Promotions

 

While first-deposit bonuses are also regarded as part of the promotions system of an online poker room, in this section, we’ll analyze other components of the promotions package the poker room uses to attract players.

Freerolls fit well into this category.

Online poker freerolls are usually offered to depositing players, as a supplementary reward for their joining the room.

If you’re a complete outsider without an active real money account at the respective poker room, you won’t gain access to these freerolls.

Some freerolls are only for newly signed-up players, sometimes, you’ll gain a single access ticket to a freeroll where only newbies play. That should provide some interesting EV+ for you.

Other times, you’ll gain access to periodic freerolls, where you’ll go up against a wide array of players, both skilled and beginners.

The value in these freerolls is something that experts recommend you do not chase too much after. There are usually hundreds of players involved if not thousands. While there are no tourney fees or buyins involved the time that you have to spend in these games are just not worth the eventual payout. The prize-pools are small, and the fact that there are thousands of guys to beat, means that luck will get a pretty big word to say in all this…

There are other freerolls that present you with good EV+. I’ve seen (and played in) freerolls which featured a $250 prize pool and about 26 players. The long term advantage that you get out of these opportunities is nothing to belittle. Playing in a poker room that offers you such advantages can be an edge you’ll be grateful for, for a long time to come.