[FAQ] - Pokerstars

I. General

1. Installation of the software
   Please ensure that you use the real money version of PokerStars. So download the software from our page:
   PokerStars - Overview
   If you download the PokerStars.net software you can only play on the play money tables.
2. Create an account
   If you want to be linked to PokerStrategy.com you need to follow our download instructions:
   PokerStars - Download guide
   Please type in the correct marketing code if you want to be tracked to PokerStrategy.com
3. Free poker money
   The list of partner rooms on which we offer the free poker money changes periodically. You can always find the most up to date info on our website.
4. Retracking of existing accounts
   If you already have an account at PokerStars you are not able to be tracked to PokerStrategy.com. You are not allowed to open a new account.
5. BonusPoints for Pokerstars
   For 2 VPP at PokerStars you will receive 1 BonusPoint at PokerStrategy.com. The points will be transferred to your PokerStrategy.com account with 2 days delay. If you do not receive any points you are either not tracked to PokerStrategy.com or you forget to agree to information sharing (in the lobby Request / Information Sharing). If this option does not appear you are not tracked to PokerStrategy.com. You can contact the customer support of PokerStars if they allow retracking.
6. Contact methods
   You can contact the customer support of PokerStars by sending an e-mail to support@pokerstars.com. Usually they answer within 24 hours.
   Supernova members can use vipclub@pokerstars.com for the PokerStars VIP support. ( Pokerstars - Customer support)
   For questions about shop items or any problems regarding items you should use this e-mail address: vipstore@pokerstars.com

II. Account

1. Currencies at Pokerstars
   At the moment you can choose between 4 currencies:
   USD - US Dollars (default)
   EUR - Euro
   CAD - Canadian Dollars
   GBP - British Pounds
2. Exchange fees
   PokerStars dose not charge any fees, as long as you want to play with the money. If you do it with the intention of foreign exchange, PokerStars can charge you with 1% exchange fee.
3. Fees for deposits and withdrawals
   PokerStars does not charge any fee for deposits and withdrawals.
4. Deposits options
   You can find all deposit options on this page by selecting your country:
   Real Money Deposits & Cashouts

   The minimum deposit across all options is $10

5. Withdrawals
   You can find all withdrawal options one this page by selecting your country:
   Real Money Deposits & Cashouts

   Be aware of the cashout policy of PokerStars:
   Cashouts are automatically credited back to any and all of the following methods that you have used to make deposits, in the following order:
   Maestro, Debit Cards, Neteller, ClickandBuy, moneybookers.

   Cashouts are first processed back to the method(s) used to deposit. Within each deposit method, cashouts are then applied back to your oldest deposit first and your most recent deposit last. Due to changes in MasterCard's policy, we can no longer credit cashouts back to MasterCards.

   We apologize if our cashout policy is an inconvenience, but this is a security feature designed to protect our customers against fraud. It ensures that no one can profit from misuse of another's account.
   Reference Pokerstars: Cashout Policy

6. Player audit
   You can request a copy of your real money audit, which shows every real money transaction made on your account in a specified period of time. The report will be compressed and uploaded to the PokerStars server, and encrypted and password protected for security. Go to ‘Requests’ > ‘Playing History Audit’ to request your report. Note that due to the encryption used to secure the file, an up-do-date compression program such as WinRAR is required to open it.

III. VIP system

VIP status

More information can be found here:
PokerStars VIP Scheme

VPPs and FPPs
VPPs are the player points on PokerStars which you receive by playing real money ring games or tournaments. They will be used to determine your VIP level. So for VPP there is a monthly and a yearly counter which will be reseted every first of the month or year.
Points at ring games will be awarded based on weighted contributed rake
FPPs are FrequentlyPlayerPoints and can be used for tournaments buy ins or the VIP store. FPPs are calculated VPPs x VIP multiplier.
Do my FPP expire? FPPs only expire if you do not earn any FPP Credits within one calendar year.
Can I transfer VPP/FPP to another player? – No, this is not possible.
Can I buy FPP? - Yes, but just for the Security-Token.

Rake structure
For more information see here:
Rake Comparison

IV. Software

1. Hand history
   Go to the PokerStars Lobby screen and select ‘Options’, then ‘Instant Hand History Options…’ You will now get a prompt, where you need to check the ‘Save My Hands History’. Check it and click OK – you are now saving all your hands.
2. Supported tracking programs
   Hold'em Manager
   PokerTracker
3. Rejoin time
   The rejoin time until you need to come back with the same amount of money is 30 minutes.
4. 2nd monitor, how to arrange tables
   PokerStars doesn't support a second monitor, so you should use Custom Layouts. Open all tables and arrange them as you prefer and then click View - Save Custom Layout
5. How many tables can I play?
   PokerStars currently has a limit of 24 ring game tables at once, and you can also play an unlimited number of tournaments.

V. Other

1. Datamining
   The practice of datamining (observing games without playing in order to build up a database of hand histories for future reference) is prohibited.
2. Player transfer
   To transfer real poker money on PokerStars, click on ‘Requests’ and then ‘Transfer Funds’ in the main client window. Minimum amount is $0.01.
3. Trading with $T / €T
   As a special service, PokerStars gives registered players the option to exchange Tournament and W Dollars amongst each other. The transaction will be processed directly, securely and automatically via the PokerStars software. There is no need for an escrow service, third players or PokerStars employees.
   See: Official PokerStars T$ / W$ Exchange Market
4. Which timezone does PokerStars use?
   Pokerstars uses ET (Eastern Time) for server time and offer a choice of time zones to players. Choose your time zone, and the lobby clock and all tournament start times will be displayed in your local time. To adjust your time zone, use the 'Options' > 'Time Zone Settings' menu option or click once on the lobby clock.
5. Playing with the same IP address
   You cannot join a ring game table when someone with the same IP address is already sitting on the table.
   SnGs need more than 45 participants in order for two clients to connect using the same IP address.
   Preplanned MMTs such as Sunday Million or the "$80 K Guaranteed" don't have any restrictions.
6. How do I change my player image?
   If you are unsatisfied with the image you selected during registration and wish to change it (or if you did not select an image during registration), you can do so by clicking Select/Change Image from the Account menu. Select Change Image, and follow the steps outlined above. Click Save when you are finished.
7. How do I turn off other player images?
   From the ‘Options’ menu of the PokerStars lobby, unselect ‘Show Player Images’. This will turn off images the next time you join or watch a poker game. You can turn images back on at any time by selecting ‘Options’ again and ensuring a check mark is placed beside ‘Show Player Images’ in that menu.

   You can also block an individual player's image from showing to you by right-clicking on the player's icon and selecting ‘Block Image’.

I already have an account with pokerstars , How do i associate my account with pokerstrategy to get strategy points?

Thanks
Simone

Originally posted by TheFrick
I already have an account with pokerstars , How do i associate my account with pokerstrategy to get strategy points?

Thanks
Simone

see I(d) above!

God this sticky is old.......

this is really awesome

Hi!
Wanted to ask about sync breaks in 18man sng`s.
Sometimes at hh:55 there are breaks and sometimes not.
How the system works? Thought its maybe because I play in mtt at the same time, but its not.
Actually would be great to have these 5min breaks every hour.
Thanks!

chest must be changed. tomorow i will post why

Retracking of existing accounts
If you already have an account at PokerStars you are not able to be tracked to PokerStrategy.com. You are not allowed to open a new account.

I created my Pokerstar account before knowing about Pokerstrategy. Is there any way to get tracked ?
As I play on Pokerstar, does it mean I won't have any chance to increase my profil on PokerStrategy ?

Thanks for your feedback

Originally posted by GreenerDaddy

Retracking of existing accounts
If you already have an account at PokerStars you are not able to be tracked to PokerStrategy.com. You are not allowed to open a new account.

I created my Pokerstar account before knowing about Pokerstrategy. Is there any way to get tracked ?
As I play on Pokerstar, does it mean I won't have any chance to increase my profil on PokerStrategy ?

Thanks for your feedback

The same for me. I had my account on PokerStars about a week before my account on PokerStrategy.com.
Still untracked after all these years. <sigh>

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
The same for me. I had my account on PokerStars about a week before my account on PokerStrategy.com.
Still untracked after all these years. <sigh>

It was even worse in my case, I downloaded Pokerstars back then with the intention of getting it tracked, but already created my account before I read through the tracking instructions.

Originally posted by GreenerDaddy
As I play on Pokerstar, does it mean I won't have any chance to increase my profil on PokerStrategy ?

You can still increase your status on PokerStrategy, either by signing up at a new partner room and getting it tracked, or by simply buying a higher status.

Note that once you have reached at least Bronze once, you won't go below it anymore, which will be enough get access to all the features on the forum, at least.

Thanks for your feedback. I will check for a new room and/or buy a higher status

This FAQ is very old. Could it be updated? Especially earning Pokerstrategy points when playing in Pokerstars and their VIP-system.

So pokerstrategy doesn't connect to pokerstars anymore?

Originally posted by MljadiDjadi
So pokerstrategy doesn't connect to pokerstars anymore?

You can still connect to Pokerstars here.