PokerStars launched a play money poker app on Facebook this week, a move which many speculate is a precursor to an eventual real money companion site to its standard, downloadable poker client. Currently in the beta testing stage, it is inaccessible to new players right now because it has reached its player limit.
PokerStars.net on Facebook is strictly a play money game, as already mentioned. There is nothing of value to be won or lost and chips cannot be cashed in prizes. Players are given 1,000 chips in their account to start and can earn more through regular play or by earning various in-game bonuses. While the PokerStars FAQ does not explicitly say what these bonuses are or how they are earned, it is implied that extra chips can be won by completing “Challenges” and “Achievements.” Challenges are “specific sets of tasks” presented to players by PokerStars pro Liv Boeree, whereas Achievements are in-game accomplishments. No real, solid differentiation is made between the two on the PokerStars site, but we might surmise that Challenges revolve around accomplishing certain poker-specific things, such as getting everybody to fold while you are holding 2-7 offsuit. Achievements might be more general and based on long-term play, such as winning 100 hands. Again, these are just guesses.
Players can also earn Experience Points to advance up the level ladder. One Experience Point is earned per hand played; Experience Points can also be earned by completing Challenges and Achievements. There has been no explanation as to the significance of levels.
Should players fall below 100 chips, they can reset their account to 1,000 chips three times every hour. And while this is a free-to-play game, play money chips can be purchased for real money.
Like other Facebook poker games, such as Zynga Poker, PokerStars.net on Facebook allows players to purchase virtual trinkets to display at the table. The trinkets serve absolutely no purpose other than decoration. Some can be purchased with chips – these only last the duration of a player’s session – while others can be purchased with gold coins. The gold coin, or premium, items remain with a player until they are removed or replaced. Gold coins are a premium virtual currency that can be purchased with real money and only serve a purpose within the PokerStars.net Facebook app. They can also be earned by completing Challenges and Achievements.
Unlike other Facebook poker games, though, the PokerStars.net is actually linked to a player’s regular PokerStars account. Players who already have a PokerStars desktop or mobile account can just login to the Facebook app using their PokerStars login info. Play money chips are shared across the different platforms. That is the only part of a player’s account that is shared, however; personal information is not viewable between platforms.
The play money player traffic will also be merged across platforms, so people playing on Facebook table may be playing against people playing on a PC or a tablet. Only Hold’em and Omaha games are currently offered on the PokerStars.net Facebook app, but all sorts of game types, such as cash games, tournaments, Sit-and-Go’s, and even Zoom Poker are available. While the player pools are merged, there may be times were Facebook-only or desktop/mobile-only tournaments are held.