Poker Bonuses

Everybody loves a good online poker bonus. Bonuses are designed to help boost your bankroll and improve your overall online poker experience. However, with so many great online poker rooms out there, finding the ones with the best bonuses can be a real headache. If you’re looking to play real poker online, it’s paramount that you choose an online poker site that is reputable and trustworthy. Online poker bonuses are available through many websites that offer poker games.

Thankfully, we’ve done the hard work for you. On this page, you will find the best poker sites with generous welcome bonuses, VIP programs, and more. We will break down how to find:

  • The biggest welcome bonuses on the best sites.
  • The sites with the best terms & conditions and playthrough requirements.
  • A breakdown on how to find the best site to suit your needs.

What is a Poker Bonus?

A poker bonus is additional funds given to you by an online poker site. These poker bonuses often come in the form of deposit bonuses, where players must deposit some of their own money, and the online poker site will match a certain percentage of it. They’re a great way to boost your bankroll and make your money last longer, which is perfect for beginner players or players with a small bankroll.

Poker Sites With The Top Online Poker Bonuses

Ignition Poker Logo

Ignition 

Ignition Casino has a reputation as one of the best poker sites around. It scores high in all key areas including a variety of games, overall traffic, and importantly, some of the best online poker promotions.

Ignition Poker Review
BetOnline Logo

BetOnline 

BetOnline is a top-quality poker site. It attracts a range of players with different ability levels and is well-known for its selection of specialty games. The casino also offers a variety of tournaments for those with a more competitive streak.

BetOnline Poker Review
Americas Cardroom

America’s Cardroom 

If you’re going to call yourself America’s Cardroom, then you better be able to deliver some top-quality poker games. Thankfully, that’s exactly what this operator does. The site receives a high volume of traffic and regularly hosts tournaments with big prize pools. It also regularly runs some great bonuses and promotions.

Americas Cardroom Review
888 poker

888 Poker 

888 is one of the most established names in the iGaming industry. The operator’s poker brand offers the kind of quality that the company has become known for. There is a variety of games, as well a regularly updated selection of poker bonuses and promotions.

888 Poker Review
black chip poker logo on a black background

Black Chip Poker 

Fans of poker tournaments will love Black Chip Poker. The operator hosts some of the biggest tournaments on the web, with big prizes on offer every single day. Of course, there are also plenty of top bonuses available for new and existing players.

Black Chip Poker Review
Everygame Poker

EveryGame Poker

EveryGame is another poker operator with an outstanding reputation, offering a variety of games and plenty of traffic. The site offers a brilliant loyalty program as well as many other promotions for its customers.

Everygame Poker Review
Bovada Poker

Bovada 

Bovada is a favourite among online poker players. The site has a lot of experience and knows exactly what customers are looking for. This applies to its selection of tables, and its regularly updated promotions page.

Bovada Poker Review
Party Poker Logo

PartyPoker 

As its name might suggest, PartyPoker is one of the most fun online poker sites around. There is a ton of different games available, and the operator hosts regular tournaments. It also provides regular bonuses for its new and existing customers.

Party Poker Review
bodog alt

Bodog 

Bodog is an exciting poker operator. The site is one of the most innovative around, giving players the chance to test their skills at a range of different tables. It also entices players in with a generous welcome bonus and keeps them around with a selection of other promotions.

Bodog Poker Review

What is a Poker Bonus?

Online casino bonus, slot machine, casino chips flying realistic tokens for gambling, cash for roulette or poker,

A poker bonus is a tool used by operators to either get new players to join their site or to reward their existing customers. The way to collect a poker bonus will vary from operator to operator, but the basic principles will remain the same:

  • Log in to the site.
  • Head over to the bonus section or the player’s account.
  • Find the desired bonus and opt-in or enter any bonus codes you might have.
  • Playthrough your bonus, making sure to meet the required terms & conditions.

Types of Poker Bonuses

There are many different types of online poker bonuses that players will encounter. The following are among the most popular:

Match Bonus

The most popular type of bonus available at most poker sites is the match or deposit bonus. With this bonus, players are given bonus funds to use. These often equal a percentage of the player’s deposit. For example, players may receive a 50% deposit bonus on all deposits up to $200. In this instance, if they deposit $100, they will get an extra $50 to use as a bonus.

However, poker bonuses aren’t always that simple, and there a few things you should consider before taking the bonus, such as:

  • What are the minimum and maximum deposit amounts?
  • How much rake do I have to pay to clear this bonus?
  • How long does this bonus last before it expires?
  • Are any other sites offering a better matched percentage?

By doing this research before you accept the match bonus, you put yourself in a much better position to maximize its potential.

No-Deposit Bonus

A no-deposit bonus is when players are given bonus funds or tournament tickets without the need to deposit funds. These are often given as part of a welcome bonus and are not usually as big as a standard deposit bonus.

These bonuses are one of the best you’ll find, as they don’t require you to pay any of your money to be able to play. However, there are still some things you should consider.

  • How much is the bonus going to be?
  • Can you play the games you want to play with that bonus amount?
  • Are there any limits to the amount you can win?
  • What are the wagering requirements for the bonus?

Sometimes, if the bonus amount is very low and the wagering requirements are high, it might not be worth redeeming the bonus at all.

Reload Bonus

A reload bonus is very similar to a match bonus. It is given to existing players to reward them for making a deposit. Players are given the option to make another deposit and receive a match bonus after their welcome bonuses have been made.

When a poker site is feeling generous, they’ll distribute reload bonuses to their existing players, encouraging them to make another deposit. These reload bonuses can be a good way to boost your bankroll, but as always, you should consider all the factors before claiming it.

  • Is the reload bonus worth it, given the stakes you play?
  • Can you afford to deposit more money into your online poker account?
  • How much rake do you have to pay to clear your bonus?

Most reload bonuses don’t offer as much as your first deposit bonus, so for some players, it may not be worth it to claim the bonus.

VIP Bonus

If you’re a loyal customer of an online poker room, you may be rewarded with a VIP bonus. There are two main ways you can earn a VIP bonus:

  • You’re a regular depositor to the poker site.
  • You play a high volume of hands, resulting in a large amount of rake paid.

Depending on the type of VIP you are, you can earn rewards such as increased rakeback, tournament tickets, or additional perks that aren’t available to regular players.

Referral Bonus

Poker sites are always looking to find new players. A lot of top online poker sites will offer players incentives by the way of bonuses and extra funds to refer new players. In some cases, both the referrer and referred players will be credited with the bonus.

If you want to start referring players to your site, it’s a very simple process, and it works like this.

  1. You send your referral link to the player you’d like to join.
  2. They sign up for the poker room using your referral link.
  3. They deposit money into their account and start to play on the site.
  4. You (and potentially the new player) receive a reward for recruiting a new player. 

Sometimes, the reward can vary depending on the amount your player deposits, so try to pick your friends with the deepest pockets!

How to Clear your Poker Bonus

A mistake that players often make is assuming that a poker bonus is like a casino bonus and that once you’ve claimed your bonus, the funds will be sitting there in your account, ready to use. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, as poker bonuses need to be unlocked or “cleared” by playing real money hands and paying rake.

Most poker bonuses require you to clear a certain amount of rake to claim the full bonus value, with the bonus being released in increments as you play. The more rake you pay, the more of the bonus you clear, so you’re incentivized to play as many hands as possible to access your full bonus.

Unfortunately, you don’t get an unlimited amount of time to clear your poker bonus, as most expire within 30-90 days, depending on the terms and conditions of your bonus. Any funds that haven’t been cleared in this time will be lost forever, so make sure you only claim your bonus when you know you have time to clear it!

Tips For Clearing Your Bonus

If you want to ensure that you can clear as much of your bonus as possible, we’ve come up with some handy tips that will help you get what you deserve.

  • Read the Ts & Cs – Before claiming any poker bonus, it’s important to know the terms and conditions that apply. The Ts & Cs will tell you how long you have to claim your bonus, how much rake you need to clear to unlock it, and what increments it’s released in. Having this information allows you to plan out your schedule and give yourself the best opportunity to claim it all.
  • Choose a Bonus for Your Style of Play – Some poker bonuses may require you to play a certain type of game to unlock the rewards, so pick a bonus that’s focused on your preferred game. Don’t bother picking a cash game bonus if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool tournament reg, as you’ll find it hard to motivate yourself to play.
  • Pick Fast Poker Games – The aim of the game is to pay as much rake as possible to clear the bonus before it expires. Playing fast-paced games such as short-handed zoom poker or hyper turbo sit and gos allows you to pay rake at a faster rate, which gives you a better chance of unlocking your bonus. Think about it, would you rather play 300 hands of 6-max zoom an hour or 50 hands of a regular 9-max cash game?

Playthrough Requirements

Before you can get your hands on any winnings from a poker bonus, you will need to make sure you meet the playthrough requirements. Playthrough requirements are the number of times you will need to play through the bonus funds in order to withdraw them. In most cases, the playthrough requirements also referred to as wagering requirements, will include both the deposit and bonus amounts.

For example, a 10x playthrough requirement would mean that you have to play through the bonus amount 10x. Let’s say that, in this example, players have to work through both the bonus and deposit amounts. So if you deposit $100 and the bonus is $100, you will have to play through $2,000 before you can make a withdrawal from the bonus.

It is important to remember that this doesn’t mean you have to lose the amounts, you just have to wager it. If you lose your bonus amount, then you will no longer be tied to any playthrough requirements.

How to Get The Most out of Your Online Poker Bonus

There are tons of ways that players can make the most of their poker bonuses. The following are just a few examples of things players should do to make the most of their online poker bonuses.

  • Do Your Research & Find the Best Bonuses to Suit Your Needs.
  • Find the Best Playthrough Requirements.
  • Always Read the Terms & Conditions in Full.
  • Be Cautious Of Bonuses that Appear too Good to be True.

Best Online Poker Bonus FAQs