By Kevin Felix | February 11, 2010

It was almost exactly a year ago that PokerStars celebrated dealing its 25 billionth hand with a slew of cash and bonus promotions. Now, the world’s largest poker site is giddy with anticipation for its 40 billionth hand and as such, has announced another batch of promotions to celebrate.

Starting yesterday, February 10th, and running through February 21st, PokerStars will be handing out extra cash in ring games and juicing up the prize pools of tournaments. Let’s take a look at what is going on in the “F40″ festivities:

Milestone Hands

Known to create server problems in the past from all the people jumping onto the virtual felts trying to hit the magic hand, the milestone hands are back. Players dealt into every millionth ring game hand will win $40 for every FPP they have earned over the previous 40 hands at that table. To guard against someone coming up empty because they just joined the table, everyone in the hand will be given a bonus FPP, so each player will win at least $40. The winner of the milestone hand will have their cash prize doubled.

To illustrate, if a player is dealt cards in one of the milestone hands and has earned 20 FPPs during the previous 40 hands (remember, those previous hands must be at that table), that person will win $800. Should that person win the hand, he will get $1,600.

Those dealt cards in the 40 billionth hand will receive an astounding $400 for each FPP earned over the preceding 40 hands. And once again, the winner of the hand will receive double the prize.

To eliminate any confusion, anyone who wins a piece of the main pot, even if it is a split pot in high/low game or a tie for the best hand, will have their prize doubled.

Multi-Table Tournaments

On February 21st, the prize pool for Sunday Million will be jacked up to $4 million, with a first prize eclipsing $1 million. For those who can’t afford the $215 buy-in, there will be the Micro Million tournament on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, with a buy-in of only $40. The prize pool for the Micro is guaranteed to be at least $1 million.

Additionally, players can win money while only risking FPPs in the twice daily F40 FPP tournaments. These tourneys, which will start at 13:40 ET and 21:40 ET each day during the promotional period, will have prize pools of $40,000 and will require just a 40 FPP buy-in.

Sit-and-Go’s

Not to be left out in the cold are Sit-and-Go players. From February 14th through February 21st, special 40-man Sit-and-Go’s will be held with buy-ins of $1.10, $11, $22, and $55. In addition to the regular prize money, an additional $40,000 prize pool will be divided up amongst the winners of each tournament at the different buy-in levels. For example, if 500 Sit-and-Go’s are held at the $22 level, the winners of each will receive $80. Of course, should a player win more than once, he will receive that cash bonus each time.

First Time Depositors

Those who have never played at PokerStars for real money can join in the fun by making their first deposit using the code “F40″ and receive an entry into 40 different $1,000 freerolls. The freerolls will run February 14th through February 21st five times per day.

VIP Club

Everybody, regardless of VIP status will receive a one-time, instant $40 dollar cash credit for earning 2,500 FPPs during the F40 promotion.

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