Is It Best to Get Rakeback Deals or Poker Bonus?
All poker rooms offer different kinds of promotions. The sheer number of free money deals offered by poker rooms can confuse most poker players. So it is not surprising to hear questions about rake back and poker bonuses. Some poker players are still undecided which is best: a poker rake back or a straight poker bonus.
Here is a brief comparison of poker rakeback and poker bonuses. This article will also identify the pros and cons of rake back promotions so you can completely grasp if it is the best deal that you can get from poker rooms.
Rakeback versus Poker Bonus
First of all, rakeback and poker bonuses have one thing in common. Both are free money provided by poker rooms. The money you get can be used for cash games, multi table tournaments and sit-and-go.
A poker bonus is a fixed amount provided by poker rooms. There are sites that provide instant no deposit bonus. The bonus amount typically does not go beyond $5. After you sign up, the amount will be credited to your account. The sad thing is that this type of bonus is very rare nowadays.
• Full Tilt Poker – 27% Rakeback & 100% Sign-Up Bonus up to $600. US Players Allowed.
• Cake Poker – 33% Rakeback & 100% Sign-Up Bonus up to $600. US Players Allowed.
• PKR Poker – 30% Rakeback & 100% Sign-Up Bonus up to $800.
The most popular poker bonus is the deposit match bonus. The amount of free money varies from room to room. Some poker sites provide 50% match while others can offer 100% deposit match up to $1,000. However, you have to understand that bigger instant bonuses will be released in increments. You need to clear the wagering requirement of the poker room in order to get the free money.
Poker rakeback works differently from bonuses. It is not given to you upon signup. You need to play raked hands in order to get the free money. All poker rooms implement a rake on cash games. As long as you play cash games and you are contributing to the pot, then you are entitled to get a rakeback.
A poker rake back therefore can be compared to the rebate system applied in some retail stores. The more money you buy, the more cash back you get. This is also true for poker rake back. The more you bet, the more you increase your rakeback.
The Pros and Cons of Rakeback Deals
Getting a rake back deal is a good way of earning free money from poker. The only requirement to get poker rakeback is for you to contribute to the pot through betting during cash games. Each month, the poker room will deposit to your account the accumulated rakeback.
The simplicity of rake back deal is its singular strength. Most importantly, the poker rake back you earned will not be subjected to play-through requirements. Poker bonus needs to be cleared while rakeback does not require play-through. So you can pocket the bonus money the moment you get it.
The biggest drawback of rakeback is that this promotion is not available in all poker rooms. You also need to play thousands of hands in order to get big rakeback. If you are a low limit player, this deal may not be suitable for you. But if you are a high stakes player and you play poker for 8 hours each day, then your rake back can top any poker bonus.


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