10-18-08, LearnTexasHoldem:

How to clear a poker bonus

When you register an account and deposit real money at an online poker room you usually receive a bonus. This sign up bonus can be as much as a 100 % on your first deposit (and sometimes even more). To clear the bonus and release it to your account you usually have to meet certain criteria.

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

When you make a deposit at a poker room to receive a bonus, the site won't just give you the money. That would be a loosing proposition for them. To make sure that the poker room doesn't loose any money on their bonuses they set up rules that have to be followed.

Rake
To clear a bonus you usually have to play a certain number of raked hands or accumulate a certain number of points. Each time a poker hand is dealt and money is put into the pot, the poker room will take a certain percentage of the pot as a fee for providing the game. This is called rake and its how the poker rooms make their money. So easily speaking you have to rake a certain amount in order to clear a bonus.

How this amount is calculated differ between poker rooms. The most common way to clear a bonus is by accumulating a set amount of points and these points are usually based on how much you rake. On some poker rooms you have to play a certain amount of raked hands and on others you have to rake a set sum (usually about the same as the size of your bonus). Most bonuses have to be cleared within a set time limit.

Larger bonuses are harder to clear
As a general rule it can be said that a larger bonus is harder to clear than a smaller one. All bonuses have a match percentage. Say you make a $100 deposit and receive a 200 % bonus match; this means that you receive a $200 bonus on your deposit. The match percentage can be anything between 25 % and several hundred percent. High match percentages are great, but remember that they also make the bonus harder to clear.

Choose wisely
Always choose a bonus suited for the way you play. It's better to receive a smaller bonus that you can clear than to go after a large one that you have a hard time clearing. Also look at how much time you have to clear the bonus. Make sure to read the rules for the specific bonus, available at the poker room's web site. Bonuses are a great way to build your bankroll, make sure to get the best possible deal when you sign up at a new poker room. To have a look at our Best Poker Bonus top list is a good start. Good luck!

 

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