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> SunPoker Rakeback Alternative
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| SunPoker Rakeback Alternative and VIP Program
Formerly part of CryptoLogic, is now part of the iPoker network and offers a VIP Club program. Players are automatically enrolled as soon as they play their first cash game. As VIP Club members, cash players earn “Sun Points” that can be redeemed at the cashier anytime at a rate of $1.00 per 1000 points, with 5000 Sun Points being the minimum redemption level ($5).
SunPoker does NOT offer rakeback of any kind. However, they have a VIP program which acts like rakeback through the accumulation of points.
Sun Points are accumulated at different rates depending on what VIP level a player has attained. The higher a player climbs, the faster they earn cash redeemable points. Also, higher levels gain entry into exclusive, high payout freerolls. In keeping with SunPoker's name, the different VIP levels are named after bodies in our solar system, starting at Mars for new players. The levels then ascend in the order of the planets, moving towards the sun. After Mars comes Earth, then Venus, and then Mercury until you get to the highest VIP level, Sun. Players that attain the Sun level accumulate Sun Points at four times the rate of players at the Mars level. Things definitely get hotter the closer you get to the Sun.
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SunPoker Rakeback Through VIP Levels
One thing players should pay careful attention to is that 's VIP level upgrades aren't automatic. That means when a player reaches the next level they must contact support@sunpoker.com to be upgraded. Once upgraded to the next level, the new status lasts until the end of the month and the following month. Players must re-qualify every month by earning the minimum monthly points required for their level to keep their VIP level status.
Mars - This is the entry level that all players are automatically enrolled in, as it doesn't take any monthly accumulation of points to qualify. Here there aren't any special bonuses, so there is great incentive to move to the next level.
Earth - The next level is Earth, which players need a monthly point total of 7,500 to qualify. Points are earned 33% faster and this level and have entry into two $2500 freerolls each month.
Venus - The third level in SunPoker's VIP Club is Venus. Players at the Venus level need to earn 75,000 points per month. They earn points 50% faster than entry level players and are invited to participate in four $2500 freerolls each month.
Mercury - Players at the Mercury level are able to sustain a monthly accumulated point total of 112,500 and earn points 100% faster. Not only do they earn points at double the speed, but they also participate in six $2500 freerolls each month. That's a lot of free money up for grabs!
Sun - At the top of the charts sits the Sun level. Players here are able to maintain a 150,000 monthly point total and earn points 300% faster than the player that's just getting started. Not only do they earn their points for cash much faster than anyone else, they also get access to eight $2500 freerolls each month. Eight $2500 freerolls means they have access to a play for a share of $20000, for free, each month. Now that is nice.
Here is a break down of the points accumulated at each SunPoker VIP Club level:
Point Accumulation at Ring Games
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Rake
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Mars
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Earth
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Venus
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Mercury
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Sun
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| $0.01 - $0.09
|
0.15 |
0.23 |
0.25 |
0.3 |
0.45 |
| $0.10 - $0.24 |
1.5 |
2.25 |
2.5 |
3 |
4.5 |
| $0.25 - $0.49 |
3.75 |
5.59 |
6.25 |
7.5 |
11.25 |
| $0.50 - $0.74 |
7.5 |
11.25 |
12.5 |
15 |
22.5 |
| $0.75 - $0.99 |
11.25 |
16.88 |
18.75 |
22.5 |
33.75 |
| $1.00 - 1.24 |
15 |
22.5 |
25 |
30 |
45 |
| $1.25 - 1.49 |
18.75 |
28.13 |
31.25 |
37.5 |
56.25 |
| $1.50 – 1.74 |
22.5 |
33.75 |
37.5 |
45 |
67.5 |
| $1.75 – 1.99 |
26.25 |
39.38 |
43.75 |
52.5 |
78.75 |
| $2.00 - 2.24 |
30 |
45 |
50 |
60 |
90 |
| $2.25 - 2.49 |
33.75 |
50.63 |
56.25 |
67.5 |
101.25 |
| $2.50 - 2.74 |
37.5 |
56.25 |
62.5 |
75 |
112.5 |
| $2.75 – 3.00 |
41.25 |
61.88 |
68.75 |
82.5 |
123.5 |
| $3.01 – 5.00 |
45.15 |
67.73 |
75.25 |
90.3 |
135.45 |
Point Accumulation at Tournaments
Eactly how does this VIP substitute for rakeback then? It's all about the SunPoints. The more points players earn, the more money they earn by trading in their points for cash. Remember that for each 1000 SunPoints redeemed, $1 is given.
Here is an example:
Using the Pot limit and No Limit schedule for stakes of $0.50/$1 up to $10/$20, on the SunPoker website, the maximum rake in a heads-up pot is $1. On average each player is then paying $0.50 in rake when the pot is big enough for maximum rake to be achieved. For a player that has attained the Sun level, this means he would accumulate 45 Sun Points for that hand (see VIP Levels table at top of page). If he plays 1000 heads-up hands that are raked for the maximum of $1, he then pays $500 in rake and earned 45000 Sun Points which can be redeemed at $1 per 1000 points for $45, which translates 9% rakeback on his $500.
To understand how Sun Points earned through SunPoker's VIP Club can translate into rakeback, one needs to first understand SunPoker's rake schedule. The house generally commissions between 0% and 5% of each total pot. SunPoker do not charge a rake if the hand ended before the "flop" cards were dealt - "No flop no drop." If you are dealt cards in a hand then you are deemed to have contributed to the pot and therefore you are allocated an equal share of the rake taken. This is regardless of whether you fold straight away or not. If for example the rake taken on a particular table is $3 and there are six of you playing, then your rake consideration is $0.50.
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