Betfair Poker has relaunched the STAX#RATINGS, which are designed to test and grade the capabilities of a poker player, like a sort of Poker Intelligence Quotient.

The exact formula used to calculate the STAX#RATINGS is being kept secret by Betfair Poker.

However the complicated mathematical calculations factor in the following qualities - the ability to win consistently over a period of time, the ability to play at the higher stakes, expertise in all poker games and all types of tournaments, the ability to win multi table tournaments, confidence and fearlessness. 

The STAX#RATINGS will not only indicate the worth of the player but will come with attractive cash prizes as well. Every month from May to August 08, the poker players with the highest STAX#RATING™ will split a $20,000 prize pool. The top monthly prize in the United Kingdom will be $480 and the top prize for other regions will be $300. This is not all. There will be the end of series prizes worth $125,000. This includes a $45,000 package for the most valuable player. There are free entries to the European WSOP events on offer as well.

The STAX#RATINGS are designed to update every day. They will be reset to zero at the end of the month so that players make a fresh beginning the next month. All Betfair Poker players are automatic entrants. There are however minimum playing requirements that players will have to meet. Those players who do not meet these requirements will not get a rating. Betfair Poker has provided a table to show how the ratings will translate to poker skills. A rating of 90 to 100 indicates a level of the Poker Hall of Fame. A rating of 80 to 89 indicates that the player is ready for “The Big Game” at Bellagio. A rating of 70 to 79 indicates a full time professional status. A rating of 60 to 69 indicates that the player is a shark. A rating of 50 to 59 indicates that the player is a part time professional. A rating of 45 to 49 makes the player simply a home game champion. And 44 or less indicates a student level player.

11 days of ratings calculations are complete and the daily standings are already drawing heavy traffic. Punterz08 of the UK tops the overall ratings with a near perfect score of 99.51, which is way ahead of the second spot of 90.72. The highest ratings in the various regions are as follows: United Kingdom 99.51, Ireland 80.45, Sweden 77.71, Norway 81.29, Finland 75.98, Denmark 72.64, Italy 84.47, Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Poland 77.71, Iberia 80.36, Eastern Europe 72.67 and Rest of the World 75.43.

Betfair Poker is owned by the Betfair Group, which has been offering a global portfolio of gambling services since 1999. In addition to their poker room they are actively involved in sports betting and online casino gaming. Betfair has licenses to operate in several European countries such as the UK, Australia, Malta, Italy, Austria and Germany. Betfair has won a Queen's Award for Enterprise, in the Innovation category, in 2003 and again in 2008 and the STAX#RATINGS are ample proof of its innovativeness.