Earning Points

Play at PokerStars to automatically earn two types of points. These points are the building blocks of the VIP Club.

VIP Player Points (VPPs)
VPPs determine your monthly or yearly VIP status. Monthly VPPs are reset at the start of every month, and yearly VPPs reset on January 1 of each year. VPPs are used as a counter of your monthly and yearly play and are not redeemable.

Frequent Player Points (FPPs)
Choose your own rewards by redeeming your FPPs for tournament entries or items from the VIP Store – including cash. FPPs have value and can be used to make purchases. Each time you earn one VPP, you will also earn one or more FPPs, depending on your VIP status.

Earning VIP Player Points

Play in real money games at PokerStars to earn VIP Player Points, or VPPs. “Play Money” and “Freeroll” games do not award VPPs (or FPPs).

Check your monthly and yearly VPP totals by logging into the PokerStars client and opening the Cashier window. Then click on the ‘VIP Status’ button. The ‘VIP Status’ window will also display your VIP status and the amount of VPPs required to increase your VIP status.

Tournaments

In PokerStars tournaments, you earn VIP Player Points (VPPs) based on the entry fee. You receive VPPs at the rate of 5.5 VPPs for each $1.00 USD in fees paid, 7 VPPs for each €1.00 EUR in fees paid, or 8.8 VPs for each £1.00 GBP in fees paid. Fractional VPPs are awarded in hundredths.

Earning VPPs in PokerStars tournaments
VPPs awarded per $1.00 USD in fees paid	VPPs awarded per €1.00 EUR in fees paid	VPPs awarded per £1.00 GBP in fees paid
5.5	7.0	8.8

Show Examples

Should you play in a tournament which costs $10+$1 to enter, $10 will go towards the prize pool and $1 is the entry fee. Since you are awarded 5.5 VPPs per $1 USD in entry fees, you will be awarded 5.5 VPPs for playing in this tournament.
($1.00 entry fee * 5.5 VPPs per $1 entry fee = 5.5 VPPs)

By playing in a $5 Sit & Go tournament with an entry fee of $0.50, you will earn 2.75 VPPs.
($0.50 entry fee * 5.5 VPPs per $1 entry fee = 2.75 VPPs)

By playing in a €5 tournament with an entry fee of €0.50, you will earn 3.5 VPPs.
(€0.50 entry fee * 7.0 VPPs per €1 entry fee = 3.5 VPPs)

Cash Games

In PokerStars cash games, VPPs are awarded to the table based on the amount of rake taken from each hand played. The total VPPs are then split between the players dealt into the hand depending on how much they contributed to the pot. The rate at which VPPs are awarded depends on the number of seats, stakes, and currency of the table. Fractional VPPs are awarded in hundredths.

Example: In a $1/$2 ‘6-max’ No Limit Hold’em Ring Game with six players dealt in, the pot is $100 and $3 of rake is collected. A total of 16.5 VPPs are awarded.

Example	Contribution	Pot %	VPPs
Player 1	$6	6%	0.99
Player 2	$0	0%	0.00
Player 3	$46	46%	7.59
Player 4	$46	46%	7.59
Player 5	$2	2%	0.33
Player 6	$0	0%	0.00
Total	$100	100%	16.5

Player 1 earns a total of 0.99 VPPs. This is calculated by multiplying the 16.5 total VPPs awarded to the table by the player’s contribution to the pot ($6/$100, or 6%), 0.99 VPPs.

Note: In all cash ring games, points are credited at the end of a hand. So if you leave a table before the hand is completed, you may not receive the VPPs for that hand. To ensure that you are properly credited, please ‘Sit Out’ until the start of the next hand, and then leave the table.

Cash tables with 8 or more seats

The following VPP award criteria applies to all ring game tables with 8 or more seats, regardless of how many players are seated or dealt into a hand.

VPPs are awarded at a rate of 6 VPPs per $1.00 USD, 8 VPPs per €1.00 EUR in rake collected, or 10.5 VPPs per £1.00 GBP in rake collected. Then, the total VPPs awarded in the hand are divided among the dealt-in players according to their contribution to the pot.

Earning VPPs in PokerStars cash games with 8 or more seats
VPPs awarded to table per $1.00 USD in rake collected	VPPs awarded to table per €1.00 EUR in rake collected	VPPs awarded to table per £1.00 GBP in rake collected
6.0	8.0	10.5

Show Examples

Nine players are dealt into a $3/$6 No Limit Hold’em game and $3.00 USD is raked. 18 VPPs are awarded to the table based on the amount each player contributed to the pot.
($3.00 in rake collected * 6.0 VPPs awarded per $1 rake = 18 VPPs)

Five players are dealt into a $3/$6 No Limit Hold’em game with nine seats and $3.00 USD is raked. 18 VPPs are awarded to the table, based on the amount each player contributed to the pot.
($3.00 in rake collected * 6.0 VPPs awarded per $1 rake = 18 VPPs)

Six players are dealt into a €0.25/€0.50 No Limit Hold’em game with nine seats and €0.30 EUR is raked. 2.4 VPPs are awarded to the table, based on the amount each player contributed to the pot.
(€0.30 in rake collected * 8.0 VPPs awarded per €1 rake = 2.4 VPPs)

Nine players are dealt into a €0.25/€0.50 No Limit Hold’em game and €0.30 EUR is raked. 2.4 VPPs are awarded to the table, based on the amount each player contributed to the pot.
(€0.30 in rake collected * 8.0 VPPs awarded per €1 rake = 2.4 VPPs)

Cash tables with 7 or fewer seats

The following VPP award criteria applies to all ring game tables with seven or fewer seats, regardless of how many players are seated or dealt into a hand.

VPPs are awarded at a rate of 5.5 VPPs per $1.00 USD, 7 VPPs per €1.00 EUR in rake collected, or 8.8 VPPs per £1.00 GBP in rake collected. Then, the total VPPs awarded in the hand are divided among the dealt-in players according to their contribution to the pot.

Earning VPPs in PokerStars cash games with 7 or fewer seats
VPPs awarded to table per $1.00 USD in rake collected	VPPs awarded to table per €1.00 EUR in rake collected	VPPs awarded to table per £1.00 GBP in rake collected
5.5	7.0	8.8

Show Examples

Six players are dealt into a $2/$4 ‘6 max’ No Limit Hold’em game and $2.00 USD is raked. 11 VPPs are awarded to the table, based on the amount each player contributed to the pot.
($2.00 in rake collected * 5.5 VPPs awarded per $1 rake = 11 VPPs [rounded to nearest hundredth])

Five players are dealt into a $2/$4 ‘6 max’ No Limit Hold’em game and $2.00 USD is raked. 11 VPPs are awarded to the table, based on the amount each player contributed to the pot.
($2.00 in rake collected * 5.5 VPPs awarded per $1 rake = 11 VPPs)

Six players are dealt into a €0.10/€0.25 ‘6 max’ No Limit Hold’em game and €0.30 EUR is raked. 2.1 VPPs are awarded to the table, based on the amount each player contributed to the pot.
(€0.30 in rake collected * 7 VPPs awarded per €1 rake / 6 players dealt in = 2.1 VPPs)

Four players are dealt into a €0.10/€0.25 ‘6 max’ No Limit Hold’em game and €0.30 EUR is raked. 2.1 VPPs are awarded to the table, based on the amount each player contributed to the pot.
(€0.30 in rake collected * 7 VPPs awarded per €1 rake = 2.1 VPPs)

Microstakes No Limit and Pot Limit cash tables

The VPP award criteria located below applies to all No Limit and Pot Limit ring game tables at the listed limits, regardless of how many players are dealt in or how many seats are available at the table. VPPs at these No Limit and Pot Limit ring game tables are awarded at the rates below. VPPs awarded for the hand are divided among the dealt-in players according to their contribution to the pot.

Earning VPPs in Microstakes No Limit and Pot Limit cash games
VPPs awarded to table per $1.00 USD in rake collected		VPPs awarded to table per €1.00 EUR in rake collected
$0.01/$0.02	10	€0.01/€0.02	12
$0.02/$0.05	8.5	€0.02/€0.05	10
$0.05/$0.10	7	€0.05/€0.10	9

Show Examples

Six players are dealt into a $0.02/$0.05 ‘6-max’ Pot Limit Omaha game and $0.56 USD is raked. 4.76 VPPs are awarded to the table.
($0.56 in rake collected * 8.5 VPPs awarded per $1 rake = 4.76 VPPs)

Nine players are dealt into a $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em game and $0.68 is raked. 5.78 VPPs are awarded to the table.
($0.68 in rake collected * 8.5 VPPs awarded per $1 rake = 5.78 VPPs)

Three players are dealt into €0.02/€0.05 ‘6-max’ No Limit Hold'em game and €0.48 is raked. 4.8 VPPs are awarded to the table.
(€0.48 in rake collected * 10 VPPs awarded per €1 rake = 4.8 VPPs)

Six players are dealt into a €0.01/€0.02 Pot Limit Hold'em game with nine seats and €0.12 is raked. 1.44 VPPs are awarded to the table.
(€0.12 in rake collected * 12 VPPs awarded per €1 rake = 01.44 VPPs)

Earning Frequent Player Points

Frequent Player Points (FPPs) are earned at the same time as VPPs. For every single VPP earned, at least one FPP will be simultaneously awarded, depending on your VIP status.

VIP Level	Monthly VPPs Required	Yearly VPPs Required	FPPs per VPP
BronzeStar	None	-	1.0
SilverStar	750	-	1.5
GoldStar	3,000	-	2.0
PlatinumStar	7,500	-	2.5
Supernova	-	100,000	3.5
Supernova Elite	-	1,000,000	5.0

Show Examples

A PokerStars VIP earns 1 VPP after playing in a raked hand. He would also earn 1 FPP as a BronzeStar VIP. As a SilverStar VIP, he would earn 1.5 FPPs, and so on.

VIP Level	FPPs awarded for 1 VPP
BronzeStar	1.0 FPP
SilverStar	1.5 FPPs
GoldStar	2.0 FPPs
PlatinumStar	2.5 FPPs
Supernova	3.5 FPPs
Supernova Elite	5.0 FPPs

For playing in a $50+$5 tournament, a PokerStars VIP earns 27.5 VPPs. He would also earn 68.75 FPPs as a PlatinumStar VIP because of the 2.5 FPP multiplier.

VIP Level	FPPs awarded for 27.5 VPPs
BronzeStar	27.50 FPPs
SilverStar	41.25 FPPs
GoldStar	55.00 FPPs
PlatinumStar	68.75 FPPs
Supernova	96.25 FPPs
Supernova Elite	137.50 FPPs

A PokerStars VIP earns 2 VPPs after playing in a raked hand. He would also earn 3 FPPs as a SilverStar VIP because of the1.5 FPP multiplier.

VIP Level	FPPs awarded for 2 VPPs
BronzeStar	2 FPPs
SilverStar	3 FPPs
GoldStar	4 FPPs
PlatinumStar	5 FPPs
Supernova	7 FPPs
Supernova Elite	10 FPPs

For playing in the Sunday Million, which is a $200+$15 tournament, a PokerStars VIP earns 82.5 VPPs. As a Supernova VIP, she would also earn 288.75 FPPs because of the 3.5 FPP multiplier.

VIP Level	FPPs awarded for 82.5 VPPs
BronzeStar	82.50 FPPs
SilverStar	123.75 FPPs
GoldStar	165.00 FPPs
PlatinumStar	206.25 FPPs
Supernova	288.75 FPPs
Supernova Elite	412.50 FPPs

To check your FPP balance, open the PokerStars game lobby and click on ‘Cashier’. Click the ‘Summary’ tab of the Cashier window and you will find two white rectangular frames, the bottom of which will contain your FPP balance. Your FPP balance is also displayed at the top of the window whenever you visit the VIP Store through the PokerStars game software.

FPPs vs. VPPs

The difference between Frequent Player Points and VIP Player Points can be confusing. Use the table below to quickly spot how FPPs and VPPs are different.

VPPs	FPPs
Determine VIP status	Earned based on VPPs and FPP multiplier
Provide access to restricted VIP Store items	Used to purchase items in the VIP Store
Provide access to certain VIP Tournaments based on VIP status	Used to enter FPP buy-in tournaments
Unlock VIP Stellar Rewards and Milestone Cash Credits in VIP Store	Purchase VIP Stellar Rewards and Milestone Cash Credits with 1 FPP in the VIP Store
Counted on monthly and yearly basis; reset to zero on first of month and beginning of year	Accrue a balance; only expire if none are earned over an entire year