If you have spent any time at all on the internet you will have seen a banner ad for an online poker room or other online gambling sites offering a poker bonus for new players. These bonus offers can range from $10 or $20 up to $2.000! Many players with even a bit of experience of the online poker scene will be aware of these bonuses to some extent.

But it might be time well spent to consider these poker bonus offers. You never know, you just might learn something.
So, why do poker rooms offer bonuses to new players? Well, to get new players into their poker room, of course!

Ok, that makes sense. But what’s the catch?
There’s no catch really. They are called ‘bonuses’ but what that really means is a discount on the ‘rake’ that you pay the cardroom. Basically, the pokerroom is offering to give back a percentage of the rake that you will pay when you play at their poker room. And it’s only for a limited time – it’s a deposit bonus so when that runs out – when you have ‘cleared’ the bonus – you will then have to pay full ‘price’.
Bonuses were introduced into both online casinos and online poker rooms as a way of competing with the complimentary points systems available at resorts in Las Vegas.
Of course, some poker rooms offer ‘reload’ bonuses, bonuses on redeposits at the poker room – or even free poker money bonuses – but that’s another story.
Online Poker Bonuses are good for everybody, especially the player, and you should really get into the habit of always having a bonus to play for. When you clear the deposit bonus at your chosen poker room you should check to see if you are eligible for a redeposit bonus. If you are not, or there are no redeposit bonuses available at that room, maybe you could consider moving to a different poker room, opening an account and getting a bonus. Playing these bonuses properly can have a very positive effect on your profitability as a poker player.
The same advice applies to bonuses offered at an online casino, which can also be a great way for gambling slots players to build up their gambling bankroll if they are used properly.