About Poker Bonuses
A poker bonus is a promotion that online poker sites use to attract new players. The basic gist of most online poker bonuses is that you get a certain percentage added to your first deposit at that poker site. Every poker site offers a deposit bonus of some sort and these bonuses are a great tool for building a bankroll.
A typical poker bonus is worth about 100-150% for up to $500 or so extra. For example, if a poker site is giving a 150% bonus and you deposit $200, you will get an extra $300 added to that. So instead of having a $200 bankroll, you would have a $500 bankroll.
Clearing a Poker Bonus
Online poker sites use “clearing requirements” to make sure you actually play poker while there. These clearing requirements stipulate that you must play a certain number of hands to release the bonus cash. This is done to prevent people from signing up, depositing, getting a $500 bonus and then leaving with the money.
At most poker sites that bonus money is released in increments of $5.00 or $10.00 at a time. As you play poker and earn frequent player points, the bonus money is released to your real money account. These increments are paid until the entire bonus has been cleared. The clearing requirements for most poker bonuses are not terribly burdensome.
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Using a Referral Code
A poker referral code (or bonus code) is a sort of coupon code that players use to claim their bonuses. When you make an account at a poker site, you are asked for your “referral code” at some point during the process. Just type in your referral code and your account will be flagged to receive your bonus.
Some online poker sites don’t require referral codes or bonus codes to get your bonus. Those sites just automatically add the bonus to every new player’s account. The main purpose of those referral codes is simply to track marketing campaigns. Many poker players know this but they like to play it safe and type in a bonus code anyways.
Are poker bonuses a good deal?
Every poker bonus I’ve run across over the years has been a good deal. Some are much easier to clear than others, but none of them have been a bad deal. I always use a referral code when signing up because there are no obligations to clear it. If the bonus isn’t a good deal, you can simply cash your money out and go somewhere else.
The idea of clearing requirements bothers some new players but it’s not hard to see why the policy exists. There’s no way poker sites could survive if they gave out bonus money with no questions asked. If poker sites didn’t use clearing requirements, anyone could just deposit, get the bonus and then cash right back out.
Most importantly, poker bonuses are a great tool for building the bankroll. There is no easier way to build your bankroll than to get a bonus. You’re going to be playing poker either way, so you might as well get the bonus. Every little bet helps when you’re trying to build a bankroll or earn some extra spending money.