Full Tilt Poker announced Wednesday that it is bringing back its Black Card Program, the popular elite loyalty status level that disappeared when Full Tilt went offline after Black Friday.
Those players who earn Black Card membership will be able to instantly convert their Full Tilt Points to cash at their full value, which could amount to as much as 40 percent rakeback per week. Rack back or its equivalent had been a source of competitive disadvantage for Full Tilt poker since its rebirth late last year. While it had formerly offered a flat 27 percent rakeback, its new Edge Reward Program since the relaunch had topped out at a 25 percent rakeback equivalent. This is significantly lower than other poker sites, some of which offer 50 percent rakeback equivalent and higher.
Along with the Black Card rollout, Full Tilt Poker is aiming to regain high volume players by offering what it calls “VIP Amnesty” to those playing at other poker rooms. In April, poker players who want to play at Full Tilt can jump right in at the VIP levels they have already earned on competing sites.
“We understand that players have put many hours, weeks and sometimes months into earning their VIP status on other sites while unable to play on Full Tilt Poker,” said Full Tilt Head of Marketing Sarne Lightman in a press release, adding, “The amnesty will allow them to trial our Edge Rewards and Black Card programs at the equivalent level and see for themselves the superior benefits their play level offers at Full Tilt Poker.”
To take advantage of VIP Amnesty, interested players must take a screenshot of their VIP information on the competing site and send it in an e-mail to blackcard@fulltiltpoker.com along with their Full Tilt poker account information.
This new influence on attracting high volume players may stem from Full Tilt Poker’s fall in the cash game traffic rankings. According to PokerScout.com, Full Tilt is now fourth on the list with a seven day average of 2,950 cash game players. Both before its temporary death and after, it was comfortably in the number two spot behind PokerStars. Recently, though, PartyPoker and the iPoker Network have moved ahead of Full Tilt and are currently tied for second place with a seven day average of 3,250 cash game players.
Another interesting announcement Full Tilt made is that it will start to look for players to sponsor. Instead of just picking the biggest names as it did in the past, though, Full Tilt will actually chose new sponsored pros based on performance metrics in cash games, Sit-and-Go’s, and tournaments. The performance criteria are still under development and Full Tilt is accepting input from players on how to best construct these measures. Sponsorship contracts will be offered every six months and players will have to continue to perform well to maintain their sponsorship.
