Types of Poker Bonuses and Poker Fish Defined

Bonus is one of the best features in online casinos. It attracts new players on the platform and tries to retain the existing gamblers. It encourages to play more and enthusiastically. Lately, no deposit is required to play and avail the bonus. The process to avail is simple and just a simple signing up is required to enter a room. Based on the account type, casino platforms credits the bonus within 36 to 72 hours and it can be anything between $10 to $100. Here, in this article, we will discuss a couple of online poker bonuses to help players.

Before we proceed, it is important to know that if one wishes for no-deposit bonus, the player may not be allowed to take part in any of the first deposit bonus. The same issue arises the other way.

First Deposit Bonus

The bonus under first deposit type varies based on the first deposit of players. The most reputed in the segment is the platform that offers 100 percent bonus to match with the first deposit of the players. This means, if a player deposits $100, he gets additional $100 as bonus and with this the total deposit stands as $200.

The internet is flooded with a plethora of poker sites and most of the platforms offer the best bonus. However, choosing one should be based on proper research like reading reviews of various sites. Online casino bonus sites are usually simple, easy and user-friendly.

Freeload or Reload Bonus

When the first deposit bonus is cleared and extra bonus is offered thereafter, it is called a freeload or reload bonus. However, additional deposit is demanded in the reload poker bonus while the bonus gets credited in the freeload poker bonus. Of course, a bonus code is required to avail the bonus.

It is important to note that poker bonuses vary based on the sites and players can choose accordingly.

What is Poker Fish

A poker fish can be defined as a weak or inexperienced poker player. This is a direct take on the common use of the term poker shark when labeling a well-seasoned poker player. The problem is picking the right ocean, or poker room/network, in order to find the real poker fish out there. There are a number of changes that occur all the time that can alter where the fish swim to. Do not worry, whether it’s the Merge or Cake Network, PokerStars, or Full Tilt Poker the fish can be found.

The Merge and Cake Networks of Poker Fish

For years the place to find poker fish was on the Cake Network that hosts rooms like Cake Poker, Power Poker, and Doyles Room. What made the Cake Network full of fish was the fact that there were a number of online sportsbooks that were hosted by the Cake Network and brought in thousands of inexperienced players with money to play. This trend all changed in the past couple of years.

In the mid of 2010 there was a sizable exodus of poker rooms from the Cake Network to the Merge Gaming Network that is headlined by the poker room Carbon Poker. Some of the poker rooms that moved were Sportsbook and PlayersOnly, two major sources of poker fish and large player base as well. In the opinion of many online poker regulars the Merge Network now houses the largest percentage of unseasoned poker fish. The trick is to not scare the fish away because they will move and one of the first stops for many online poker players is either PokerStars or Full Tilt Poker.

PokerStars, PartyPoker, and Full Tilt Poker Bring the Most Players and Possibly Most Fish

Given that PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker have a market presence that is not matched by any other poker room, these poker rooms are usually the first stop for any and all poker players around the world. To say that PokerStars and Full Tilt have the most poker fish is most likely true, but if a poker shark were to factor in the real ratio of fish to the average player, many will find that they are probably pretty close to one another.

It must be added that after an investigation into this question the website PokerTableRatings determined that the 3rd largest online poker room in the world, PartyPoker, is said to hold the largest number of fish in the world. While this is good news for sharks residing outside of the U.S., unfortunately since 2006 PartyPoker has exited the U.S. market and does not allow American players.

PokerStars and Full Tilt online platforms are also the most frequented by poker sharks who grind out a living every day on the virtual felt. Many time it is difficult to distinguish between the grinders and the fish until it is too late. Therefore, it is important to remember that there are other online poker pros out there looking for fish and most are regulars on the big rooms, so be warned.

Free Poker Bankrolls and Picking the Right Stake Level to Find Poker Fish

There are plenty of other poker rooms and networks out there with their fair share of poker fish, such as 888Poker and the Cereus Network (UltimateBet and Absolute Poker), but poker sharks also need to pick the right stake levels. Players who are just starting out will frequent low buy-in tournaments and sit-and-go games rather than the more pro friendly cash ring game tables.

Many new players go and look for free poker money deals and start playing there after a while. Search out those rooms that offer free poker money deals through certain affiliates like Pokerspace and look into the rooms. Be sure to take advantage of the free poker money deals too, there’s really no harm in it as this will create a risk-free environment to test out whether the room or network is fishy. Just be prepared to move with the fish, especially as rooms move and the industry continues to evolve.