Deputy Editor
GGPoker will introduce a new rewards program starting Jan. 30, according to a new page on the operator’s official site. Termed Ocean Rewards, it offers up to 80% rakeback, so it’s one of the most generous in the industry.
However, players on GGPoker pay some of the highest rake in the business, so the rakeback is needed to offset some of that and keep the GGPoker pricing competitive.
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GGPoker Changes from Fish Buffet to Ocean Rewards
The old loyalty program, Fish Buffet, had been in use for several years. GGPoker called Ocean Rewards “the next evolution” of Fish Buffet, and it does have the same theme of classifying players into tiers named after aquatic animals based on their rake generated. As with Fish Buffet, the more rake a player generates, the higher tier they ascend to and the most rakeback they receive.
“While Fish Buffet focused on short-term status and rewards, Ocean Rewards allows players to keep their status long-term and accumulate increasing reward value over time,” the GGPoker rewards page says.
Players earn Tide Points at a rate of 100 per $1 in rake generated. Accumulating more Tide Points results in moves to higher loyalty tiers.
It seems Ocean Rewards tiers stay active for a full year.
GGPoker also emphasized that the highest tier has increased significantly. Under the old system, a player maxed out at 60% rakeback. Existing points and rewards will automatically be converted to cash, and players’ initial tiers will depend on their Fish Buffet rank.
The old rewards system also included sub-tiers in many of the ranks. Ocean Rewards contains no mention of such sub-classifications, so it appears the operator has simplified the system a bit.
Most players will be enrolled in the new loyalty program automatically. Players in some jurisdictions may need to opt in.
Here’s a brief look at the new rewards tiers:
| Ocean Rewards Tier | Approx. Rakeback | Tide Points Required | Rake Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish | 24% | 0 | $0 |
| Shrimp | 32% | 10,000 | $100 |
| Crab | 40% | 50,000 | $500 |
| Turtle | 48% | 200,000 | $2,000 |
| Octopus | 56% | 750,000 | $7,500 |
| Dolphin | 64% | 2,000,000 | $20,000 |
| Whale | 72% | 5,000,000 | $50,000 |
| Shark | 80% | 10,000,000 | $100,000 |
Some Aspects of Ocean Rewards Remain Unclear
Some aspects of the new rewards system aren’t totally clear.
GGPoker’s page has a section describing the accumulation of “gems,” but it doesn’t expound upon it much. It says they’re used to unlock “premium rewards,” and they “increase in value as you reach a higher tier.” However, nothing else about them, such as what the rewards are, is explained.
The Fish Buffet system included an element of chance by spinning a “reward wheel,” so gems may do something similar.
Also left unexplained is what role, if any, the old Player Value Index (PVI) plays. PVI was generally understood to be a multiplier to rewards that was based on the player’s overall results on GGPoker. Essentially, net-losing players earned more rewards. Net-winning players earned fewer. Winning players had a multiplier below 1x, while losing players could reportedly earn as much as 2x.
Image credit: Elias Levy/Wikimedia Commons (license)
