Bonuses and rakeback

Most online poker beginners see bonuses offered by poker rooms as free money. While they do indeed provide some nice advantages, they’re definitely not free money: you’ll have to work to get your hands on them.

When a site advertises a 200% match on players’ first deposits, up to $500, what that means is that if you deposit $250, you’ll receive a $500 bonus. If you only deposit $50 though, you’ll only get $100. The bonus that you receive is by no means money ripe for the cash-out. It usually lands in a bonus account first, from where it’ll be transferred to your real money account as you unlock it. This is why it is extremely important that you understand the redemption requirements that come with your bonus.

In order to redeem your bonus, you’ll have to play in real money tournaments and cash games. You’ll earn poker points as you contribute rake, and your bonus will be released in direct proportion with the poker points generated. One may as well say that by unlocking your bonus you’ll be getting a part of the rake you generate back.

Some poker rooms feature more difficult-to-fulfill redemption requirements than others. Some bonuses expire, some are unlocked in smaller batches while others only in one lump sums. It is imperative that you be well informed on all these factors before signing up to a poker room with the goal to take advantage of their bonus deal.

Rakeback is like a generous bonus that never runs dry. You’ll be earning rakeback for as long as you play, and on every single cent of rake that you generate. Rakeback is a much better deal than any sign-up bonus, but since many poker rooms offer both, there’s no reason not to take advantage of them simultaneously.