Making the Most out of Your Poker Bonus

George | December 13, 2007

No deposit bonuses or first deposit bonuses are plentiful, but they aren’t worth much if you don’t know how to maximize them.

On this site, Online Poker Sites US, we see many players choosing free online poker money and instant poker bonuses. Let me tell you a bit about them and how to get the maximum value out of each.

No deposit bonus

The no deposit bonus is usually given instantly to welcome new players. As the name suggests, no deposit is needed to get some free cash into your poker bankroll. This is very appealing to new poker players.

Unfortunately, many beginning players don’t see the real value of free money. They often treat it like play money, playing impatiently and above their skill level, without considering bankroll management.

To get the most out of it, treat the free online poker money seriously. It’s wise to play cash games exclusively, so you’ll have a decent shot at generating enough Action Points. Be prepared for this to take a while when playing micro stakes poker.

Instant poker bonus

An instant poker bonus, also known as direct cash bonuses, is given to players for making a (small) deposit. This bonus is paid out instantly and can be used to play poker right away.

However, there is a common problem with instant poker bonuses. Players often make small deposits just to get some free poker cash, forgetting they are wasting a one-time first deposit bonus. It’s advised to make a significant first deposit to get the most out of it. Here are a couple of examples:

$20 + 150% up to $500

Deposit: $20
Receive: $40
First deposit bonus: $30

First deposit bonus

You’re better off with instant poker bonuses as explained above since you’ll benefit from both deals. Unfortunately, not all online poker sites promoted on OnlinePokerSitesUS.com offer them. Sometimes, you want to play at a specific room for a certain promotion. Again, don’t waste your precious first-time deposit bonus!

Reload bonus

The reload bonus is very valuable to frequent poker players. This might not be your biggest concern if you are new to the game. However, if you’re a daily poker player and make regular deposits, this is something to consider when choosing an online poker site.