VIP Programs have become the big buzz in the online poker player community. Poker players are always on the prowl for the biggest and best VIP offers. Poker rooms know this and are constantly ramping up their VIP offerings as a means to attract and retain their poker playing customer base. FullTilt and PokerStars are no different. Both Stars and Tilt offer a plethora of incentives – giving poker players a million reasons to stay and play!

PokerStars Poker Player Incentives

PokerStars has put a lot of time, effort and money into their VIP Program. In fact, PokerStars recently undertook a huge campaign, offering a higher level of membership to players who took their VIP Program survey. This survey surely increased awareness of the PokerStars VIP platform.

As a PokerStars VIP Club member, players are able to purchase electronics, poker related books, and poker gear. Additionally, players involved in the PokerStars VIP Club can use their frequent player points (the points used to track VIP Club membership level) to purchase poker tournament packages, allowing for FPP buy-in to tournaments such as PCA, the EPT, the Latin American Poker Tour, as well as the Asian Pacific Poker Tour.

Additionally, as a VIP Club Member at PokerStars, players are eligible for exclusive VIP Club tournaments ranging from $30K in prizes to $100K in prizes. Also worth noting, as a player’s VIP membership level increases, the rate at which players accumulate frequent player points increases. Silver Star VIP members at PokerStars earn FPP at an increased rate of 50%, while SuperNova Elite Members earn FPP 400% faster than the base Bronze Star VIP members do.

FullTilt Poker Player Incentives

While FullTilt Poker does not have a VIP Program in a traditional sense, they do offer plenty of incentives, rewards, and perks for playing poker at FullTilt. Worth noting, however, is that players at FullTilt may redeem their FullTilt Player points via the FullTilt Store where players can get their hands on poker training, as well as FullTilt Gear, and electronics. Additionally, FullTilt points may be earned on an accelerated basis during Happy Hour.

What FullTilt Poker has from a VIP-ish standpoint however, is what is known as the FullTilt Poker Iron Man Challenge. Through the Iron Man Challenge, players strive to reach Iron Man Status, which Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals available along the way. Qualification for the Iron man Challenge resets monthly, so players must re-qualify each month. As players receive medals, they may redeem their medals via the Iron Man store. It is here that a player may purchase deposit bonuses, as well as tournament tokens, additional FTP’s or Iron Gear – such as Iron Man parkas, jackets, and warm-up pants.

While the Iron Man Challenge scheme is not quite up to par with the PokerStars VIP Club, FullTilt is making progress on their player retention programs. With that in mind, the advantage is in PokerStars’ corner when it comes to player incentives.