 | 2 |
4.25% | $0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.25% |
$0.50 |
3-4 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 5-9 | 4.25% |
$1.00 |
5-9 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| NL 6 | 2 |
4.25% |
$0.50 |
|||
| 3-4 | 4.25% |
$0.50 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.25% |
$1.00 |
||||
| NL 10 | 2 |
4.5% | $0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.00 |
3-4 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$1.50 |
5-9 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| NL 16 | 2 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
|||
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.00 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$1.50 |
||||
| NL 25 | 2 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.00 |
3-4 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$2.00 |
5-9 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| NL 50 | 2 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.50 |
3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 4-5 | 5% |
$2.00 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$2.80 |
6-9 | 5% |
$3.00 |
|
| NL 100 | 2 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.50 |
3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 4-5 |
5% |
$2.00 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$2.80 |
6-9 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| NL 200 | 2 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.50 |
3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 4-5 |
5% |
$2.00 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$2.80 |
6-9 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| NL 400 | 2 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.50 |
3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 4-5 |
5% |
$2.00 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$2.80 |
6-9 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| NL 600 | 2 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.50 |
3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 4-5 |
5% |
$2.00 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$2.80 |
6-9 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| NL 1,000 | 2 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
2 | 5% | $0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.50 |
3 | 5% | $1.00 | |
| 4-5 | 5% | $2.00 | ||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$3.00 |
6-9 | 5% | $3.00 | |
| NL 2,000 | 2 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.50 |
3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 4-5 | 5% |
$2.00 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$3.00 |
6-9 | 5% |
$3.00 |
|
| NL 4,000 | 2 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$1.50 |
3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 4-5 |
5% |
$2.00 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$3.00 |
6-9 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| NL 5,000 | 2 |
4.5% |
$1.00 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$2.50 |
3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 4-5 |
5% |
$2.00 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$3.50 |
6-9 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| NL 10,000 | 2 |
4.5% |
$2.00 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| 3-4 | 4.5% |
$3.00 |
3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
|
| 4-5 |
5% |
$2.00 |
||||
| 5-9 | 4.5% |
$5.00 |
6-9 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| NL 20,000 | 2 |
4.5% |
$2.00 |
2-3 | 5% |
$2.00 |
| 3-9 | 4.5% |
$5.00 |
4-9 | 5% |
$5.00 |
|
| NL 40,000 | 2 |
4.5% |
$2.00 |
2-3 | 5% |
$2.00 |
| 3-9 | 4.5% |
$5.00 |
4-9 | 5% |
$5.00 |
|
| Fixed Limit Rake Changes | ||||||
| New Structure | Old Structure (2011) | |||||
| Limit | Players | Rake % | Cap | Players | Rake % | Cap |
| $.02/$.04 | 2-10 | 4.5% | $0.01 | 2-10 | 5% | $0.04 |
| HU | 5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $.04/$.08 |
2-10 |
4.5% | $0.04 |
2-10 | 5% |
$0.08 |
| HU |
5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $.05/$.10 | 2-10 |
4.5% |
$0.05 |
2-10 | 5% |
$0.10 |
| HU | 5% | $0.50 | ||||
| $.10/$.20 |
2-10 |
4.5% | $0.10 |
2-10 | 5% |
$0.20 |
| HU | 5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $.25/$.50 |
2-10 |
4.5% |
$0.20 |
2-10 | 5% |
$0.40 |
| HU | 5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $.50/$1 |
2-10 |
4.5% |
$0.50 |
2 | 5% |
$0.50 |
| HU | 5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $1/$2 |
2 |
2% |
$0.50 |
2-10 | 5% |
$1.00 |
| 3-4 | 3% |
$0.80 |
||||
| 5-10 | 4% | $1.00 | ||||
| HU | 5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $2/$4 |
2 |
2% |
$0.50 |
2-3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
| 3-4 | 3% |
$0.80 |
4-5 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| 5-10 | 3% | $2.00 | 6-10 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| HU |
5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $3/$6 |
2 |
2% |
$0.50 |
2-3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
| 3-4 | 3% |
$2.00 |
4-5 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| 5-10 | 3% | $3.00 | 6-10 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| HU |
5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $5/$10 |
2 |
2% |
$0.50 |
2-3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
| 3-4 | 3% |
$2.00 |
4-5 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| 5-10 | 3% | $3.00 | 6-10 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| HU |
5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $10/$20 |
2 |
2% |
$0.50 |
2-3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
| 3-4 | 2.5% |
$2.00 |
4-5 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| 5-10 | 2.5% | $3.00 | 6-10 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| HU |
5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $15/$30 |
2 |
2% |
$1.00 |
2-3 | 5% | $1.00 |
| 3-4 | 2% |
$2.00 |
4-5 | 5% | $2.00 | |
| 5-10 | 2% | $3.00 | 6-10 | 5% | $3.00 | |
| HU | 5% | $0.50 | ||||
| $30/$60 |
2 |
1% |
$1.00 |
2-3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
| 3-4 | 1% |
$2.00 |
4-5 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| 5-10 | 1% | $3.00 | 6-10 | 5% |
$3.00 |
|
| HU | 5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $50/$100 |
2 |
1% |
$1.00 |
2-3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
| 3-4 | 1% |
$2.00 |
4-5 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| 5-10 | 1% | $3.00 | 6-10 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| HU |
5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $100/$200 |
2 |
1% |
$1.00 |
2-3 | 5% |
$1.00 |
| 3-4 | 1% |
$2.00 |
4-5 | 5% |
$2.00 |
|
| 5-10 | 1% |
$3.00 | 6-10 |
5% |
$3.00 |
|
| HU |
5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $200/$400 |
2 |
1% |
$2.00 |
2-3 | 5% |
$2.00 |
| 3-10 | 1% |
$5.00 |
4-10 | 5% |
$5.00 |
|
| HU |
5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $500/$1,000 |
2 |
1% |
$2.00 |
2-3 | 5% |
$2.00 |
| 3-10 | 1% |
$5.00 |
4-10 | 5% |
$5.00 |
|
| HU |
5% |
$0.50 |
||||
| $1,000/$2,000 |
2 |
1% |
$2.00 |
2-3 | 5% |
$2.00 |
| 3-10 | 1% |
$5.00 |
4-10 | 5% |
$5.00 |
|
| HU |
5% |
$0.50 |
||||
PokerStars has committed to reconsidering these changes in the future if the total rake reduction does not at least equal the recent reduction in overall VIP rewards that was caused by the switch from "dealt" to the "weighted contributed" method of VPP distribution.
#1
qMantas, 30 Jan 12 19:10
Now I'm will be NL16 player. :] Pretty cool ! :D#2
mineriva, 30 Jan 12 19:37
wd PS this seems to be moving in the right direction#3
Tarhonya, 30 Jan 12 21:37
Now, this is awesome!#4
MichaelGotAA, 30 Jan 12 21:45
Wow some good changes.#5
pavels4444, 30 Jan 12 22:10
nice job PS, your support is really the best. I like this change even though I haven't played cash game for over a year :D#6
Jehryn, 30 Jan 12 22:11
No changes for Pot Limit?#7
ClimaxingWalrus, 30 Jan 12 22:39
Will thid also effect PLO micros?#8
stealyourblinds, 30 Jan 12 23:09
who plays for the rakeback anyway?#9
stealyourblinds, 30 Jan 12 23:17
The increase on the rake cap at FR NL10.000 from 3$ to 5$ is very significative.#10
EmanuelC16, 30 Jan 12 23:18
#7: NL rake applies to PLO. In short, PLO 6 max gets next to no reduction. On 2+2 the reason was given by a representative: "Players still beat the game at same rates as NL after rakeback". That justifies the 20bb/100 rake at PLO25. Makes sense, right?#11
Alficor1, 30 Jan 12 23:26
#9 It's significant, not significative. And nobody plays NL10k FR anyway..#12
MatejM47, 30 Jan 12 23:58
#8 Thats such an idiotic way of thinking about it. Rakeback is basically reduced rake. So basically your saying you dont mind paying more rake? If you really hate rakeback so much you can ship it to my account :)#13
MojaDunja, 31 Jan 12 00:04
#12+1
#14
Flashman1849, 31 Jan 12 03:10
Why not totally scrap 1c/2c and 2c/5c? This is surely necessary periodically to mitigate the effects of currency inflation.#15
beardsell, 31 Jan 12 03:22
NICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE#16
martinemem, 31 Jan 12 03:56
So nice that i seriusly concider change to ps, and pay the $ they claim i owe them.#17
datsmahname, 31 Jan 12 05:31
horay :)sounds like its back to stars tmr
#18
narucy, 31 Jan 12 08:20
today's NL games are so tough. almost every player can't beat rake... but this change,,, a little bit help for player side. I hope more low rake, 25~100 NL levels are super big rake per edge.
#19
luizsilveira, 31 Jan 12 12:17
This reduction for NL2 players is great. For the low stakes, not that big of a difference as the cap is still the same (meaning 0.5% only in the small pots, rake for the big pots will be the exact same).And I think having NL5 *AND* NL6 is a big waste of player pool.
NL16 is "ok", but I still prefer 888's micro stakes (NL2, 6, 10, 20, 30, 50).
#20
andydjordan, 31 Jan 12 12:45
Ok, thank you PS, this is Why I am going to play exclusively at PS from now on.. Listening to their players and acting upon it is exactly how to keep everyone happy.#21
fisherrate, 31 Jan 12 19:03
This is great, but when will Pokerstars think about sng rake. I mean 6.75$ rake for 100$ sng is rought#22
PocketAcesJohn, 01 Feb 12 10:14
I thought they where updating today?#23
MancaMulas, 01 Feb 12 16:15
#22yeah me too. no update yet...