Best Poker Welcome Bonus
- Best Poker Welcome Bonus Games
- Best Poker Welcome Bonus Codes
- Best Poker Welcome Bonus Games
- Best Welcome Bonus Online Poker
Table Of Contents
Are you looking for the best poker bonus to play online for real money and challenge other players in games of Texas hold'em and Omaha poker? You are not alone.
The first deposit bonus is given to new players at most online poker sites and it involves a poker room matching your first deposit up to a certain amount. This is also known as a 100% first deposit bonus. There are some poker rooms which give a 200% first deposit which means your initial deposit is tripled. Mar 14, 2018 All the leading poker sites carry welcome bonus offers. These are typically sums of free cash, which are offered to players who make their very first deposit (or their first couple of deposits) at poker domains. The typical welcome bonus from an online poker site will follow a fairly standard format.
This page doesn't list all the online poker bonuses under the sun. We are PUMPED to announce that this new collection of poker offers features only the best poker bonuses to play online and access the most exciting real money games out there.
Continue reading to discover:
- and lots more
- While deposit bonuses will usually apply a 100% match to an initial transaction, reload bonuses generally range between 25% and 50%. Receive top sign up and reload bonus offers from online poker rooms that always welcome US poker players. Releasing an Online Poker Bonus at our Best Top Rated Poker Sites.
- See full list on cardschat.com.
In other words, if you are looking for the best online poker bonuses in 2020, you'll love this page.
Top Online Poker Bonuses in 2020
Bonus Spotlight
GG Poker
Right now, GG Poker provides a bonus of up to $100 in tickets for World Series of Poker satellite events. You can deposit at least $20 to get up to $100 in tickets. The site offers a 100% match bonus on your first deposit.
The tickets will be released to your account in a few days. If you have $100 in free tickets, $60 will be released over the first six days on your site. You can earn the remaining $40 in your bonus by completing challenges in the All-in or Fold games on the GG Poker website.
These include points where you have to win enough matches, or you have to attain certain things while you are playing. The site will provide details on what you need to do to meet these bonus requirements.
PartyPoker
PartyPoker is one of the oldest online poker sites around. When you register to play here, you get a first deposit bonus where if you add $10 to your account, you get $30 in free play tickets.
The bonus is good for most of the games on the site. You should ensure you use your free tickets soon, as they will expire seven days from the issue. But there are also plenty of games available where you can wager enough funds to cover everything.
The tickets are good for use on SPINS games on the site. The SPINS games are three-handed sit and go tournaments where a wheel will decide the value of the prize pool before the game starts.
You could potentially compete for a first prize total of $1 million depending on how much you spend on your ticket and whether the wheel lands on the 12,000x multiplier.
PokerStars
The next of the online poker bonuses on the list comes from PokerStars. You can choose one of two bonuses when you sign up for the website.
First, you can deposit $20 or more to get $30 in free play tickets. The offer is a traditional welcome bonus for tickets that you can use on many games.
Second, you can choose a different reward that offers a welcome bonus worth 100% of your first three deposits for the first sixty days after you sign up.
You can get up to $600 in free money through this offer. This second choice is for people who are looking to stick around for a while.
888Poker
You can get up to $400 in free money for use at 888Poker through the first deposit bonus available on the site.
Deposit $10 or more with the promo code WELCOME100 to get a 100% bonus of up to $400. The free money is good for use at freeroll games and poker tournaments.
But you will have to play through the poker games to release the extra funds. You will get $10 from your welcome bonus every time you collect 100 bonus points.
You will get two points for every dollar you spend on poker tournament fees and for every dollar you contribute to a poker ring game. You'll also get a point for every $10 you wager on casino games at the site, provided you are playing these games through your poker account.
Unibet Poker
Unibet offers an online casino and sportsbook to go alongside its poker room. But the first deposit bonus for the poker room is different from the other rewards available on the site.
Unlike most other first deposit poker bonuses, Unibet provides a no-deposit bonus. You'll get $20 in free money when you create an account. You may be limited as to what games you can play with your free money bonus and how much you can win at a time.
You can then get a welcome bonus of up to $200 depending on how much you deposit. You'll get a 100% match bonus on your first deposit.
You can then use your funds to enter various outstanding tournaments. You can enter events for the chance to qualify for the Unibet Open, among other competitions.
Bet365 Poker
Best Poker Welcome Bonus Games
The welcome offer at Bet365 Poker is 100% bonus of up to $100 on your first deposit. You must provide at least $10 for your first deposit to utilize this offer. You may also require a bonus code, but that code will vary based on your country or state, if you play from the United States.
You would also have to play through the bonus funds at least fifteen times before you can withdraw anything.
What Is a Poker Bonus?
Online poker bonuses are available through many websites that offer poker games. A poker bonus is a reward given to people who sign up to play games on a specific website. Poker bonuses exist to encourage people to play games and showcase the many things a poker rooms offers. Players can use these funds for various assets.
Types of Poker Bonuses
You can enjoy one of many quality poker deposit bonuses while you play online. These are offers that should be noted when you're looking for a great deal.
There are various rules surrounding what is open, so you should be aware of what you might find when looking for something of value. You should also review the rules for whatever you wish to collect, as every site has unique terms to note.
Match Bonus
A match bonus is the most common offer you'll find through an online poker room. Deposit bonuses work in that you will deposit a specific amount of money on a site.
You will then get bonus money based on the site's rules. For instance, you could deposit $50 and get a 100% match bonus, thus giving you $100 for play.
You will have to note a few things surrounding a match bonus. These rules should be open on the site you visit, but it does help to see what is open:
- How much do you have to deposit before you can qualify for the deposit bonus?
- Is this good for a first deposit bonus, or can it work for multiple deposits?
- What is the match rate? The rate is 100% in most cases, but it may be lower.
The match offer is a reliable choice, plus it gives you a great way to start playing anywhere. Check your website of interest to see what match bonuses are available where you wish to play.
No Deposit Bonus
It is one of the best online poker bonus options you can find. This is different from other online poker bonuses in that you don't have to place a deposit on a site to collect the pffer.
You will register for an account and then collect the free money for poker play. You don't have to spend any money on the no deposit bonus. You should review a few points surrounding how you can use your no deposit bonus:
- How much will you get out of your bonus? You might only get a few dollars.
- What poker games can you participate in with your bonus? There may be limits on what games you can play.
- How much can you win? You could be subject to a limit on how much you can win with your no deposit bonus money.
- Do you have to play through the bonus a few times? For example, you might get a $10 bonus with a 30x playthrough rate. That means you'd have to play through the value 30 times, meaning you have to bet $300 to withdraw anything.
You might also have to provide some payment information to the site to confirm your identity. You would not be charged anything when you do this and you collect your no deposit reward. But the data will be saved, so you can complete a real money deposit in moments when the time comes.
Tournament Tickets
A tournament ticket may be offered among first deposit poker bonuses. A ticket is a voucher that you can use to join a tournament. There are many rules to note for a ticket, including:
- The value of the ticket
- The type of tournament you can enter
- The number of tickets you can get, or how many entries you'll have for play
The rules for these tournaments will vary by each site. It is possible that you could win a great deal of money in a tournament, although this is all based on your skills and how well things can work.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses occur after the first deposit. You will collect your money off of a deposit you utilize to add more money to your account.
The offer is for people who stick around on a site and enjoy playing here, plus it encourages loyalty.
Reload bonuses aren't as substantial as first deposit poker bonuses. Whereas a first deposit bonus would entail a 100% match, a reload bonus might be worth 50 or 75%.
There might also be a limit over how much money you could collect. You might get up to $50 on a reload bonus instead of $100 or so. But a reload bonus will give you a great opportunity to play with more money, especially if you are satisfied with the website.
VIP Bonus
You can qualify for a VIP bonus if you stick around a website long enough and earn reward points. The offer can be the best online poker bonus for any player, what with it often having better terms than many welcome deposit bonuses.
You would earn a VIP bonus based on one of these factors:
- You might need to wager enough money in poker matches to qualify for the reward.
- The value of your reward might be higher if you spend more money on the site.
- People who complete more deposits on the site may also qualify for these extras.
You have to review the VIP bonus rules on your site when seeing what the rules are and that you have an idea of what you can do to qualify for them. Most places will automatically place you in the VIP club, but you might have to put in the effort depending on what you wish to utilize.
Referral Bonus
You can also utilize a referral bonus through some websites. A referral bonus works with a few steps:
- You will send a link to someone encouraging that person to sign up for a poker room.
- The person will sign up for an account through your link.
- The new member will deposit money and play on the site.
- You will collect a reward based on how much the player deposits and how much that person spends.
The terms for collecting a referral bonus vary, as your friend would have to deposit enough funds and play through them before you can collect anything. The total you will gather from the bonus will also vary by offer. The website can provide details on what you'll get from your work.
What Are the Playthrough Requirements and Why They Are Important
The best online poker bonus may include some playthrough requirements. These are rules where you have to play through your bonus funds enough times before you can withdraw the money.
These rules apply to ensure people who sign up and deposit funds aren't going to take out the free money right away.
The playthrough rule might entail going through the bonus value a few times. The total can vary by site.
Are Poker Bonuses Good or Not?
Poker bonuses are great for how they provide players with the opportunity to try out different poker sites. These deposit poker bonuses and other offers can help new players get started in enjoying online poker.
These bonuses also make the online poker industry more competitive. Every website will aim to produce the best online poker bonus, giving more rewards to new members. There's no limit as to what these virtual rooms can offer when producing the best bonuses around.
FAQs
You can use your bonus funds to play real money, although that depends on how much you have. You should review the value of your bonus and how much it would cost to enter a game.
The best online poker bonus is the one that fits your desire. You should look at how great a poker bonus is based on:
- how much you have to deposit
- what you will get in return
- the terms and conditions
- and any other rules that apply.
Anything that provides entries to specific tournaments is always worthwhile.
Not all poker rooms require bonus codes for when you're claiming a bonus. You can automatically get a bonus off of most places. But others might require a bonus code that you can enter when funding your account.
You can review a virtual poker website to see what bonus codes are necessary for an offer. You could also look around third-party sites to see what bonus codes are open, but there's no guarantee that the information you will find is accurate.
You can only collect a signup bonus once. You will have to sign up for the site and provide your contact info and payment data. You cannot establish a second account with the website to collect more bonus money.
You could still get a bonus from referring people to the site. Reload bonuses are also available in some places.
The playthrough rules are terms associated with wagering enough money on poker games before you can collect your bonus. You must play through the bonus enough times before it can become real money that you can withdraw later.
Gaming websites have these requirements to ensure people don't abuse the free money offers at these places.
You can contact the help desk at the poker website you are on if you did not receive your bonus. Explain to the help desk what happened and provide information on your account and the deposit method.
Most cases where people are missing their bonuses come from people forgetting to complete their deposits as necessary.
Best Online Poker Bonuses for December 2020
Online poker bonuses change fast! Before you know it your bonus code gets you nowhere, or worse still, you find you have missed out on the latest offer or extra!
This page will put things right throughout the year. Each month I will speak with the biggest poker rooms and collect updated deals, signup codes and extras – at the moment you will find the best bonus deals for December 2020 below.
In addition to the bonus info, you will find a note on how soft the games are at each site. After all, a great bonus would be difficult to clear if the games are full of pro-grinders. You'll find a 'fish rating' (which ties in with my Fish-O-Meter widget) for each of the rooms, along with a quick explainer of how I came to that number.
Outside of my featured listing in the table above there are many other poker sites which you might be interested in checking out. These include giants like PokerStars, plus interesting smaller sites like Unibet. Here are details on the best deals, plus what to expect from each site. I have started with the international sites, scroll down if you are looking for the US ones.
Party Poker Bonus Info - December 2020
I'm giving Party a solid 8.5 / 10 for soft games in 2020
There are several reasons for this. First, their advertising and big brand make this site the first stop for people new to online poker. You'll find a lot of new players there without the skills needed (yet!) to beat the games - meaning more profits for you. Second, the promotions and games encourage 'fun' play. Think missions, and innovative ideas like 'SNG Hero' and the progressive knockout tournaments. I recommend comparing the games at Party side-by-side with your current site. The difference is visible!
Welcome Bonus Info: Party will give you $30 in Spins tournament tokens, plus some new player missions which are easy ways to earn more tournament entries on your first deposit. Topping all of this is the new cashback system. This gives you between 20% and 40% returns on the fees / rake you pay every Monday. This is automatic, though you will need to opt in via the cashier.
I'm sure alert readers will already have figured that Monday is a great time to hit the tables. This is when all the broke fish get some money back and appear again!
Party run some excellent events with the 'PowerFest' the biggest of all. You can also qualify for the Party Millions live events at this site.
Bonus Summary: $30 in tokens + up to 40% cashback.
Link / Bonus Code: Use code SNGPLANET at www.partypoker.com
Fish Rating: 8.5 / 10 - super soft games with more 'fun' players than at any other site.
888 Poker Bonus Info - December 2020
This site have grown significantly over the past couple of years. They are the only 'major' to give you access to the real money games with no deposit needed. The amount depends on your location. Some countries get $88 upfront (no deposit or credit card info needed), while the UK gets £10. Some Eastern Euro countries get smaller amounts. This is strictly one per household. You start off with a handful of tokens and cash game entries, and then need to collect points to keep earning more. If you enjoy the games then you can claim a 100% matched deposit method up to $400 at any time.
While most of the games are soft, there are some games which do suffer from too many (particularly Eastern Euro / Russian) small stakes pros. Pot Limit Omaha seems to have the same faces every week! If you enjoy Sit N Goes, Tournaments or the fun games like Blast! or SNAP poker, then you'll find plenty of fish. I rate 888 as a decent 7 / 10 for softness (as long as you avoid the PLO!).
As well as the fun games, there are lots of promos. You can spin a wheel once a day to win tournament entries and bonuses, and challenges pop up when you log on. Examples are 'cash in 5 Blast! SNGs' or 'play 20 hands of SNAP poker'. You will collect points which can be swapped for bonuses and tournament entries, I found these accumulate quickly. Tourney fans will find plenty of 'fish' themed games, and events such as the 'Super XL Series.
Bonus Summary: $88 free (no deposit £20 UK), then a 100% match to deposit bonus at any time.
Link / Bonus Code: No code needed, use this link: www.888poker.com
Fish Rating: 7 / 10 - soft games are easy to find, just avoid the games infested with Eastern Euro grinders.
PokerStars December 2020:
PokerStars are the biggest site by a long way. The huge number of games means that just about every 'small stakes pro' heads there in order to play multiple games at once. This makes the tables (relatively) tougher than at the other large sites. You can still find soft games. To do this you need to be proactive with tagging 'regulars' and avoiding tables with too many of them playing. Overall, I would rate this site as a 5 / 10 for fishiness (tournaments are softer, with a 6 / 10 here)
Before I link out to the specific promotions, here is how you can split your welcome bonus over up to 3 ‘first’ deposits (or just claim the $20 instantly if you prefer).
First Step: Register your account, choosing Affiliate Marketing Code from the drop down menu, and then using code PSP3108 in the new box which appears.
Second Step: When you deposit you can use one of these bonus codes:
- STARS600 – this is good for up to 3 deposits for a total of up to $600 which will be matched at 100%
- FREE20 – You’ll get $20 to use right away at the tables (though points collection is required before you can withdraw it!). Minimum deposit = $20 for this offer.
- THIRTY - This is the newest code, it will get you $30 worth of tokens including Spin N Go tickets, tournament entries and cash game buy-ins ($20 min deposit once again)
To claim this top rated offer and see that huge list of promotions and special offers, visit www.pokerstars.com now!
What appeals with Stars is not only the volume of games, but the variety. Their huge size means that some poker variants which would not have enough players at other sites are busy here. This includes Omaha variants, stud, draw and exotic games like 8-game mix and Badugi. The tournaments are huge, often involving thousands of players (and the resulting big prize pools). Each week the 'Sunday Million' crowns a new champion, with the prize pool always beating the $1 million guarantee. While the top tiers of the loyalty scheme have gone, smaller stakes players will get a lot of benefits from climbing the lower levels - with weekly and monthly freerolls offering huge prize pools.
Bonus Summary: 100% Match to $600, which can be taken in up to 3 parts. Alternatively get an instant $20, or $30 in tokens.
Link / Bonus Code: Use STARS600, FREE20 or THIRTY at www.pokerstars.com
Fish Rating: 5 / 10 - a lot of grinders out there, you can find soft games, though you need to search for them..
Unibet Poker Bonus December 2020
Unibet offer a unique interface for their poker games, which is very colorful and cartoon-like. You’ll find them on good form with their first bonus package of 2020 too. This includes a €200 bonus, entry to 4x €500 tournaments and a free €2 to enter the Unibet Open qualifier tournaments too.
No bonus code is needed for this offer, every new player gets the best deal automatically. Check out those soft games at www.unibet.com now!
Bonus Offers at US Poker Rooms
Bovada Poker Bonus Info
This is the biggest US poker site by far. In fact, they are one of the biggest sites worldwide, despite only accepting players from the US and some Latin American countries. Bovada run a 'recreational player model'. This is designed to keep the games soft, by discouraging multi-tabling pros. You can only play 4 cash games or SNGs at once, and will not be able to use software tools designed to assist your play. Better still, games are anonymous. Instead of a screen name, you get random numbers (tournaments) or seat numbers (cash). This prevents 3rd party paid software from identifying fish and new players and selling that information to pros. This makes a big difference, you'll immediately notice that the games have a recreational feel. I rate Bovada as 8.5 / 10 for softness.
The welcome bonus clears as you collect points, though the payments are staggered and not inform. You can get a 100% match up to $500, and will get the first installment after earning just 15 points. There is a loyalty scheme, regular promos and extra bonuses for players that deposit using cryptocurrencies.
Games include 'Zone Poker', a fast-fold variation. There are plenty of cash games, SNGs, tournaments and qualifiers. These are focused on NL Holdem almost exclusively, with just a little PLO on top. Bovada is the best mobile poker site for US players (Zone us great on the go!).
Bonus Summary: 100% Match to $500, easy to clear, with your first installment needing just 15 points.
Link / Bonus Code: No code needed, use this link: www.bovada.lv
Fish Rating: 8.5 / 10 - anonymous games make this the softest US site (as well as the biggest).
BetOnline Poker Bonus Info
This site is best known for sports betting. This is a big plus. Many of your opponents in the poker room will start off with some bets, then come over to try their hand at poker. While some have live experience, the higher level of play online is generally no match for them - keeping the games soft. There are som
e skilled players, though in my experience there are always a small number of loose / maniac style newbies around. I give BetOnline a solid 7 / 10 for fishiness.
Unusually, you need to send an email to get the welcome bonus. This is a 100% match up to $1000, and is released in handy $10 increments. After you deposit, you need to send a mail with the subject 'NEWBOL' to poker@betonline.ag, along with your player name. This is easy enough, though if you forget, your play will not count towards the bonus.
There are some entertaining games to try on this Chico Network site. Windfall Poker is a lottery SNG variant, where you can win up to 2000x your buy-in (assigned randomly). The focus here is very much NL Holdem, with a lot of cash games running. You'll also find a bad beat jackpot, and a growing tournament schedule.
Bonus Summary: 100% Match to $1000
Link / Bonus Code: Send an email with the title NEWBOL after depositing to poker@betonline.ag - use this link: www.betonline.ag
Fish Rating: 7 / 10 - sports betting traffic means you'll often find 'maniacs' out of their depth at the tables.
America's Cardroom Bonus Info
This site is part of the 'Winning Poker Network'. There are incentives for recreational players, as well as bonuses for grinders. ACR have taken the lead when it comes to poker tournaments. Not only will you find a packed regular schedule, there are also big games - right up to $1 million guaranteed events. No other US site has guarantees this big. You will also find lottery SNGs (called 'Jackpots'), and a new variation called 'SNG 2.0'.
There are progressive leaderboards for both cash games and single table tournaments. These are a mixed blessing. The prize pools grow depending on how many people participate, and the number of games they play. This is extra cash, though it does encourage winning players to play a ton of games. In turn, that makes the games a little more 'reg heavy' compared to the other US sites. There are plenty of fish and newbies, just not as many as you'll find at Bovada! I have given America's Cardroom 6 / 10 for softness based on this.
New players get a boost with 20 days of cash, in addition to a 100% match up to $1000. You'll need to log on to your account and go to the 'Special Offers' area each day. You can pick a card, which gives you between $2 and $6 extra (up to $50 max). If you deposit with cryptocurrency, your bonus is doubled to 200%.
Bonus Summary: 100% Match to $1000 + 20 days of cash up to $50 extra + Sit N Crush / The Cage progressive leaderboards
Link / Bonus Code: No code is needed, use this link: www.americascardroom.com
Best Poker Welcome Bonus Codes
Fish Rating: 6 / 10 - plenty of soft tournaments, be careful with the tables associated with the leaderboards.
December 2020 is Important – Though it Pays to Think Much Longer Term!
Best Poker Welcome Bonus Games
For as long as I have been running this site (more than 9 years!), I have been advising readers that the welcome bonuses are only a small part of the picture when it comes to getting the best deals from the poker sites.
Sure, choosing a good one is important.
Best Welcome Bonus Online Poker
What you will find is that after 60 or so days, your welcome bonus is completed. If you enjoy a site then you might well be playing there for one or more years.
This makes the ongoing rewards and promotions for existing players more important than the welcome bonuses in the long run. What you’ll find is that the biggest and most successful sites know this (this is the reason why they are so successful in many cases!). These are the sites which offer points schemes, missions, free tournament entries and other give-away promos. Many of them also offer cross-over bonuses for other gambling types within their brand.
Mistakes to Avoid when Choosing and Clearing Your Poker Bonus
Though on the surface many poker bonuses look the same, there are some big differences between them when it comes to the small print. Here are some questions to answer before you commit to a particular poker bonus:
#1 How Long Does It Last?
Some bonuses expire after 30 days, while others give you 60, 90 or even more days to complete the points requirement / play through. If you are playing at small stakes, it can sometimes be hard to make sure you have enough time to clear your bonus. In these cases, look for offers which give you a chunk of cash right away instead.
#2 Increments, or Lump Sum?
Some bonuses will clear in set amounts, for example $10 or $20 at a time. While others require you to collect enough points to clear the full amount of your deposit in one go. If you are new to the game, then I recommend incremental bonuses… these make sure you’ll get some benefit, even if you are unable to clear the whole amount.
#3 Extras: Tournament Entries and Loyalty Schemes
Most bonuses come with entry into tournaments – though the value of these can vary a lot. On some of the bigger sites, for example PokerStars, you’ll be fighting with 1000’s of other players – with the prize pool spread so thin that the winner barely gets into 3 figures on some occasions. Bigger monthly events are worth looking out for. Mid-sizes sites which have $5k or $10k tournaments for new depositors hit the sweet spot for me. Loyalty schemes are also important. It pays to find one which fits with your own poker goals. For example, if you only play occasionally there is little point joining a ‘top-heavy’ rewards system that pays money to multi-tabling grinders. 888 Poker has an excellent new player focused rewards systems.
Recap – Picks for the Best Poker Bonuses for December 2020
Here is the table with my international site picks for this month. Remember to bookmark this page and come back next month for a refreshed list of the best poker bonus deals.
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