Taking Advantage of Online Poker Promotions

The growth of online poker over the past 10 years has created a multi-billion dollar industry that encompasses millions of online poker players and quite a few online poker sites. The expansive growth has also greatly increased the competition between online poker sites. Online poker sites are constantly competing to lure new players. In addition, online poker sites are constantly fighting to retain the players that they do have. Online poker sites use promotional offers to battle both of these challenges. The primary promotional areas in which players can gain the most from are sign-up bonuses, reload bonuses and loyalty programs.

Sign-up Bonuses

Just about every online poker site in the industry offers sign-up bonuses. The standard bonus offer is a 100% match to a player's first deposit amount. The bonus is usually capped at a certain dollar amount and players typically have to release the bonus in installments as they earn points of some sort. Points are generally the same concept at every online poker site but the name of these points varies depending on what the online poker site decides to call them. Sign-up bonuses usually offer the biggest opportunity for players to earn free money. Some poker sites will have a portion of the sign-up bonus being offered as an instant bonus. The instant portion will be available for play immediately and does not fall subject to clearing requirements. It's like most other business markets; new customers get the best deals and the biggest breaks in efforts to get them in the door.

Reload Bonuses

Reload bonuses are a way to keep players around. Players make their first deposit and they may be an inexperienced player that burns through their bankroll rather quickly. The idea behind a reload bonus is to entice the player to make another deposit and in exchange, the player gets another deposit bonus. Reload bonuses are usually a percentage that is lower than the initial sign-up bonus offer. Reload bonuses are normally released in installments in identical fashion to sign-up bonuses. An online poker site's clearing requirements or process of releasing bonuses usually remains the same for all bonuses despite the type of bonus. Reload bonuses are another way for players to earn more free money. Players that can play break-even poker and release their bonuses quickly can profit just by making deposits and getting free bonus money.

Loyalty Programs

Loyalty programs are sometimes also called rewards programs or VIP programs. These programs are used to reward players with player points that may also be referred to as Frequent Player Points (FPPs), VIP Player Points (VPPs), Player Points, "poker site's name" Points or something very similar. These points are rewarded to players for playing real-money games at the online poker site. Players can use player points to buy-in to promotional events or enter satellites to win a seat into a live poker event. Players can also use points sometimes to purchase merchandise at the online poker site's online store if they have one. Players that achieve a certain status within the loyalty program may also be eligible for additional perks and benefits.

Lastly, another way for players to earn extra cash at online poker sites is by referring a friend. Most online poker sites will give players a nice bonus for referring a friend to the site. The bonus is still subject to clearing requirements and the referred player may have to play a certain amount of raked hands before the bonus is awarded. Each of the outlined promotional opportunities are ways that online poker players can earn free money, added perks and possibly get free entry into profitable promotional tournaments and/or events. Some online poker players are not the greatest poker players but they break even and consistently profit solely through promotional offers. There is money to be made if players seek out these opportunities and take advantage of them.