What do you think about PokerStars decision to end its freerolls?

[neptunas888]

In my opinion this is the wrong decision! It’s a shame that they made such a decision, it pushes PokerStars away as a platform where there were freerolls

 

[Falzee]

Have to agree with the consensus on Pokerstars. They're going downhill fast, not to mention the fact (IMHO) that the games are not always on the level.

 

[hilary antonik filho]

Do you believe this was the right decision?

Or do you believe that the PS will start to lose its users.

Express your opinion here.

In my opinion, they didn't make a good choice, I don't play as much as I used to, I believe they have already lost a lot of players. What is certain is that they are selecting the profitable ones (the ones who spend) from those who only play the freerolls

 

[doom]

They will lose new members new players love to play freerolls before they deposit in room

 

[mssmotilda]

They have always had few freerolls compared to other rooms. It just doesn't make much sense to market leaders.

 

[Uncloggie]

Just thinking to get back into playing again , after moving to Quebec from Ontario. I pretty well quit when the Ontario laws shut down online poker with the rest of the world . I guess I won't bother with Pokerstars then. I hope 888 has improved a bit in the last few years.

 

[Sintubai]

Very bad decision...lol They are losing control of where they had...

 

[Newzooozooo]

Do you believe this was the right decision?

Or do you believe that the PS will start to lose its users.

Express your opinion here.

Hi
PokerStars has been losing its users for a long time, it has been going on for years. Obviously, they start saving on everything they can. First of all, on freerolls, including ours. It is sad. But in my opinion, the prospects at PokerStars are not very good.

 

[Zaner]

Do you believe this was the right decision?

Or do you believe that the PS will start to lose its users.

Express your opinion here.

i like play private freeroll

 

[Ruslan L]

In recent years, the popularity of PokerStars has only been declining, players are switching to more promising sites, such as 888 or GGpoker. I no longer consider PokerStars the leader, this site has lost its advantages.

 

[navicula]

There are still many poker rooms with freerolls...

 

[fundiver199]

In recent years, the popularity of PokerStars has only been declining, players are switching to more promising sites, such as 888 or GGpoker. I no longer consider PokerStars the leader, this site has lost its advantages.

888 Poker has seen declining volume as well and from a much lower starting point. Only GG Poker has seen an increase in volume.

 

[pansipos]

Pokerstars lose some users

 

[0546474]

Of course, it’s a shame that at PokerStars there is no opportunity to play in platinum level tournaments, as well as tournaments worth 0.01, but we must admit that for PokerStars these private tournaments did not bring much benefit, since in these tournaments, especially in “cardschat” tournaments, in which a limited number of players took part, and such tournaments can to a large extent be perceived as advertising for “cardschat” more than advertising for PokerStars!!! I think that the cancellation of some freerolls will not cause significant damage to PokerStars!! !

 

[iwont20]

Probably lose some users yes. But maybe not revenue. And for the site that is more important

If one focuses too much on their revenues and not the clients, in the end they have no revenues to focus on.

 

[fundiver199]

If one focuses too much on their revenues and not the clients, in the end they have no revenues to focus on.

The CC freeroll were most likely removed, because they majority of "clients" playing them rarely created even a single dollar of revenue. If CC members were actually playing normal games on PokerStars on a regular basis, there would not be this endless mourning about the removal of the freerolls, since there are still loads of other games to play for prices down to as low as $0,25

 

[rachelle2291]

Now that I have had a few cashes on replay I do not mind their removal from pokerstars nearly as much

 

[iwont20]

The CC freeroll were most likely removed, because they majority of "clients" playing them never created a single dollar of revenue anyway. They just came for the "free lunch" and did not contribute to the business in any way which so ever. If CC members were actually playing normal games on PokerStars on a regular basis, there would not be this endless mourning about the removal of the freerolls, since there are still loads of other games to play

1) Well, all freerolls were removed, not just Cardschat's. Many of them were affiliates' freerolls for this week/month depositors only. Not a valid point.

2) Somehow I'm convinced that 90% of poker players and regulars of all sorts (not only pros, but regular recreationals) started or maintained their poker journey by playing freerolls. Obviously, it won't be a 100% conversion, but it's a certain % of conversion to a regular customers and room should work to try and increase it or at least to not let it to decrease. Everyone knows that it's easier to keep an old customer than attract a new one, and neither of the options is costless.

3) Also playing in freerolls and winnings in them regularly are two different things. Regular winners play somewhere else 100% and some occasional winners have a dream 😉, you can easily see this by posts on the forum about BRM and some other signs 😀

4) Partypoker made it impossible to register for real money games for players who have never made a deposit. Nothing stopped PS from doing the same, but no, they decided to cut their player pool/client base.

 

[fundiver199]

1) Well, all freerolls were removed, not just Cardschat's. Many of them were affiliates' freerolls for this week/month depositors only. Not a valid point.

Well then their investigation probably showed, that all those affiliate freerolls were a money pit not creating any value for their business. And since GG Poker dont run them either, maybe they actually have a point and know, what they are doing?

2) Somehow I'm convinced that 90% of poker players and regulars of all sorts (not only pros, but regular recreationals) started or maintained their poker journey by playing freerolls.

Somehow I am convinced, that this is completely wrong. I think, plenty of poker players (including myself) start their poker journey by making a deposit and dont really care all that much about freerolls at all. On the countrary I think, the very existence of freerolls have created an unhealthy "freeroller" culture, which was completely unsustainable for online poker

3) Also playing in freerolls and winnings in them regularly are two different things. Regular winners play somewhere else 100% and some occasional winners have a dream 😉, you can easily see this by posts on the forum about BRM and some other signs 😀

At the end of the day, if a significant percentage of freeroll winnings are withdrawn rather than recycled back into the "ecosystem", and if they also dont generate significant new deposits, they are a losing proposition for the site.

4) Partypoker made it impossible to register for real money games for players who have never made a deposit. Nothing stopped PS from doing the same, but no, they decided to cut their player pool/client base.

That does not solve anything, since people can then just make a $10 minimum deposit and eventually withdraw $500, which they won by only playing freerolls.

 

[iwont20]

Well then their investigation probably showed, that all those affiliate freerolls were a money pit not creating any value for their business. And since GG Poker dont run them either, maybe they actually have a point and know, what they are doing?

GGpoker still has freerolls 😀
Also they run 100k freerolls daily for invited players (15k+ participants). Obviously they know what they are doing since they are the room #1. PS abandoned all freerolls - for newcomers and for active existing players, well... revenues you say.

Somehow I am convinced, that this is completely wrong. I think, plenty of poker players (including myself) start their poker journey by making a deposit and dont really care all that much about freerolls at all. On the countrary I think, the very existence of freerolls have created an unhealthy "freeroller" culture, which was completely unsustainable for online poker

I said not only started their journey, but maintained it! There were numerous freerolls on PS back then, and even players of the high statuses played them, what to say about an average player, who won't be depositing thousands, they will just quit. I doubt you have never played in any kind of freeroll 🙂

At the end of the day, if a significant percentage of freeroll winnings are withdrawn rather than recycled back into the "ecosystem", and if they also dont generate significant new deposits, they are a losing proposition for the site.

I honestly am surprised by how convinced you are that majority of players are withdrawing $ from freerolls. Majority of players of regular freerolls, if they get into the ITM, win like 1-2$ and then play a satellite or some other tournament, maybe some cash. How many times a person can win the first place in the CC freeroll (which paid 19$) a month? It rarely happens if the same person wins twice a month. I doubt someone is playing freerolls every day for long hours just to withdraw 15$ a month. They either are building/rebuilding a BR (for what? to play further) or use a couple of dollars to play right away somewhere else.

Also has it been the issue, the prizes could be in T$.

That does not solve anything, since people can then just make a $10 minimum deposit and eventually withdraw $500, which they won by only playing freerolls.

lol such people who are withdrawing 500$ from freerolls are either very lucky (and it's few of them - occasional winners) or are pretty skillful (and they have learned to play already somewhere, definitely not non-depositing freerollers). Because you have to grind hard to win 500$ from freerolls only, the prizepools of them overall are tiny. So why such winning players would stick only to freerolls is unclear.


Anyways, I said initially that to get rid of absolutely all freerolls is a bad long term move for a room. Short-term, maybe the room will see some revenues 🙂

 

[fundiver199]

PS abandoned all freerolls - for newcomers and for active existing players, well... revenues you say.

Not true. They recently held freerolls giving away Sunday Million tickets during the EPT Paris event and on sharkscope I see people, who play a lot of hyperturbo freeroll satellites. So what they abondoned were only affiliate games, as Debi informed us about on 26. january 2024:

Unfortunately, this week (yes, I just found out), I was told that PokerStars will no longer host freerolls or tournaments of any kind for affiliates.

I honestly am surprised by how convinced you are that majority of players are withdrawing $ from freerolls.

I dont know what the majority does, but we have seen posts from people complaining, how they faced problems withdrawing their freeroll winnings from whatever site. So for sure this behaviour does occur.

Also has it been the issue, the prizes could be in T$.

Apparently their decision is, that all freerolls must reward tickets. Which in my opinion makes sense, because in that way the regular games are propped up, and the money has to be turned over at least once, before it can be withdrawn. Also a promotion as the one outlined by Debi below would reward people, who actually play and pay rake instead of randomly giving away money to someone, who found a leaked password on the internet

In December I was told that there would be no more cash freerolls and all of our tournaments would need to award tickets instead.

New PokerStars Promotion:

However - I have worked tirelessly on a proposal for running a monthly challenge for you which will award tournament tickets. If my budget is approved there will be a lot of tickets and the minimum value will be $5.50 and maximum will be $109 or $215. You will complete challenges to complete levels each month. It should be fun and you will not want to miss out!

lol such people who are withdrawing 500$ from freerolls are either very lucky (and it's few of them - occasional winners) or are pretty skillful (and they have learned to play already somewhere, definitely not non-depositing freerollers). Because you have to grind hard to win 500$ from freerolls only, the prizepools of them overall are tiny. So why such winning players would stick only to freerolls is unclear.

Some forum members have had "challenge" threads about, how they build a $500 "bankroll" solely from freerolls. I agree, this makes little sense, but it does happen.

Anyways, I said initially that to get rid of absolutely all freerolls is a bad long term move for a room. Short-term, maybe the room will see some revenues 🙂

I guess, we will just have to wait for the terrible poker room PokerStars to disappear then. So far though I dont notice any decline in either SnGs or MTTs, since the affiliate freerolls were taken down at the end of 2023. So it seems to be a rather slow process

 

[Poker Orifice]

2) Somehow I'm convinced that 90% of poker players and regulars of all sorts (not only pros, but regular recreationals) started or maintained their poker journey by playing freerolls. Obviously, it won't be a 100% conversion, but it's a certain % of conversion to a regular customers and room should work to try and increase it or at least to not let it to decrease. Everyone knows that it's easier to keep an old customer than attract a new one, and neither of the options is costless.

I thoroughly disagree with this ^ AND I'd suggest that most pros (even low stakes regs.) NEVER played freerolls except perhaps some that were VIP rakeback type ones.
When I began playing online poker (2007) I began with a deposit on all sites I wanted to play on except for 888Poker in 2008 when I won $280 for 3rd place in a special Cardschat freeroll. Back then there were many fantastic freerolls available for things like raking a few hands but these were games that had an equivalent of a $10 buyin (ie. $10,000 freeroll with 1,000 entrants) and none of them were available to the general public without needing to earn your way into them.

 

[Poker Orifice]

I honestly am surprised by how convinced you are that majority of players are withdrawing $ from freerolls.

I believe the majority of the CC members probably were. It was easy enough to see... just run their name through a game tracking site and you'll see that they ONLY play freerolls... so unless they are cash table players (also very doubtful) I'd suggest they are (were) all withdrawing those Freeroll $'s

 

[fundiver199]

GGpoker still has freerolls 😀
Also they run 100k freerolls daily for invited players (15k+ participants).

But who are those invited players? Someone who paid a lot of rake, or someone who signed up for an internet forum or found a leaked password on the internet?

I believe the majority of the CC members probably were. It was easy enough to see... just run their name through a game tracking site and you'll see that they ONLY play freerolls... so unless they are cash table players (also very doubtful) I'd suggest they are (were) all withdrawing those Freeroll $'s

Plus every time someone ask advice about building up a bankroll, they get numerous answers recommending them to not deposit and only play freerolls. If a poker site representative read those posts, I honestly dont know, why they would still want to offer freerolls....

 

[UngureanuDan]

I am not playing there in few years, there are 0 freerolls on PokerStars?