Full Tilt Poker Previews Loyalty Program Changes
In the next phase of its transition to a recreational player-focused online poker room, Full Tilt Poker has revealed its plans for a revamped loyalty program. Rather than doing away with anything that might attract full-time pros, as its recent cash game changes seemed to do, Full Tilt will be implemented a dual-loyalty system that hopes to have a little bit of something for everyone.
As it stands now, Full Tilt’s loyalty program is called Full Tilt Edge, rewarding customers for heavy play. At the top of the ladder is the Black Card Program, which provides the greatest benefit to those that play a ton. The new scheme will keep the Edge program – with some changes – but also implement the Players Club, geared toward casual players.
Let’s first look at the upcoming amendments to Full Tilt Edge. The program will be consolidated from six levels to three: Edge, Edge Plus, and Edge Prime. Edge status players will receive $1 for every 100 Full Tilt Points (FTP) earned, Edge Plus players will receive $1.50, and Edge Prime players will receive $2 for every 100 FTP and will enjoy the added benefit of being able to convert their FTP to cash at the rate of $1 for every 250 FTP.
The above cashback rates can be bolstered by playing at tables experiencing low traffic, tables which will be designated by a special Edge Bonus Cashback symbol. Cashback rates can be as high as 200 percent, though it sounds like 50 percent is will be more common. The Edge Leaderboards will still be intact, as well, allowing players to earn cashbacks boosts that will last for an entire month.
Attaining the different Edge levels is similar to what it is now, that is, players must earn average a certain number of Full Tilt Points per day over 30 or 100 days. Here are the points required for each level:
Edge: 30-day rolling average of 80 FTP or 100-day rolling average of 70 FTP
Edge Plus: 30-day rolling average of 250 FTP or 100-day rolling average of 150 FTP
Edge Prime: 30-day rolling average of 500 FTP or 100-day rolling average of 400 FTP
As an example, if a player earned at least 2,400 FTP during a consecutive 30-day period, he would reach Edge status. It does not matter how many points are earned in any individual day, as long as for that 30-day period the total is 2,400. If it works the same as the Edge system does now, that same average for a rolling 30-day or 100-day period must be maintain to keep the status.
In the new system, it will clearly be more difficult to both reach any sort of Edge status and earn equivalent cashback rates to the current system. Here is what the relevant status levels look like right now:
Silver: 30-day rolling average of 35 FTP or 100-day rolling average of 25 FTP, $1 for every 100 FTP
Gold: 30-day rolling average of 75 FTP or 100-day rolling average of 50 FTP, $1.50 for every 100 FTP
Platinum: 30-day rolling average of 150 FTP or 100-day rolling average of 100 FTP, $2 for every 100 FTP
Diamond: 30-day rolling average of 350 FTP or 100-day rolling average of 250 FTP, $2.50 for every 100 FTP
Black Card status requires a 100-day rolling average of 500 FTP and also awards $2.50 in cashback for every 100 FTP.
So while Full Tilt is making life less enjoyable for professional players, it is shifting the rewards those players might no longer be earning to the recreational player population with the new Players Club. Said Full Tilt’s Managing Director Dominic Mansour in a blog post:
Players Club is a new take on online poker loyalty programs. Right now, the vast majority of players gain very little benefit from rewards schemes because they primarily reward the players that put in the most volume. We are breaking that mould to ensure that more players receive more rewards and more entertainment than ever before.
The exact details of the Players Club were not divulged, but everyone will automatically be part of it at the outset. A game called “The Deal” will be “at the heart” of rewards for Players Club members and will involves things like cash prizes, tournament tickets, and some sort of progressive jackpot. In addition to “The Deal,” Players Club members who play “a few times a week” will receive mystery prizes, freeroll prize pools will be doubled, and Players Club members will get to participate in added-money tourneys.
“The creation of Players Club follows from our conviction that good things come to those who play,” wrote Mansour. “I truly believe that most people will love Players Club, as more players will now receive more rewards. We’re also giving those that play the most, the opportunity to switch back into an updated Edge rewards program if they prefer.”
No timeframe was provided as to when the new loyalty programs will be put into place.
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