Over 2,500 high stakes and high-volume players are on a strike against PokerStars for 3 days (Dec 01-03). They have withdrawn funds and are not playing on the site to protest against the changes announced by the company. Taking advantage of the situation, 888 Poker, world’s 2nd largest poker site is wooing the online poker community with higher guarantees in tournaments and lower rake on cash tables.
PokerStars new policies on VIP Rewards will come into effect from 1st January 2016. The changes announced will hamper the profits of high-stakes and high-volume players. A few top pros of the online poker world led by Dani “Ansky” Stern started a protest against these changes and thousands of PokerStars players joined them in past 2 days.
888 Poker came up with a list of promotions and rake cuts for this week to lure the players on strike and earn goodwill in this situation. The company dramatically slashed the rake at Omaha tables of $1/$2 higher by 50%. Earlier the rake deducted by the site on such tables was 5% which is down to 2.5% now.
The company upped the guarantees of some of its tournament for this duration of 3 days. The guaranteed prize pool of the $600 buy-in Tuesday Volcano increased from the usual $85,000 to $100,000. Adding to it, the website announced 2 new tournaments – $5,000 guaranteed 8-max – Special! ($55 buy-in) at 13:00 GMT and $5,000 guaranteed Turbo – Special! ($30 buy-in) at 15:00 GMT.
Here is the list of special tourneys with increased guarantees at 888 Poker:
| Regular Guarantee | Special Guaranteed | Buy in | Start Time (GMT) |
| The $85,000 Tuesday Volcano | The $100,000 Tuesday Volcano | $600 | 19:30 |
| The $30,000 Thursday Quarterback | The $35,000 Thursday Quarterback | $215 | 19:30 |
| The $25,000 Tuesday Crocodile | The $30,000 Tuesday Crocodile | $160 | 17:30 |
| The $15,000 Crocodile (Midweek) | The $20,000 Crocodile (Midweek) | $160 | 17:30 |
| The $30,000 Tuesday Challenge | The $35,000 Tuesday Challenge | $109 | 20:35 |
| The $7,000 Lightning 6-Max | The $8,000 Lightning 6-Max | $109 | 14:00 |
| The $10,000 Tornado | The $12,000 Tornado | $109 | 20:15 |
| The $6,000 Hurricane | The $8,000 Hurricane | $109 | 21:45 |
| The $10,000 Breeze | The $12,000 Breeze | $55 | 15:45 |
| The $5,000 Twister | The $6,000 Twister | $55 | 11:00 |
| The $7,500 Thunder 6-Max Second Chance | The $8,000 Thunder 6-Max Second Change | $55 | 19:35 |
| The $5,000 Cyclone | The $6,000 Cyclone | $55 | 02:20 |
| The $5,000 Typhoon Second Chance | The $5,000 Typhoon Second Chance | $55 | 09:00 |
| The $7,500 Swordfish | The $8,000 Swordfish | $30 | 18:00 |
| The $5,000 Turbo Swordfish | The $6,000 Turbo Swordfish | $30 | 22:00 |
| The $3,000 Super Turbo Swordfish | The $4,000 Super Turbo Swordfish | $30 | 00:00 |
| The $8,000 Guaranteed Turbo R&A | The $10,000 Guaranteed Turbo R&A | $5 | 19:00 |
| The $1,000 Turbo Blowfish | The $1,500 Turbo Blowfish | $5 | 18:00 |
| The $1,000 Super Turbo Blowfish | The $1,200 Super Turbo Blowfish | $5 | 23:00 |
| The $1,000 Goldfish | The $1,200 Goldfish | $1 | 20:00 |
| The $600 Turbo Goldfish | The $700 Turbo Goldfish | $1 | 15:00 |
| The $300 Super Turbo Goldfish | The $400 Super Turbo Goldfish | $1 | 02:00 |