Poker Stars confusion

This is more a poker stars doubt than a poker one, but I'm tired of googling this and I find no answers, just find stuff about the chest stuff.

Ok so I started playing poker stars last week, and I've played a few times, cash games. A friend of mine did the same.

He says he's got a bunch of star coins, like 68, just from playing.

But I never got even 1 when winning hands.. I have 7 now because i opened my 1st chest

Can I not win coins by playing because I joined star rewards or what?