Rakeback vs VIP Programs, whats the deal?
The VIP Programs versus Rakeback discussion has escalated lately and a lot players that formerly was out looking for rakeback now is out analyzing what different VIP deals can offer them. The very reason behind this progression is that several (or atleast two) of the biggest shared poker networks recently introduced what is known as VIP Programs or Loyalty Programs. I am ofcourse talking about the Ipoker and the Ongame networks, both beeing amongst the top 5 largest online poker platforms.
Both networks had enforced strict rules against rakeback, and when they at last understood that denying their players a part of the action was a bad idea, they chose to introduce the so called VIP model. Even though a lot of the rooms on these networks now have loyalty schemes the network rules disallows them to promote them for what its worth and as they cannot give players a direct percentage like a rakeback deal would, its almost impossible for players to figure out excactly what they can expect.
The basic idea of these loyalty or VIP Programs is that you will need to accomplish certain levels before you reach the maximum “rakeback”. This means that for the first $300 you rake in a month you get the “bronze level” or whatever they call it that maybe equals 12% rakeback. Then for your next $300 in rake you get Silver level and get 16%-18% on those $300. As you probably already see this makes it difficult for the player to figure out what he actually will earn when playing 350 hands a day at NL100.
Then you must start comparing the different VIP deals and try to find out which one will benefit you the most. To the informed players advantage it is still possible to get good deals on these networks. If you need a Ipoker Rakeback deal or help with rakeback on other rooms or networks you are welcome to contact me for a rakeback quote. To this day there is still no player i havent been able to help.
As you understand i am not very impressed with these new VIP deals and the way the networks has enforced them. Its absolutely positive that a larger number of players are now able to get something back on these networks, but wouldnt it be easier to just allow all players get a straight down to earth rakeback deal and instead enforce a strict percentage cap?
And to continue my rant, what about Microgaming? They started out as a big rakeback player and the last years they have changed their rules so many times its rediculous. As i remember my first year in the rakeback industry and as a poker player, if you played at Mircrogaming without rakeback you where likely the only player on that table without a deal. They had a common 35% rakeback throughout the line and everyone was happy.
Some of the smaller skins then started to offer up to 60% rakeback which resulted in massive player shifts throughout the network. The same players where to be found at the tables but one day they played at Unibet and the next day they played at Battlefield Poker or RedNines.
The larger skins that relied on other marketing methods than giving money back to the players then met up with Microgaming and got rakeback more or less banned. Rakeback was no longer to be used to aquire new players and every player on the network that already had rakeback was bumped down to 30%. Well, enforcing the cap was maybe not a bad move for the network, but disalloving rakeback to new players surely wasnt a good idea either. After all this mess the Microgaming network lost a lot of players and still struggles to be one of the major players in the industry.
Ok, so to sum up this rant i guess my message is that the networks needs to find rules that both their players and their participating rooms can live with. They need a model that both substains their excisting players and lets prospective players get a good offer. My guess is that a networkwide rakeback with a cap would be a good idea, while the individual rooms must let all, or atleast the players asking for it, the chance to get rakeback. Imo rakeback has come to stay and every player of some size will sooner or later get the word that it exists. If their current room wont let them have it, then they will soon be out shopping for other rooms.