As if you needed another reason to play on PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site is gearing up to deal its 60 billionth hand. Six months ago, PokerStars dealt its 50 billionth hand and now it’s back with its 60 billionth hand promotion. This time, at least $60,000 in cash will be awarded to the winner of the monumental hand and PokerStars is expecting to give away $1 million in prizes in total. Let’s check out the highlights of the 60 billionth hand promotion.

Text found on PokerStars’ website explains the basics of each regular milestone hand. These start at hand #59.7 billion and take place every million hands: “Players dealt into a milestone hand win a cash prize of $50 for every VIP Player Point (VPP) they earned in the previous 50 hands played on that table. All players dealt in will also receive a base prize of $50, and any player that wins a portion of the main pot will get their prize doubled!”

Once the 60 billionth hand rolls around, the players involved will be in for an extraordinary payday. This time, they’ll receive $500 for every VPP earned during the previous 50 hands at the table, with a base prize of $500 awarded. The winner will not only see their prize doubled, but they’ll also get an extra $60,000 in cash. If you’re more of a visual person, here are the mathematical formulas for determining your prize in the 60 billionth hand:

Dealt into 60 Billionth Hand:
(Number of VPPs in Previous 50 Hands x $500) + $500 = Cash Prize

Win 60 Billionth Hand:
(Number of VPPs in Previous 50 Hands x $500 + $500) x 2 + $60,000 = Cash Prize

If there’s a split pot in the 60 billionth hand, then the $60,000 will be divided up accordingly. The bottom line is that a mountain of cash will be given away and the 60 billionth hand will likely be dealt before the month of March goes out like a lamb.

PokerStars gave several suggestions for players who want to increase the chances that they’ll be involved in a milestone hand. First, play more tables and longer sessions. The latter point is important since your cash bonus for being involved in a milestone hand is determined by the number of VPPs logged in the previous 50 hands. Similarly, play an “action game” because “Some games generate pots more easily, such as Limit Hold’em or Pot Limit Omaha. Playing these will help you to earn VPPs faster.”

According to PokerScout.com, which keeps tabs on online poker room traffic, PokerStars is the world’s busiest site and sports a seven-day running average of 30,200 real money ring game players. In the past 24 hours, that number has peaked at 49,000 and we’d expect the cash game tables to be quite busy in the moments leading up to the 60 billionth hand.

During PokerStars’ 40 billionth hand celebration, which occurred in February 2010, 280,000 players were logged in when the jackpot went off. Over 40,000 tables were in action and the lucky winner scooped $24,000. When the 50 billionth hand occurred last September, its winner banked over $50,000 and a World Championship of Online Poker Main Event seat.

Sign up for PokerStarstoday to get access to one of the industry’s leading VIP programs and a slew of lucrative promotions like the 60 billionth hand celebration, which is part of the Road to 100 Billion. You’ll also get a 100% up to $600 first-time deposit bonus. Learn more.