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 Bonus Whoring: JEFFREYGB POSTS ONLY
NOTE: Wherever applicable, please click on the name of the poker room when signing up.
Introduction:
First, a note about bonus whoring. If you are already committed to the process and understand the reasoning behind it then go ahead and skip to the meat of the post (the write-up about each site).
Bonus whoring is, quite simply, the process of collecting bonuses at various poker sites while playing. This can be as simple as reloading every time you can at a single site, or as complex as playing a different site every day to capitalize on as much of the free money that's available as possible. Anyone can start bonus whoring at nearly any point. Once you have enough profit that you can afford to play where ever you want, bonus whoring becomes quite easy - you simply find the largest bonuses offered and play at the corresponding site to work it off. Before that happens, it may take a bit of creativity to find sites at which you can whore profitably.
Perhaps the most important consideration is why you would choose to bonus whore rather than simply play solid poker. The important thing to understand is that the two are not mutually exclusive. You can play solid poker and still bonus whore. The point is, bonuses are free money. If you're a winning player, you can still be a winning player while bonus whoring, but you can make significantly more by collecting bonuses along the way. Conversely, if you're a losing player, they can help to compensate you for some of your losses, however they will not make you money long term if the rest of your play loses you money. In either case, however, free money can only help. Eventually, most players will reach a point where they make more from rakeback than from any of the bonuses available. The bonuses become a miniscule profit compared to what you can make at even a single hand. Until that point, however, you might as well play for bonuses. It is, after all, free money.
Site discussion:
Note: all of this information is accurate as of May 2005 (according to the website of the poker site in question). In all cases, please check against the terms and conditions listed on their sites to make sure you fulfill all requirements for the bonus listed.
Some numbers:
Dollars available through bonus via this guide (assuming only one month of monthly bonuses): $6k+
Minimum deposit required to start: $0 (play the free $10 sites)
Cryptologic (CRL) skins:
CRL sites offer monthly bonuses. You can earn them every month! The major drawback is the $1 fee for withdrawing (if you don't have enough to leave a chunk of your BR in the site). Another drawback is that your first cashout must be around 2 weeks after you sign up, since Ecash mails you your pin. Here's a break down (note: with the addition of micro limits, it is probable that no bonus is given at stakes below 1/2 limit or .5/1 NL$100):
- Inter poker:
100% monthly deposit bonus up to $90. Raked hand requirement of 5x raked hands. For hands to count, you must be dealt cards and a rake of at least $1 must be taken. Usually this means that the total pot must be over $20 and there must be a flop (however you do not have to stay in to the flop). This bonus does not have an official expiration date (though their site reflects a possibility of expiration after 90 days), and you can stack it (meaning that if you deposit for several months in a row, you can clear all of it at once). Interpoker also offers various other bonuses, such as a $20 return bonus (for playing one hand) after they notice you haven't been active, as well as a variety of weekend bonuses.
- Sun Poker:
100% first time deposit bonus up to $50. Raked hand requirement of 5x raked hands. For hands to count, you must be dealt cards and a rake of over 1.00 must be taken (presumably meaning any level of stakes can qualify if rake is high enough). This bonus does not expire.
Monthly bonus of $40 for playing in 500 raked hands. This equals about 12x, however it is worth noting that during the first month, any hands played toward the initial deposit bonus also count toward the monthly bonus (making it worth clearing the first month, even if it's not worth it in future months). This bonus expires if not cleared by the end of the calendar month.
- PokerPlex:
Monthly bonus of $50 for playing in 300 raked hands. This equals about 6x. For hands to count, you must be dealt cards. Based on my experience, it appears that any hand at a raked table counts toward this bonus, whether or not rake is actually taken from the hand (specifically, I've twice cleared this bonus and only played a total of 616 hands at the site). This bonus expires if not cleared by the end of the calendar month.
- William Hill:
Monthly bonus equal to 25 pounds (around $50) paid out for 5 hours of play at 1/2 limit or .5/1 NL$100 tables. This bonus is paid out in hourly increments. Note: the bonus is not cleared faster by multi-tabling. If you want to multi-table, play at this site and another site, so that your hands at another site count toward that bonus. Any portion of this bonus not cleared by the end of the calendar month will expire. Another note about William Hill: they seem to be the only CRL site which does not use Ecash for handling their accounts. This results in much faster cashouts without the $1 fee.
Party Poker skins:
- Party Poker:
First time deposit bonus of 20% up to $100. Often, this may be increased to 30% up to $150, through use of the bonus code EXTRA30. The 20% bonus has a 5x raked hand requirement; the 30% bonus has an 8x raked hand requirement. Both bonuses will expire after 30 days. An additional bonus of 20% up to $100 is available for first time deposit using the deposit method IGM-pay (coupled with the IGMPAY bonus code). This has the same requirement and expiration as the initial deposit bonus.
- Empire Poker:
Same bonus structure as Party Poker. No EXTRA30 30% bonus.
- Intertops Poker:
Same bonus structure as Party Poker. No EXTRA30 30% bonus.
- PokerNow:
Same bonus structure as Party Poker. No EXTRA30 30% bonus. The bonus requires 10x to clear.
- Eurobet:
First time deposit bonus of 25% up to $50. 5x raked hand requirement. Bonus expires after 30 days.
- Multipoker:
First time deposit bonus of 20% up to $10. 20x raked hand requirement. Expiration unknown.
Prima skins:
Most Prima skins operate on a Bonus Redemption Point system. The result is different clearing requirements at different stakes of play. Further, some sites will only allow a certain portion of the bonus to be cleared at lower stakes. Raked hands are defined as hands in which at least $0.25 is raked. Further, for most sites, you must contribute to a raked hand for it to count toward the bonus.
- Boylesports:
$20 welcome bonus. Deposit at least $20, play 100 raked hands, and receive $20 in bonus. It may be necessary to email their customer service at [email protected] to receive the bonus. It could take up to 48 hours for it to be added to your account.
- Golden Riviera Poker:
First time deposit bonus of 100% up to $50. Requires 100 raked hands to clear.
- Expekt:
First time deposit bonus of 25% up to $50. 100 raked hand requirement.
- NordicBet:
First time deposit bonus of 25% up to $50. 100 raked hand requirement.
- City Poker:
First time deposit bonus of 20% (25% when using Neteller) up to $100. Clearing requirements of 5x ranked hands.
- Parbet:
First time deposit bonus of 25%. Requirements for clearing unknown.
- Bet365:
First time deposit bonus of $50 with deposit of at least $50. Requires 5x raked hands to clear.
- Bet Hold'em:
First time deposit bonus of 25% up to $100. Requires 7x raked hands to clear.
- Roxy poker:
First time deposit bonus of 25% up to $50. Requires 10x to clear.
- Wild Jack Poker:
First time deposit bonus of $30. Requires 150 raked hands to clear.
- Trident:
First time deposit bonus of $30 (after $25 deposit). Requires 350 raked hands above .1/.2 level.
- Grand Bay Poker:
First time deposit bonus of $30 after a minimum deposit of $30 and a minimum wager of $30.
- Aztec Riches, Poker Metro:
First time deposit bonus of 25% up to $50. $50 in rake required to clear bonus.
- 24Poker:
First time deposit bonus of 30% up to $124. Requires 10x raked hands to recieve the bonus, and another 10x raked hands to withdraw it, for a total of 20x raked hand requirement.
- Captain Cook's Poker:
First time deposit bonus of 50% up to $50. Requires 500 raked hands to withdraw bonus (however you can play with the bonus as soon as it is credited to your account).
- Bet On USA Poker:
First time deposit bonus of 20%. Clearing requirements unknown. $20 bonus for submitting your player profile ($10 if you do not include a picture).
- Crazy Poker:
$10 free with no deposit. 40% first time deposit bonus up to $40 (cleared after 100 raked hands).
- Royal Vegas:
$10 free with no deposit. 40% first time deposit bonus up to $40 (cleared after 420 raked hands).
- Golden Tiger, Poker Rewards, Virtual City:
First time deposit bonus of 50% up to $200. Clearing is based on Poker Rewards Loyalty points; 1000 raked hands are required for clearing the bonus (5x requirement).
- Colosseum Poker:
First time deposit bonus of 25% up to $100. Requires 1000 player points per $10 increment. Player points awarded based on stakes and amount of rake.
- The Gaming Club, Lucky Nugget, River Belle:
Up to $300 in bonus through BRP-based release. $20 is released each time a player earns an increment of 300 points. Points are released based on level of play - 1 point per raked hand (resulting in 15x required hands) @ .25/.5 level; 3 points per raked hand (resulting in 5x required hands) at .5/1 level and above. A maximum of 300 points may be earned at .25/.5; 400 at .5/1; 800 at 1/2; no max at higher levels. No limit tables are counted according to their blinds. Any uncleared portion of this bonus expires after 30 days.
- 7 Sultans Poker:
$200 bonus based on BRPs. 600 BRPs required for each $20. BRPs earned as follows: 1 BRP per hand earned at stakes below $2/$4; 2 BRP earned per hand at stakes from $2/$4 to $3/$6; 3 BRP earned per hand at takes from $4/$8 and above.
iPoker skins:
- Noble Poker:
100% first time deposit bonus up to $300. Bonus is cleared through crowns in a similar manner to The Gaming Club (however with no maximum at any level): 1 crown is earned for hands played at .25/.5; 2 crowns are earned for hands played at .5/1; 3 crowns are earned for hands played at 1/2 and above. Every 125 crowns you earn unlocks $10 (resulting in apx 12.5x raked hand requirement for .25/.5; 6x for .5/1; 4x for 1/2). Uncleared portions of this bonus expire after 4 months.
- CD poker, SportsInterAction, Diamond Club, Play Gate, Fair Poker, Prestige Poker:
25% first time deposit bonus up to $100. 10x required raked hands to clear the bonus.
Tribeca Table skins: Check out www.tribecatables.com to pick a skin. Most offer 25% up to $100. Bonuses are released according to an action points schema which is not fully explained. When choosing a skin, make sure it is open to US players - many Tribeca skins are not.
Pacific Poker:
25% first time deposit bonus up to $100. To clear this bonus, you must wager a total of $2000. This bonus is credited to your account immediately after making your deposit (meaning you can play with it; you simply can't withdraw it). Thus you can withdraw your deposit immediately after making it and play risk free.
Ultimate Bet:
20% first time deposit bonus up to $100. More than likely, you can find an FTR member to list as a referral (increasing the bonus to 50% up to $100). Clearing requirements are based on player points - $1 for every 10 points. Points are awarded based on stakes and amount of rake. This bonus is fairly slow to earn.
PokerRoom:
20% first time deposit bonus up to $100. Clearing requirements are based on player points - 7x points required to clear the bonus. Points are awarded based on amount of rake. If not cleared, the bonus will expire after 60 days.
Paradise Poker:
50% first time deposit bonus up to $100 (using bonus code GRANNY; 25% up to $50 without it). Clearing the bonus requires 10x required hands (though a point system is used). This bonus is released in $10 increments.
Absolute Poker:
First time deposit bonus of 35% up to $350 (or 50% up to $500 using Neteller). 10x raked hand requirement. Bonus is released in $10 increments.
Fulltilt Poker:
100% first time deposit bonus up to $600. Bonus is released through points: 1 point per dollar raked from a pot; each point is worth $0.06 in bonus.
Pokerworld:
50% first time deposit bonus up to $100. Bonus is released through points earned based on contribution to rake - for every $1 contributed to rake, you get $1 in bonus freed up. This seems like it would be slower to clear than many comparable bonuses.
JetSet Poker:
30% first time deposit bonus up to $225. Do not withdraw any portion of your balance before completing the bonus (or remaining bonus becomes ineligible). Bonus release varies depending on the rake taken from a hand, at a rate up to 1.5x required hands (though apx. 5x is more likely). Bonus is released in 5 equal installments. Uncleared bonus expires after 90 days.
Ladbrokes Poker:
25% first time deposit bonus from $12.5 to $100. Wager the entire amount of your deposit within 14 days of making the deposit to clear the bonus. Once you have done this, visit the Ladbrokes website, click on the promotions link in the poker portion of their site, and click the Claim button related to the bonus.
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