How do Online Poker Bonuses Work?

A poker sign-up bonus is a feature that all online poker sites offer. It’s a special reward given to new players for signing up. The rewards are usually money, but some sites offer other prizes, such as free poker books. Some even give away a money deposit bonus and poker books. Since the point of poker is to win money, it’s important to understand how to find and sign up for these poker bonuses. In addition, you should familiarize yourself with the various types of poker sign-up bonuses because you want to find the best one for you.

How to Sign Up for Poker Bonuses

Signing up for a bonus is easy. Find an online poker site you’d like to try, and then search the Internet for its sign-up bonuses. You will find more than enough sites giving away codes you can use. When you find one you like, sign up for the site, and there will be an information box that you can enter this code into, unlocking your bonus.

Most sites use this deposit code method. Alternatively, you can also find some sites that have a download link that you click, and you’ll be able to use the bonus that way. The last method is easier, but seems more uncommon.

Types of Online Poker Bonuses

Before you sign up for any bonuses, learn the common types of poker bonuses to choose the best one for you:

No Deposit Bonus

This bonus is a rare find. All you have to do is sign up for a site with a no deposit bonus code, and you’re given some money to play with. The drawback to this bonus is that it’s always a low amount, about five or ten dollars. However, you don't need that much to start. Some players have built large bankrolls by starting with a no deposit bonus, and grinding it out at penny and nickel tables. It’s a great bonus for people who want to start playing online without risking any of their own money. Also, if you’re a good player looking for a challenge, there is no greater accomplishment than building a large bankroll with literally no personal investment.

First Deposit Bonus

This bonus gives you a reward for your first deposit. Sometimes, it’s a gift like free books, but usually these bonuses will match a percentage of your deposit. For example, if you deposit $100 at a site that offers a 50% first deposit bonus, then you’ll get $50 just for playing. You will have to clear this bonus, which means you will not see that bonus money until you play a certain number of hands chosen by the site. This is a popular bonus offered by poker sites, and some of them will even match you 100% on your deposit (like this one).

Of course, poker sites do have a maximum amount they will match, but it can be large, around $300 to $500 is the highest most sites go. If possible, deposit the maximum amount to get the most from your bonus. After all, you only get one first time deposit bonus at a site. However, clearing a large deposit bonus may take some time. If you don’t want to spend that much time clearing a bonus, then deposit less, or try a different bonus.

Rakeback Bonus

This could be the best poker sign-up bonus offered. A rake is how the poker room makes money. Every time someone wins a pot, a small percentage of that pot goes to the site hosting the game. That means even when you win your hands, you still lose a small amount of your winnings. Occasionally, a player can do well in a game, but still can’t beat the rake, meaning he’s only losing because of what the house rakes in.

A rakeback bonus offers you a percentage of your money back, about 30% to 40% on most sites. Also, this bonus does not expire, which is its best benefit. You’ll continue to receive your rakeback money as long you are playing. In the long run, this bonus is more worthwhile than others.

Every site offers bonuses like these. You can usually find a deposit bonus from the poker site itself, but some of the others can be hard to find. You may need to search around the Internet to find no deposit or rakeback bonuses. Now that you know what these bonuses are and how they work, you can figure out a strategy to use them that will increase your poker income.