Even though the poker market is no longer as large or as chaotic as it once was, there are still many licensed poker sites available. They all try to entice new players to their sites by offering a poker bonus.
So, all poker sites offer new players a poker bonus in some form. Paidpoker.co.uk has found the best.
The Poker Bonuses Work
Giving your players a poker bonus is simple. One of the most common is to double the player's first deposit up to a certain amount, as in casino games or sports betting.
Unlike a casino bonus, which is usually credited immediately after the play-through requirement is met, a poker bonus is usually credited after the play-through requirement is met, or at least partially met.
Some poker sites pay out your poker bonus in 10 parts, with each part being free to play, while others only pay out your entire poker bonus when the play-through requirement is 100% met.
Who has the best poker bonus among all UK poker sites? The fact that poker sites frequently change the size and conditions of their bonuses makes it difficult to give a definitive answer. And that's good because it means the poker sites are competing to give you a good bonus.
What is a Poker Bonus?
Most sports betting and casino bonuses are credited to your account once you've met the wagering requirements.
With a poker bonus, you deposit money to play with, and as you earn special "Player Points" (called different things at different poker sites), the bonus money is paid out either all at once or in small installments. It depends on the poker site, but you always have several months to play the bonus free.
It's difficult to give general advice on poker bonuses because the terms and conditions vary widely, so we always advise you to read the fine print.
Rakeback = Bonus
But why play a bonus free? There are no mysterious requirements for poker bonuses, and you never risk losing your winnings because you don't have time to play the entire bonus free.
So the bonuses, or "rakeback", carry no immediate risk. But rakeback?
When playing cash games or tournaments, you either pay the rake per hand or the entry fee. It's in small amounts, so you don't notice, but many streams are small. If you play a lot of poker, you pay a lot of rake, and a poker bonus can help you recoup some of that. So called “rakeback”.
Since the rake is taken from the pot/tournament anyway, why not get something back? A bonus can be worth thousands of dollars per month for some poker players, so take advantage of them.
It's nice to know that all poker sites have a VIP program where you can earn cash rewards based on how much you pay per month (or per year). If you play a lot of poker, learn about the site's VIP/loyalty program.
Good ole' days
If you know any older online poker players, you will hear them complain that things were better in the past. Maybe there's some truth in that. At least with poker bonuses.
When online poker first took off, poker sites offered new and existing players poker bonuses.
Some poker sites even called players and gave them free money with no wagering requirements to get them back to the tables. Reload bonuses, free cash bonuses, and the like are no longer common. In fact, most poker sites occasionally offer new bonuses to existing customers.
In a tightened market, where the focus is on sports betting and casino, poker is unfortunately pushed to the back when new promotions are launched by the providers. However, the poker sites listed in this poker bonus guide have a lot of poker player love. Other promotions, such as completing missions, can give you the equivalent of an extra poker bonus.