Ocean Rewards Is Coming – GGPoker’s Biggest Rakeback Upgrade Ever

Ocean Rewards is the next-generation evolution of the Fish Buffet rakeback system – built for long-term poker players, casual players, and anyone who cares about real poker rakeback.

More rakeback. More transparency. And up to 80% rakeback across the highest tiers.

This is not a small change. It’s a full rebuild of the loyalty system.

For a full breakdown of the site’s features beyond this new system, check out our comprehensive 2026 GGPoker Review .

First Things First: What is Poker Rakeback?

If you’re new to the game, you might be wondering why “rakeback” is such a big deal.

• The Rake: To host games, provide security, and maintain software, poker rooms take a small commission from every cash game pot and a fee from every tournament buy-in. This is called the “rake.”
• The Rakeback: Rakeback (also known as cashback) is simply the poker room giving you a percentage of those fees back.

Whether you win or lose the hand, you are earning a rebate on the cost of playing. In a game of thin margins, high rakeback can be the difference between a losing session and a profitable one.

What Is Ocean Rewards?

GGPoker Ocean Rewards is still a tier-based loyalty program where you earn rewards based on how much rake you generate – but with major structural upgrades compared to Fish Buffet.

Here’s what’s new:

• Up to 80% cashback – industry-leading
• Guaranteed tier status,  until the end of next year
• A dual-currency system (Tide Points + GEMs)
• Bigger rewards the longer you play
• Automatic tier upgrades at launch

If you hated losing status every month, this fixes it.

How the New Rakeback System Works (Simple Explanation)

Ocean Rewards introduces two key reward currencies:

Tide Points (TP) – Your Progress

• You earn 100 Tide Points for every $1 in rake
• Tide Points determine your tier
• Your tier is locked until the end of the following year
• Tide Points reset annually on January 1st

Result – no more short-term pressure. You grind once, you keep the benefits.

GEMs – Your Cashback Multiplier

• GEMs are earned on top of Tide Points
• The higher your tier, the more GEMs you earn
• GEMs can be exchanged for premium rewards
• Higher tiers = better GEM value

Result – your effective rakeback increases over time, not decreases.

Ocean Rewards: The New Tier Structure & Rakeback Percentages

Ocean Rewards simplifies the grind. There are eight primary tiers, each offering a flat, transparent cashback rate. Unlike the old system, where you had to spin a wheel for a range of rewards, Ocean Rewards provides consistent value based on your tier.

Each tier unlocks:

• Higher cashback percentages
• Better GEM multipliers
• Stronger long-term value

At the top end, players can reach up to 80% effective cashback.

Free Tier Upgrade at Launch

When Ocean Rewards launches:

• All players receive a free promotion to a higher tier
• Existing Fish Buffet players are automatically mapped to Ocean tiers
• Example – Fish Buffet Platinum Octopus → Ocean Rewards Octopus

No opt-in hassle. No manual requests. It just happens.

What Happens to Fish Buffet Rewards?

No stress.

• All pending Fish Buffet rewards are automatically cashed out
• Your best historical Fish Buffet rank is used for tier placement
• Fish Points earned from Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 30, 2026 convert into Tide Points

You don’t lose value during the transition.

Ocean Rewards vs Fish Buffet

Ocean Rewards vs Fish Buffet is not a minor update – it’s a fundamental shift in how rakeback works on GGPoker.

Here’s how the two systems compare:

Fish Buffet

• Short-term focus
• Monthly pressure
• Max ~60% cashback

Ocean Rewards

• Long-term progression
• Tier locked until next year
• Up to 80% cashback
• Rewards compound over time

This is designed for serious EV-focused players.

Key Details to Know

• Launch date – January 30th, 2026
• All players are eligible – new and existing
• Automatic enrollment
• Tier maintenance is checked yearly
• Tide Points reset annually
• Overlay tournaments generate proportionally fewer Tide Points

Why This Matters If You Care About Value

Ocean Rewards turns loyalty into a strategic advantage.

• Less rake pressure
• Predictable long-term rewards
• Better value the more you play
• One of the strongest loyalty systems in online poker

If you grind cash games or tournaments regularly, this is a real bankroll boost.

Conclusion

Ocean Rewards isn’t just a rebrand.

It’s GGPoker setting a new standard for rakeback:

• Higher caps
• Smarter structure
• Long-term value

The new loyalty era begins on January 30th, 2026. If you play on GGPoker, this is a system built to reward consistency, volume, and smart grinding.

Read our in-depth GGPoker review and claim the best GGPoker bonus code available right now.

Log in to GGPoker, track your Tide Points, collect GEMs, and climb the Ocean Rewards tiers for maximum long-term EV.

Don’t leave any rakeback on the table.