Bonus offers don’t play a huge role in poker when choosing a provider. However, we’ll explain the different types of bonuses.
Deposit bonus
With a deposit bonus, you receive a certain percentage of your deposit as free credit. In poker, however, the bonus is usually a target value that is paid out gradually.
So you have to play for the bonus piece by piece.
Loyalty points
Loyalty points are widely used, which you can then use to earn small rewards. This can be a cash bonus, or you can use the points to buy into a tournament.
Freerolls
There are freerolls you can participate in with VIP loyalty points. A freeroll is a free poker tournament with cash prizes.
There are also freerolls where you can play completely free. This way, you can win money without risking a single euro.
Rakeback
Rakeback is the entry fee (for tournaments) or rake (for cash games) for the poker site. With rakeback, you as a player get a refund of a portion of your rake paid.
This can be through a VIP program (starting from X amount of rake per month, you get Y percent back) or through a fixed rakeback agreement.
Legal status of poker
The 2021 gambling treaty regulates not only online casinos but also internet poker. Although online poker is now subject to regulation (and therefore official licensing) nationwide for the first time, no licenses have yet been issued. Instead, providers that adhere to licensing requirements are more or less officially tolerated.
Gambling Regulation and Taxation
Part of online poker regulation is a 5.3% percentage that poker sites must pay to the treasury. Unfortunately, this special tax doesn’t apply to providers’ profits, but rather to tournament buy-ins or the money you bring to the table in cash games.
As a result, some providers have removed parts of their offerings, while others have increased rake and entry fees.
Do I have to pay taxes on my poker winnings?
You don’t have to pay taxes on gambling winnings. Although poker is generally considered gambling by law, the situation is a little more complicated.
If you normally make your living playing poker (online, in a casino, and/or in tournaments), then your net winnings are subject to income tax.
However, if you are an amateur gambler, then you do not have to consider even a large one-time win as income and, consequently, you do not have to pay taxes.
Online Poker vs Live Poker
Now it’s time for the big comparison: Where is poker better? Online or live on-site? Where is it easier to win, and what best suits which type of player?
The stars
To make it more human, let’s first look at some faces from both worlds. Some of the most well-known personalities in the live poker scene include:
Phil Hellmuth: His nickname is The Poker Brat. He can annoy other players at the table and is a diva, but he can also supposedly be quite nice. He won the World Championship of Poker (WSOP Main Event) once, in 1989.
Phil Ivey: He’s never won the Main Event, but he’s world-famous. This is due to his high-stakes games, his risk-taking, his many crazy side bets, and a spectacular dispute with the Borgata Casino. He won several million dollars playing baccarat with a clever trick, but had to pay it back.
On the Internet, the following players achieved international fame:
● Isildur1: The Swede caused a sensation when he suddenly started playing cash games on the Full-Tilt platform with extremely high stakes, which were actually reserved for established poker professionals. In a short time, he won and lost several million euros. His then-unknown real name is Viktor Blom.
● CrownUpGuy: Fedor Holz hides behind this nickname. He burst onto the scene by winning an online poker tournament worth millions.
● Online Poker/Sportsbook/Tournament Comparison
● When you play poker online, it’s the most convenient and almost stress-free option. You can focus 100% on your game and avoid unnecessary distractions.
At the casino, you often sit at a table with other regulars. In live cash games, you may be able to read other players, but you might also have some warnings for yourself.
The biggest tournaments promise adrenaline and the chance to win big. However, realistically, they end quickly for most players.
Is it easier to bluff online than in live games?
When it comes to bluffing, some say it, others say it. If you’re a good actor, you can fool other players in a live game with certain facial expressions, gestures, and announcements. Even trash-talking to mislead other players is only possible in live poker.
On the other hand, online you don’t have to mimetically hide your weak hand when you bluff.