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The Complete Guide to Online Poker Bonuses and Promotions

In the latest section of our online poker guide we decided to drop some knowledge on online poker bonuses and promotions. Most poker websites simply explain what bonus they're offering and what bonus code you can use to get it, but we wanted to go a little more in depth. The articles below will explain every single aspect of online poker bonuses so you can make informed and sensible decisions about your bonus plays.

Bonus Whoring Guide

"Bonus Whoring" is the act of bouncing around from poker site to poker site in order to take advantage of each site's bonuses and promotions. Learn if bonus whoring is profitable, and if so, how you can do it.

How do Poker Bonuses Work?

Learn how online poker bonuses work. We explain the different types of poker bonuses, their advantages and disadvantages, clearing requirements, percentages and bonus maxes, and more.

Why do Online Poker Rooms Offer Bonuses?

Most players who are new to online poker wonder why online poker rooms offer so much "free money". This article aims to explain why the poker rooms offer huge sign up bonuses, and how they make money off of them.

Types of Poker Bonuses

Learn about every single type of online poker bonus/perk, including initial sign-up bonuses, reload bonuses, rakeback, no-deposit bonuses, new depositor freerolls, and more.

Poker Bonus Terms

On this page we have a poker bonus "dictionary", where we list and explain the meanings of several popular and crucial poker bonus terms and phrases. Bonus terms can be tricky, so make sure to read up.

Poker Bonus Problems and Restrictions

Learn the most common issues with poker bonus clearing requirements, and also check out our list of four ways to clear your poker bonus as fast as possible.

How Long Does it Take to Clear a Normal Bonus?

Learn the average clearing requirements for an online poker bonus, and how long it generally takes for you to earn your bonus money after depositing for the first time.

Shared Rake vs. Contributed Rake

There are two main forms of rake calculation used by online poker rooms - the shared rake model and the contributed rake model. This article describes each model and how they affect rakeback/bonus clearing.

What Matters Most When Choosing a Bonus?

This article takes a look at the different aspects of a poker bonus, including the percentage match, the dollar amount, and the clearing requirements, and determines which aspect is most important.

Deposit Sizing

Most poker bonuses are a % match with a cap, meaning that you can receive a match on any deposit size up to a certain amount. This article teaches you if you should go for the gold or be careful with your 1st deposit.

The Five Best Online Poker Bonuses

If you are looking for the best bonuses in online poker, check this article out. We rate our five favorite online poker bonuses, and explain why each bonus is so valuable.

Our Ten Favorite Bonus Resources

Check out this article to find ten of our favorite poker bonus websites and resources. Once you have read our entire guide you can check these sites out to learn even more. We also have a poker bonus directory too.

Poker Room-Specific Bonus Guides:

We also have written detailed analyses of various online poker bonuses. Read these articles to learn more:

  • Betfair Poker Bonus Guide - Betfair offers your choice of sign up bonuses, ranging from $50 to $2,500 offers. Players earn points to clear the bonuses, and these points can also be used to redeem special prizes/offers.
  • Bodog Poker Bonus Guide - Bodog offers a 110% up to $1,100 sign up bonus (10% of which is an instant bonus), a Bad Beat bonus, and Bodog Point promotions.
  • Full Tilt Poker Bonus Guide - Full Tilt offers a 100% up to $600 sign up bonus, entry into a new depositor freerolls, and rewards via the Full Tilt Point program.
  • Mansion Poker Bonus Code - Mansion offers a 100% up to $500 sign up bonus, entry into the Mansion Club rewards program, and a slew of creative promotions.
  • PKR Poker Bonus Guide - PKR offers a 100% up to $800 sign up bonus, entry into the PKR poker rewards program, and a first depositor freeroll.
  • PokerStars Bonus Guide - PokerStars offers a 100% up to $600 bonus over a player's first three deposits, occasional reload bonuses, and a first depositor freeroll.
  • Sportsbook Poker Bonus Guide - Sportsbook.com offers a 100% up to $1,000 sign up bonus, reload bonuses, a first depositor freeroll, and entry into their top-rated player rewards program.
  • Titan Poker Bonus Guide - Titan Poker offers a 100% up to $500 sign up bonus, reload bonuses, a first depositor freeroll, and entry into their player rewards program.

Ready to Earn Bonus Money?

Now that you know everything there is to know about poker bonuses and promotions, check out our list of our favorite online poker bonuses. We compare several bonuses to find the top offers, which are listed on this page.

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