Winter grinding just got a massive EV boost. PokerStars has officially launched “Snowball,” a five-week promotion running through January 4 that is injecting $2 million in extra value across its client.
For poker players specifically, the site has ring-fenced $850,000 of that total prize pool. Unlike complex leaderboard races that only reward high-stakes volume, Snowball is designed as an accessible “Challenges” promotion, giving everyone from micro-stakes grinders to tournament regulars a shot at weekly windfalls.
The Mechanics: How to Build Your Snowball
The concept is simple: the more you play, the bigger the potential rewards get. The promotion runs from December 1, 2025, to January 4, 2026, covering the peak winter holiday season.
Crucially, participation is not automatic. You must open your PokerStars client, navigate to the Challenges window, and hit “Opt-in.” Once active, every real-money hand you play earns redemption points. These points are your currency to unlock tickets for the weekly prize draws, which take place every Monday.
What’s on the Table?
The $850,000 poker prize pool is distributed through a mix of direct cash draws and high-value tournament assets:
- Weekly Draws: Up to $200,000 in prizes are awarded every Monday.
- Major Tournament Value: The prize wheel includes Power Path Silver Passes (worth $2,500 each) and tickets to the iconic $109 Sunday Million.
- The “Zero-Effort” Flip: Players can earn up to five entries per week for exclusive $20,000 GTD All-In Shootouts. These are “flip” tournaments where the software plays every hand all-in automatically. You don’t even need to be logged in to win, making this pure added value to your bankroll.
Weekly Grinding Targets
The promotion is split into five weeks. As the “Snowball” gains momentum, the point targets to unlock draw tickets nudge up slightly. Hitting both targets maximizes your entries for that week’s draw.
| Week | Dates | Target 1 | Target 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 1–Dec 7 | 5 points | 25 points |
| 2 | Dec 8–Dec 14 | 10 points | 50 points |
| 3 | Dec 15–Dec 21 | 15 points | 75 points |
| 4 | Dec 22–Dec 28 | 20 points | 100 points |
| 5 | Dec 29–Jan 4 | 25 points | 125 points |
Bonus: Mystery Chests for Casino Players
If you dabble in casino games alongside your poker sessions, there is extra value on offer. PokerStars has added a “Mystery Chest” mechanic for players who meet point requirements in both verticals during the same week.
The rewards here are back-loaded to keep the excitement high: during the final two weeks (Weeks 4 and 5), these Mystery Chests can contain cash prizes up to $5,000.
The Snowball promotion is live now. Check your local PokerStars client for specific eligibility and to lock in your opt-in before the first week’s draw concludes.
