Bonus hunting or bonus whoring as it's sometimes called is basically searching around for the best poker bonus offers, reload bonuses & 1st deposit bonuses available online.
Playing enough hands to collect player points or qualifying the necessary number of raked hands to clear the bonus and even get free poker money or an instant poker bonus through our reviews of the best poker sites.
There are a vast range of bonuses and free money available to the regular poker player and it has become a popular way to build up from a limited bankroll.
Many poker forums & bonus sites offer advice on the best bonuses to hunt out and even give suggested paths to free riches. This is fine in theory and can be a very good way to add money to your bankroll. But the temptation of free cash shouldn't be a substitute for learning how to play winning poker.
Look at bonus money as a perk not an end in itself - You can make more clear profit at lower limits than you will chasing a bonus for the sake of a bonus.
There can be alot of cash on offer for signing up & playing at several sites rather than sticking with a single favourite - So it makes sense to sign-up to as many poker rooms as good solid bankroll management will allow.
This is the crucial point though - Do not forget the importance of playing within the limits of your bankroll. Don't sacrifice common sense just to try and get a monthly bonus or free money.
Yes playing in a $2/4 game will get you player points faster than in a 10 cent game but if your risking all your bankroll in every sitting is it really worth it ?
There are plenty of bonus sites who give a structured lists of poker sites to join and instructions to turn $50 in $1000's in a few 100 hours -
Sign-up at x deposit $50, play 10hrs clear bonus, cashout and deposit at y, play for 20hrs clear bonus, cashout, deposit at z etc ... Bingo $1000's in free money.
But I think this misses the fundamental point of poker - Ultimately to be a winner you need to learn & play winning poker.
This is much more important in the long run than relying on bonus money to keep you afloat.
Below are some recommended starting points for players on a limited bankroll looking for good poker sites with reasonable bonus money offers - but remember a bonus is just that - a bonus
• Good signup bonus on limited bankroll ...
Titan Poker - $20 FREE + 100% up to $500 + FREE Odds Calculator - Titan Poker Review
You could argue that if your neither a net losing player or a net winning player the bonuses alone are worth playing for but I think it's much more important to play within the limits of your bankroll whilst learning and become a net winning player rather than needing to clear a bonus just to continue playing.
It is much more important to choose a site that is easier to win at than chasing big bonuses. I would recommend playing at the fishier sites to start off with is more important ... They may not have the biggest percentage bonuses but good solid play alone should grow your bankroll -
Titan Poker - $20 FREE + 100% up to $500 + FREE Poker Odds Calculator - Titan Poker Review
Poker.com -100% up to $300 - use bonus code: 4KP300 - Poker.com Review
When it comes to bonus hunting the golden rules are ...
1) Always try to deposit the maximum amount possible to get the biggest bonus on offer.
2) Don't play higher limits than your bankroll allows just to try and get more player points or to clear a bonus.
3) Always check the T&C's and how the bonus is qualified - if its a time dependent offer maybe your better off starting at a different site or selecting a more appropriate offer. Does the bonus qualify on all stakes and games ?
4) Always look at a bonus as a bonus - be realistic if your a net losing player no amount of free bonus money will change that - You need to work at your game.
5) There is no such thing as a free lunch - Most bonuses are based on the rake the poker site has made from your play or expects to make - it's no good cashing up a couple of times to finally get $40 free if it has cost you twice that to get it. Don't play a tough site before your ready just because the bonus is huge.
Once you have got a reasonable solid winning game together - It's always a good idea to spread your bankroll around as it grows and take full advantage of signup bonuses at sites you haven't played. After all if you are a net winning player it does no harm to have additional bonus money coming in and growing your bankroll for free.
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