If you are an online poker player, one big decision you have is what poker site you're going to play at. Tons of factors go into this decision, including the poker software at each site, the poker player traffic, and also, the initial deposit bonus. This article is going to focus on the deposit bonus, because if you're a high limit player the money this bonus provides you is going to be very important. We'll teach you how to evaluate online poker bonuses, because more goes into a bonus than its size and percentage. Here's all the info that will show you how to evaluate online poker bonuses:
Poker Bonus Size:
The first thing you should analyze is how big of a bonus you're looking at. Make sure to check out both the percentage and the total money size, because both are important. Obviously, you're going to look for the higher options for both percentage and dollar size.
Percentage is actually more important, because a 200% up to $600 bonus is better than a 100% up to $600 bonus because in the first case you're only risking $300 to earn $600, but in the second you're risking $600 to earn $600. Of course, more goes into a bonus than just the size and percentage, so we'll look at that now.
Clearing Requirements:
The most important thing when it comes to a poker bonus is the clearing requirements. This is what determines if you actually get your bonus, or if it's just a temptation that lures you into the poker site. Most poker sites implement a "poker points" system that is used to determine how quickly you clear your bonus. To earn these poker points you have to play for real money, regardless if it's a ring game, tournament, or sit and go. By playing these real money poker games you'll rack up poker points at the respective site, and start to clear your bonus.
Another great quality of a good bonus is if it is clearable in increments. If the bonus can only be cleared by earning enough points for the full amount, it is less valuable than a bonus that can be cleared in $10 or $20 increments. Make sure to check out the terms on the bonus to see if you have to clear the full amount, or only an increment to start earning money.
Another fact that goes into determining a good bonus is how long you have to clear it. Some bonuses only allow players a month to clear them before they expire, but I'd recommend finding a poker site that gives you at least 90 days before the bonus expires. All of them will expire eventually, but the longer the better.
One more aspect that is important is how much traffic the poker room has. If the site only has a few players online at a time, it is going to be hard to earn enough poker points to clear the bonus. I'd prefer a room with more players with a smaller bonus, than a worse room with less players with a bigger bonus.
Poker Bonus Size:
The first thing you should analyze is how big of a bonus you're looking at. Make sure to check out both the percentage and the total money size, because both are important. Obviously, you're going to look for the higher options for both percentage and dollar size.
Percentage is actually more important, because a 200% up to $600 bonus is better than a 100% up to $600 bonus because in the first case you're only risking $300 to earn $600, but in the second you're risking $600 to earn $600. Of course, more goes into a bonus than just the size and percentage, so we'll look at that now.
Clearing Requirements:
The most important thing when it comes to a poker bonus is the clearing requirements. This is what determines if you actually get your bonus, or if it's just a temptation that lures you into the poker site. Most poker sites implement a "poker points" system that is used to determine how quickly you clear your bonus. To earn these poker points you have to play for real money, regardless if it's a ring game, tournament, or sit and go. By playing these real money poker games you'll rack up poker points at the respective site, and start to clear your bonus.
Another great quality of a good bonus is if it is clearable in increments. If the bonus can only be cleared by earning enough points for the full amount, it is less valuable than a bonus that can be cleared in $10 or $20 increments. Make sure to check out the terms on the bonus to see if you have to clear the full amount, or only an increment to start earning money.
Another fact that goes into determining a good bonus is how long you have to clear it. Some bonuses only allow players a month to clear them before they expire, but I'd recommend finding a poker site that gives you at least 90 days before the bonus expires. All of them will expire eventually, but the longer the better.
One more aspect that is important is how much traffic the poker room has. If the site only has a few players online at a time, it is going to be hard to earn enough poker points to clear the bonus. I'd prefer a room with more players with a smaller bonus, than a worse room with less players with a bigger bonus.
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