888poker Welcome Bonus: 100% up to $1,000

What the offer is

888poker matches your first real-money deposit 100%, up to a maximum bonus of $1,000. The minimum qualifying deposit is $10, so a $10 deposit brings $10 of bonus and a $100 deposit brings $100. Only the first deposit sets the size of the bonus; topping up later does not raise it.

The offer is activated with the deposit, as the promotion page and the cashier explain, and the bonus appears within 72 hours. Only new players without an account at any 888 group site qualify. The room also lists an alternative of $30 in tournament tickets (six $5 tickets, one a day); first-deposit offers cannot be combined.

This page covers the international 888poker.com site; 888poker.co.uk, 888poker.ca and the New Jersey site run different welcome offers.

How the bonus is released

The bonus is credited as pending money that cannot be played or withdrawn. Each time you collect 100 bonus points, $10 moves from the pending balance to your real-money balance. The terms put it as 10 bonus points per $1 of bonus, so the full $1,000 needs 10,000 points.

Under 888poker’s general bonus policy, cash games pay 2 bonus points per $1 of contributed rake (your share of the rake in pots you play), and tournaments pay 2 points per $1 of entry fee. So one $10 step costs about $50 in rake or fees, and the whole $1,000 about $5,000.

So the bonus is an extra return of roughly 20% on what you pay the room, and released money is ordinary cash with no further wagering.

Deadlines and conditions

The terms give 90 days from crediting to collect the points, after which unreleased money is removed. Another clause says the bonus expires within 30 days of the first deposit, so go by the deadline shown in your account.

Points accrue only while a bonus is active, and a withdrawal request can cancel funds that have not been released yet. Terms change, so check the current version on the 888poker promotions page and in the cashier before you deposit.

How it compares with other rooms

GGPoker matches up to $600 and releases $1 per $5 of rake over 90 days: a similar 20% return with a lower cap. PokerStars also gives 100% up to $600, $5 for every 75 points (5 points per $1 of rake), over four months. ACR goes up to $2,000 over 60 days, and CoinPoker offers 150% up to $2,000, unlocked at 10% of your fees.

WPT Global returns the first deposit up to $3,000, but only half comes back at the poker tables, at $1 per $10 of rake within 60 days. 888poker’s $1,000 sits in the middle: a higher cap than GGPoker or PokerStars and a $10 entry point. Still, what counts is how much of the bonus you actually release in time.

Who it suits

The offer fits regular micro- and low-stakes players who play several times a week. Tournament and Sit & Go players benefit too, since entry fees count like rake.

Players who log in for a couple of hours a month will rarely clear a large bonus; a smaller deposit or the $30 tickets are easier to use in full. To estimate, multiply your monthly rake by the months available and divide by five.

Before the first deposit

Size the deposit to your normal volume, not to the maximum bonus, and verify your account early so the first withdrawal is not held up.

A bonus lowers the cost of playing; it does not give you an edge at the table. Deposit only money you are prepared to lose, use the limits available in your account settings and step away whenever the game stops being enjoyable.