Citeulike is a self-governing website that offers comparisons of various online casinos. It includes affiliate links, which could result in us receiving a commission if you decide to accept any of the offers we list. Our expert team focuses on identifying top-notch bonuses and safe casino options for your gaming experience. We meticulously evaluate each bonus prior to incorporating it into our site.
The Citeulike guide to theĀ best online poker bonus offersĀ is a comprehensive resource to discovering and claiming awesome incentives and promos in the UK. Not only do we recommend great deals, but we also provide insights into different types of online poker bonuses, including key-highlights and tips to maximize your poker experience. If youāre wondering what theĀ best poker bonusĀ is for you and why playthrough requirements are important, keep reading as our experts reveal the vital must-know facts and information.
Getting your hands on one of the best online poker bonuses is easy when you know how. However, we understand that newcomers to the poker industry may not be familiar with theĀ deposit methodsĀ or steps to take or processes when signing up. Below, we have provided a simple step-by-step guide that walks you through each pace from registration to claiming your poker bonus and cashing out.
Click on the online poker bonus you like the look of to head over to the operatorās website.
Hit the Sign Up button and fill in the registration form to create a new player account.
Drop by the cashier and make a first deposit using your chosen payment method. Be sure to enter your promo code during this step if you have one.
Immediately receive your online poker bonus. Bonus funds are credited to your account as part of your bankroll or shown separately as bonus credit.
In the steps above, we have provided guidance on claiming a poker welcome bonus that is activated on your first deposit. To find out more about the other different types of bonuses available at online poker sites check out the segment below.
Types of Online Poker Bonuses
Online poker bonuses come in all shapes and sizes. The evolution of the poker industry over the last decade has meant that operators have introduced new ways of attracting new players. As a result, demand for poker bonuses has increased and a variety of different types have emerged onto the market. Our experts have outlined the most popular poker bonus types below.
Welcome Bonus
Welcome bonuses are without a doubt the most popular in the online poker industry. Sometimes referred to as a first deposit bonus or deposit match bonuses, this bonus type provides you with your first ever offer at a new poker site.
As set out in the poker roomās promotional materials, you will get a specified amount of bonus money that is relative to your deposit. For example, if you deposit $100 and the welcome bonus gives you 100% deposit match, then you will receive $100 more money free in poker bonus credit. Giving you a total of $200 in your poker account to play.
There are a few points to note about welcome bonuses that are important to understand. Some offers include more than one match bonus across multiple deposits, the match rate can vary between 25%-500%, a minimum deposit amount is required to activate the bonus and some sign up bonuses are unlocked in stages rather than all at once.
Reload Bonus
Reload bonuses are popular with poker players because they are primarily for existing customers, rather than new ones. A reload bonus is offered by most poker sites that value their players and want to reward loyalty with ongoing rewards. Essentially, reload bonuses are the same as deposit match bonuses in the sense that the online casino will match your deposit with a percentage of bonus funds to use on cash games.
Unlike first deposit bonuses that are connected to your initial deposit, your cash, plus reload bonus funds ātop upā your account with an instant bonus. Many of the best poker sites provide reload bonuses at regular intervals, such as weekly or monthly, and offer 100% match. However, the average amount offered as part of a reload bonus tends to be around 25%-50%. For instance, when you reload your account with $100, you will be rewarded with $25 at a match rate of 25% ā no bonus code required.
Tournament Tickets
Poker tournament tickets are offered by some online poker rooms as part of a sign up bonus. They allow you to bypass paying tournament fees known as Buy Ins. Poker sites typically offer tournament tickets to new players as a taster and to become familiar with how competitive games work.
Each tournament ticket is a virtual voucher with a fixed value that operates in a similar way to a bonus code. You can use your free tickets to play money games like Sit and Goās and enter poker tournaments at legal online poker sites with a regular event schedule. Tickets for tournaments are usually redeemed on poker games with the exact same Buy In value as the ticket, such as a $30 ticket gains one entry to a $30 Buy In tournament.
No Deposit Bonus
No deposit bonuses are some of the best bonus offers you can find at online poker sites. This type of offer differs from other offers because you can collect a free bonus without spending a single dollar. Simply register at a new online poker site and collect your free cash bonus offer. For example, create a new account and receive $25 free signup bonus. Funds are credited instantly and you can enjoy free poker games with other online poker players for money. Best of all, you can keep what you win!
Bear in mind that when you join and claim your free signup bonus without deposit, you may be required to enter payment details during your registration. This does not mean that you are required to deposit any of your own cash. The joy of a good poker bonus is that you can compete with other online poker players to get a feel for the game and site you have joined. Be sure to use your funds before the bonus expires as no deposit bonus offers tend to have a quick turnover time.
Referral Bonus
Have you ever enjoyed something so much that you told your buddies about it? With a referral bonus, you can get free bonus funds when you refer your friends to the online poker sites you are enjoying. Login to your account and grab your unique referral links or poker bonus codes. Pass them on to people you know and when they sign up and add money to their account, you will receive a free bonus. Unlike a match bonus, this is triggered automatically when your friend joins and makes a qualifying deposit on their account. Additionally, there are often no limits on the amount of friends you can refer to the poker rooms you love, giving you endless opportunities to claim unlimited bonus funds, such as $100 per referral.
Vip Bonus & Exclusive Offers
Qualifying for a VIP bonus or exclusive offer means that you get extra special rewards that can be attributed to the amount of time you have been a member or the number of points you have accrued on your poker journey. These bonuses are often unique and exclusive for you or a handful of players that deserve bigger and better rewards. Some VIP programs are also tiered, allowing you to earn progressive rewards the more you play and climb up the ladder. Additionally, VIP bonuses that are awarded as first deposit poker bonuses are usually reserved for big money players such as high rollers, who are looking to deposit large amounts of cash and play at big money poker rooms with large bets and high limits. For instance, signup to a VIP bonus poker offer, deposit $1000 and get $1000 free. Some online poker room operators may also allow you to use your bonus funds to play casino games on their site, providing they offer different products across various verticals.
Bonus Playthrough Requirements Explained
Whether you are new to playing online poker or a seasoned player, itās crucial that you understand the rules and terms and conditions of a new bonus offer. Each poker site on the international market offers players the chance to claim free bonus funds, but by doing so you are entering into an agreement. The agreement between you and the poker site comes in the form of playthrough requirements, sometimes called wagering requirements.
Therefore, when you make a deposit, poker bonus funds are attached to the amount you add to your account. This means that the amount of free bonus money you receive is relative to your deposit. For example, deposit $50 get $50 free. You can then use this amount to calculate your playthrough requirements, which are represented as a multiplication, e.g. 10 x your bonus funds ($50), equals $500. This is the amount of wagers you must playthrough before you can withdraw winnings. Itās worth noting that the best poker welcome bonuses are the ones with the lowest playthrough requirements, making it easier to withdraw the money you win. Also, bear in mind that some poker websites use playthrough requirements to release bonus funds in stages rather than awarding your bonus all in one go. An example of this using the same calculation is $5 bonus released for every $50 wagered.
Tips to Use Poker Bonus Like a Pro
At Citeulike, we have an experienced team of poker experts that live an active online poker life. We are able to provide you with top tips to maximize your poker experience and use poker bonuses like a pro. Below, we have outlined a few of the best tips that will enhance your experience and put you up there with the top players on the market.
Look for online poker bonuses with low or zero wagering requirements so you can cash out whenever you want.
Claim a poker bonus with plenty of new players, also known as fish, that are weak or inexperienced. You can then meet the playthrough requirements more quickly and unlock your winnings.
Use reload bonuses to continuously increase your bankroll weekly and mitigate your losses.
Redeem free tournament tickets to bypass event fees or Buy Ins and be in with a chance of landing a big pot of cash for free.
Grab a no deposit poker bonus to try out new games and experience real money poker with zero risk.
Use your bonus funds to play at multiple poker tables for a quicker turnaround on cash games.
Conclusion
Overall, first deposit poker bonuses at legal online poker sites provide the best value for new players. But there are plenty of ongoing promotions you can use to enhance your poker room experience and maximize your chances of winning. As you can see from our guide, we show you just how lucrative and advantageous it can be to play poker cash games with additional bonus funds. Not only can you play more games more often, due to an increased bankroll, but you can also use the funds that poker sites offer to play with higher limits and bigger Buy Ins. In light of this, you can enjoy real money games with the real possibility of making a good chunk of cash in the process. Just be sure to check any wagering restrictions before you play so you fully understand the rules of the game, along with the terms of the bonus.
FAQs
A good poker bonus is considered one that offers you the best value for money with low or no playthrough requirements. This may be in the form of no deposit or deposit match.
Poker sites use bonuses and promotions to attract new players and encourage you to sign up. Ongoing offers and rewards are also used to reward your loyalty for sticking around.
If you want a big boost to your bankroll you should take the biggest bonus you can find. However, the biggest bonuses often come with the highest playthrough requirements, which can make accessing your winnings difficult further down the line.
No, signup bonuses are offered as a one-off welcome bonus when you register. You can claim consecutive and additional bonuses which are called reload and loyalty bonuses.
My personal and my teamās goal was always to recommend the best gaming operators to our readers. We have years of experience on our backs and know what players look for in an online casino. Our legit gambling websites have been thoroughly tested so you can get an honest and transparent overview of what to expect.
Emily Campbell (professional name) is our go-to person, and she has served as our Chief Editor since 2018. Educated at Newcastle University, Emily has worked in the marketing industry across the UK, helping various companies to gain traction and to build up quality, value-driven information aimed at readers.
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