The growing popularity of online poker sites seems almost astronomical. Increased newcomer bonuses and incentives, improvements in technology and ease of securely depositing funds are definitely contributing factors, but risking dampening the fun, be sure to read all of each site’s Terms of Service and privacy policies before joining. After all, although you aren’t sitting across the table from a poker-faced opponent, gambling can still be addictive via the Internet, and losses are still counted in real dollars and cents.
Conditions and Restrictions of Sign-On Bonuses
Many gambling sites, whether they offer Bingo, casino games or poker, lure new players with extraordinary bonuses for joining their sites. However, many electronic “houses” place fine-print restrictions and qualifications to which a new player must adhere before the bonus is delivered.
1. Deposit Minimum. If you are required to place a minimum deposit, can you afford to be without that amount for the foreseeable future? In other words, can you afford to “lose” it from your daily budget? How long do you have to start playing before you lose the bonus? Do you get to play the bonus funds first, or must you deplete or lose a certain amount of money before the bonus becomes available?
2. Refund Conditions. What happens to your deposit if you opt out of remaining a member? Joining bonus aside, do you get all your remaining funds back within a reasonable amount of time? Is there a discontinuation penalty? Must you remain a member for a predetermined period before dis-enrollment and refunds are allowed? Are the refund request conditions reasonable, or does the site require you to “jump through hoops” that frustrate and discourage disassociation?
3. Automatic Renewal. No site should be able to automatically renew your “stake.” Automatic payment, regardless of site phrasing, is irresponsible and can be difficult to halt. Avoid these sites like the Plague!
4. Customer Service. Are customer service representatives available all day, every day—including weekends and holidays? If not, you might find another site friendlier. What authority for problem resolution do customer service representatives hold? Must problems be forwarded to supervisors before resolution, or are the representatives able to resolve 99 percent of misunderstandings or problems that arise?
5. House Odds. There is no gambling house, whether terrestrial or electronic, that does exists to lose money. As any gambler knows, the house is going to win more money than it will lose. However, are the house odds greater than “real world” casinos? If so, search elsewhere!
6. Rules Clarity. Are rules for games more complex online than they are offline? Because there can be significant differences in rules between offline versions and online versions, read each set of rules before starting play, even if you are well-versed in the game. The online version may be vastly different, or the site’s online rules for a game may differ from the site on which you used to play.
7. Sample or Free Games. Every online poker site should have a set of free games you can play without surrendering your credit card information. You shouldn’t have to join the site to play them. If there are no free games, find another site! Or better yet, grab your chips and host a game at home!
8. Non-Gambling Socializing. Most online poker sites have player forums for members. You should be able to talk about almost anything there, so long as topics and comments do not violate the site’s Terms of Service. Gambling site owners understand that part of the online gambling fun arises from players getting to know other players, whether they’re serious competitors at the table or just enthusiasts. Look for that consideration on potential sites. Those that cater to player interaction is probably a user-friendly site, and that’s good news all the way around the table.
Some sites even allow coordination of local tournaments in real life and may even help subsidize it, and that savings could be enormous!
Post contributed by Holly Miller, a writer for CouponCroc.co.uk, your number one resource for everything you need to save money online.
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