Online Poker Rooms more often than not will offer a sign up bonus as an incentive for you to join their sites. For many experienced online players bonuses offer a genuine and dependable source of income. If played right, poker bonus codes, reload bonuses and sign up bonuses can be used to reap huge rewards but even if not, they’re sure to provide you with a bit of free cash to lay down at the tables.
What is a Bonus?
Most online poker sites offer two types of bonus, a sign up bonus and a reload bonus. In this article we are going to discuss sign up bonuses. Unlike reload bonuses sign up bonuses offer the cash on first creating your online account and making your first deposit rather than to existing customers. Typically the bonuses offered range from about $50 – $1000. Right now however Hollywood Poker is offering a 1000% bonus up to $5000. The amount of the bonus actually received will be dependant upon the amount of your initial deposit. For example, a $600 bonus (specified as 100% matched) will give you $600 for an initial $600 deposit. If you were to only deposit $300 the matching bonus would be 100% of your deposit or $300 rather than the advertised $600. The same bonus, specified as 50% matched would only give you $300 for a $600 initial deposit. On the other hand, some major sites offer absolutely huge bonuses. For example. Absolute Poker is currently offering 150% bonus up to $500. For every $100 you initially deposit you will receive $150! So, as you can see, by just breaking even in online poker rooms you can take home some additional free cash.
How does a player Qualify to Receive the Bonus?
Most bonuses require you to play a certain number of hands or rake a specific amount of money in order to qualify. Make sure you always know what this is before you start playing. It is worth bearing in mind that most larger bonuses are harder to clear, while some of the smaller ones are surprisingly easy to claim.
Why do Poker Sites Offer These Bonuses?
Most savvy bonus hunters play the required number of hands or rake the required amount of money and then repeat the process at another online poker site. However, for every one person who does this, there will always be considerably more people who keep on playing at the same room. So in the long run, offering a bonus, however big, is a worthwhile thing for poker sites to do. If you want to make dependable money from bonuses, the trick is knowing when to cash-out and move on to the next site.
Most experienced bonus hunters will try and play the number of required hands as soon as they can by playing at as many tables at once as possible. This is a great technique for an experienced player who can keep up with multiple tables and the quickest way to pick up and clear a sign up bonus. Many players feel more confident when playing with the safeguard of someone else’s, the poker sites, money, so you may find you perform better and more confidently when doing so.
Summary
If you are a half decent player, there is a lot of money to be made by playing with online bonuses. Make sure you know when to stop and always read the terms and conditions and you could find yourself making a surprising amount of money relatively easily. Here at YourPokerBonusGuide we have been taking advantage of online poker bonuses for some time. Why not try playing one bonus through every day and see how much you can make in a week! If the sites require a code they will say so, if not just use the link provided on our Poker Reviews/Bonus page.
Good luck!