The bonus doesn't cost you anything and it can be very rewarding if you get the right one.

What is an online poker bonus?
An online poker bonus is a promotion designed to get you playing on a particular website. If you're already playing on that website, it's designed to get you to continue. The idea of the bonus comes out of the tradition of comps. In the past, live casinos provided comps in the form of free meals, shows or even hotel rooms in order to entice customers. They realized that the amount they win from these individuals once they got into the casino far outweighs the cost of the comps. The online poker bonus is like a comp for an online casino. In poker, however, you don't have to lose money for the casino to benefit; they take a percentage out of every pot, so there's no reason for you to forgo taking advantage.

How does the poker bonus work?
When you sign up for a new online poker site, you must input a bonus code. It's very important that you input the code at the same time as your first deposit or you will not be eligible for a bonus. There are different bonuses available and some can offer up to a 100 percent match, meaning whatever you deposit up to a pre-determined maximum is doubled, so be sure to shop around. Once you sign up, you will be required to play a certain amount of hands, determined by the size of the bonus, in order to release the funds into your account. You can play all the free online poker you want, but to get the bonus you will have to play raked hands. A loyalty bonus operates on the same idea, but it is offered once you already play on the site in order to keep you playing there.

What are the pros and cons of the online poker bonus?
The main advantage is free extra money. This money can be added to your bankroll to help you outlast the swings that naturally occur in a poker game. A downside is that you will have to play the required number of hands in a certain amount of time, usually a month, and if you don't, you will forfeit the bonus. Also you must play on that specific online poker site to get the bonus. You can play on other sites too, those hands just won't count towards your bonus. However you can always sign up on those other sites with sign-up bonuses as well.

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