Poker Stars Marketing Code; How does it work?

I was just wondering how this code works when depositing money onto PokerStars... I will be using a Visa Debit Gift card with 25$ on it, not entirely sure if PokerStars takes it, but I will find out.. Would there be any way to get more money out of this by using that code (cardschat or something), or should I use another site? Kinda just sounds like a scam to me, but what do I know. Also, is there some sort of time limit or amount of hands needed to be played until I can deposit that money to my bank, or wherever I'll deposit it? One last question with the visa debit gift card, can I put more money onto it in the future instead of having to buy another one +4$ for it?
Sorry for all of the questions, first time doing this, but any help at all would be greatly appreciated, and then I can leave you guys alone , love the forums tho, so much useful information and tips in it!

Re: the marketing code. Use the code CARDSCHAT on the sign-up form and then the code 'first2008' when making a deposit. You will get a 100% up to $50 deposit and then $25 extra (as a cardschat promotion) when you reach 100FPPs (by playing raked hands). I'm unsure of the time limit but I'm sure it's easy to clear and/or unlimited time.

The bonus requires 10xFPP to clear, meaning if you deposit $50+, to get the max $50 bonus credit you have to play 500FPP worth of hands. But you have six months to do it, so it shouldn't be a problem unless you bust your bankroll and decline to deposit more money. You only earn FPP for real money games in which the rake reaches a certain amount. It can be harder at the penny stakes games because they don't earn enough rake, but that's where you should spend your first several weeks or months if you don't already have a strong game. Six months is enough time to graduate up to earning plenty of FPP if you practice good strategy and learn all you can. I waited about 4.5 months before actually earning FPP, and cleared my 500FPP in about three weeks of just infrequent playing.

At least that's they way it worked when I signed up under the 2007 bonus plan, I'm just assuming the 2008 bonus plan works the same.

Wish I knew about the CardsChat bonus when I signed up, the extra $25 would have saved me a later deposit.

Regarding the gift card, if it's an All Access VISA it should work at Stars based on what I've read. Almost any other type of credit or gift card likely won't work. There are two different types of All Access cards -- the $4.95 cards are one-time use only, the $9.95 cards are reloadable but charge a fee for each reload as well as a per-transaction fee from what I recall. If you don't plan to deposit frequently (and if you play properly and practice BRM, you shouldn't), then I'd say the one-time-use cards are probably the better value.

As far as being "a scam," I'm not sure what you're referring to. I can assure you that PokerStars themselves are NOT a scam operation.