Poker News Roundup for the week

PokerStars are trying to attract recreational players on their site by offering a new VIP club programme plus a range of new games. Communications chief, Eric Hollreiser said "For more than 95 percent of our players, the most obvious change will be the introduction of the VIP Steps program and changing our variable FPP currency into a constant value which will be called StarsCoin. This will simplify the reward system and enhance its visibility during play, so that players can follow their progress in real time. VIP status players from BronzeStar to GoldStar will continue to be able to receive up to a similar level of rewards to what they receive now. In some cases, players will receive less; in some cases, players will receive more, but it's very much in the same ballpark. PokerStars will also revamp the loyalty program to effectively incentivize and reward more players and to encourage competitive play over high volume play. The changes will result in improved rewards for the vast majority of players. Approximately two percent of players - including our highest volume and high stakes players - will have significantly reduced rewards. The reason we are focused on the highest status levels is because these rewards have become so enticing that we have inadvertently altered why some people play and how they play. We are introducing these changes to move towards a more balanced long-term poker economy and to return the game back to one that rewards skill via winning at the tables rather than playing primarily for volume." Seals With Clubs owner, Bryon Micon, returned to the US for sentencing and received a $25,000 fine plus two years probation. He forfeited 3.0996 in bitcoins, $900 in cash and computers. After 10 years, Poker Heaven will be closing it's doors on November 12th. It's not yet known why they are closing. If you have funds on your account, you should withdraw them before 19th November. If you don't withdraw, your funds wil be returned to you in the manner in which they were deposited. 888 Poker have made sponsorship deals with three of the November nine finalists namely Joe McKeehen, Neil Blumenfield and Thomas Cannuli. Enterra Poker Pro mobile software has been upgraded for both iOS and Android. The new software should incrase speed and performance.