Whether it’s the match deposit bonus for new players, free tournament tickets for existing customers, or a rakeback promotion, you are bound to find the best poker bonus in the UK on this page.
After scanning the top online poker rooms in the country, like 888Poker, PokerStars, and Betfred, we’ve compiled a list of the most beneficial poker deals that you can claim to increase your chip stack and gain an advantage in your next game. Get your poker face on, and let’s play!
Our dedicated editorial team evaluates every online casino prior to assigning a rating. These evaluations are grounded in a rigorous scoring methodology that encompasses factors such as trustworthiness, overall gambling experience, fee structures, customer support quality, and various other critical aspects.
Online poker bonuses include various types of promotions you can claim on poker sites. These sites use bonuses to attract new players or retain existing ones.
For example, if you’re just joining a poker site in the United Kingdom, you may get a percentage-based first deposit bonus on your initial payment, like 100% up to £200. This means that your first deposit will be matched pound-for-pound up to the stated amount. You can then use this bonus to play eligible poker games and tournaments and claim the winnings as long as you meet the playthrough requirements and other conditions.
It’s in the poker site’s best interest to keep players involved, which is why you can see periodical bonuses for ongoing players, like free tournament entries or rakeback. A poker site may also have a rewards scheme like a VIP programme through which it gives various benefits and promotions to players who reach a certain milestone or who have spent a certain amount of money playing on the site.
What’s important to know about these poker promotions is that they’re not as “free” as they may seem. Each online poker bonus comes with a set of terms and conditions that limit its use, most notably the wagering requirements, which represent the number of times you must play the bonus over to release and withdraw your winnings.
Poker Offers Pros and Cons
It’s almost always a good idea to claim an online poker bonus. No matter the bonus type, you’ll get more funds and, therefore, more winning opportunities one way or another. Still, this doesn’t mean that you should go head first into any poker promotion you see, as there are several things to consider first.
Here’s a pros and cons list that can help you in your decision.
Pros:
Poker welcome bonuses are a great way to build your initial bankroll.
Free tournament tickets give you a chance to get real money without spending your own.
Bonus funds represent an ideal way to explore new game formats and experiment with different strategies.
Cons:
Even the best poker bonuses can have strict terms and conditions, limiting how much you can win.
Focusing too much on a bonus may lead you to choose an inferior poker site.
How We Rank Poker Sites Relative to Their Bonuses
The list presented on this page features not only the best poker sites in GB but also casinos where you can get the best online poker promotions. To create an unbiased ranking, we had to go through each of these sites and thoroughly look into their promotional offerings. Here are the criteria we used:
Generosity and frequency: We look into the core value of the bonuses and how often they are given to players.
Variety and quality: It’s important that the players can claim different types of bonuses and that the promotions are structured properly.
Recoup chances: We think highly of bonuses that allow players a realistic chance of turning them into real-money winnings. In other words, the lower the wagering requirements, the better the bonus.
Transparency of T&Cs: The bonus terms must be clear and concise so that the players know exactly what they’re getting and how to properly use the promotion.
Bonus eligibility: Ideally, the bonuses should be available to players of all levels and tenures, with minimal restrictions.
Now that you know what it takes to properly assess a bonus, you can start exploring the different types of poker promotions available in the UK.
Different Types of Poker Bonuses and Promotions
There are all sorts of ways in which a poker site can reward its players. Some bonuses you can only get as a new member, while others give you extra chips for being a loyal long-term customer. These bonuses can also differ in their structure, value, and action needed to unlock them. Here are the most notable ones.
Poker Welcome Bonus
Casino brands provide sign-up offers on particular game types to make you start more pleasing and rewarding. The poker welcome offers can be usually found in one of the following shapes.
Match Deposit Bonus
Most UK poker sites will treat you to a match deposit bonus once you sign up and lay down your first payment. These bonuses are often percentage-based, giving you the bonus funds relative to your deposit.
For example, if you’re looking at a 100% bonus, you can deposit £10 and play with £20, with £10 representing your real-money deposit and the other £10 being your bonus. Naturally, you can’t withdraw the bonus money since that would be as if the poker site were giving you free funds. Instead, you must play with the bonus a specified amount of times, as indicated by the wagering requirements, before you’re allowed to withdraw.
An important thing to pay attention to here is the minimum deposit limit, which represents the deposit amount required to trigger the offer. If you make a lower deposit, you will not be eligible for the welcome bonus and will not have the opportunity to claim it afterwards. In some instances, you may also need to use a poker bonus code during registration or while depositing.
No Deposit Bonus
If you’re lucky, you may not have to deposit at all to get a poker bonus. Some websites will give you an instant poker bonus once you sign up and verify your account. A free poker no deposit offer may be pretty rare these days, but you’ll find a few UK poker sites that feature it.
The downside of an instant sign up bonus, however, is that it tends to be much smaller than what you may gain from a first deposit offer while also having stricter terms and conditions.
Tournament Tickets
Instead of bonus funds that you’re free to use on multiple games and formats, a poker bonus may consist of free tickets that you can only use on specific tournaments.
The rules regarding the use of these tickets can vary from one site to another. Such promos may differ in value, number of tickets, and the number and types of tournaments you can enter.
Reload Bonuses
A reload bonus is usually similar in structure to a first deposit bonus – only it comes into play after you’ve already used your welcome bonus funds and is typically smaller than the original offer. Therefore, you don’t need to be a new customer to claim such a promo, and the bonus can be used more than once, hence the “reload” label.
VIP Bonuses
Most poker bonuses are aimed at rewarding players who have just arrived on the platform, but many websites also respect those who keep coming back by offering them various loyalty bonuses and perks.
These VIP schemes usually work by having you climb the tiered ladder, where each tier provides a particular set of rewards and benefits. To move to the next tier, you must collect a certain amount of points by depositing and wagering enough money. Aside from bonuses, loyalty programmes may include benefits such as lower rake or higher rakeback, priority support, higher limits, invitations to exclusive poker tournaments, and more.
Referral Bonuses
The goal of all poker sites is to have more players, so they’ll prepare a hefty reward if you manage to recruit others to join the casino site. This is done through a so-called referral bonus, in which you send a unique referral link or code to another person.
Once that person uses your referral to create an account and meets the conditions (either by leaving a deposit or spending a certain amount of money on the site), you will get a bonus for your efforts.
Now that you have gained knowledge on the different types of poker bonuses, you can finally claim one on your own, and we can help you choose the best ones.
Top UK Poker Sites With Bonuses
The number of UK poker sites in 2024 might not be as broad compared to the list of online casinos or sportsbooks, but you’ll still have a solid selection of gambling brands to choose from. These safe and licensed poker sites have a range of bonuses and promotions that you can take advantage of, and after analysing all of them, we’ve come up with a top list that can help you choose the best offers for your online poker play.
Poker Site
Welcome Bonus
Promo Code
Min. Deposit
Wager Req.
Betfred
200% Up To £1200
Not required
£10
5x
PokerStars
100% bonus up to £400
STARS400
£10
4x
888poker
£20 FREE
Not required
No Deposit
vary by game
William Hill
£100 Bonus Money
Not required
£10
40x
Party Poker
100% Up To £400 + £40 Free Play
Not required
£10
4x
GGPoker
£40 Free Play
Not required
£10
4x
How to Claim a Poker Sign Up Bonus
Above is the list of the most valuable poker bonuses available in the UK as made by Gamblizard experts. Through it, you can review the bonus value, potential poker bonus codes you may need, and the minimum deposit and wagering requirements as main bonus terms. Bear in mind that this list is not final and that we’ll update it as new great poker bonuses come into our sights.
But what now? If this is your first time claiming a bonus, don’t worry, as the process is simpler than you may think. Here’s a walkthrough of how to easily claim your new bonus:
Pick a poker site
You can pick any of the poker sites from our list as long as you haven’t created an account there yet. Moreover, you can make multiple selections, as there’s no limit to how many poker sites you can join.
Create an account
To create an account, you must be at least 18 years old and located in the UK. The poker site will require you to share your real name, email address, physical address, phone number, and other details. These details must be accurate, as you’ll have to verify them.
Deposit
If the website offers a no deposit bonus, you’ve already done your part. But in most cases, you will be met with a poker deposit bonus that requires you to complete a small payment first. Go to the cashier, select a deposit method, enter the desired amount, and make sure that you follow the rules regarding minimum deposit limits.
Review the T&Cs
Take a good look at the terms and conditions of your bonus to be aware of any rules and limitations that apply. Pay special attention to wagering requirements and the validity period.
Start playing
Once you’ve successfully gone through all of these steps, all that’s left to do is claim your bonus. Start playing eligible games and tournaments and work toward completing the rollover.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to carefully read the terms and conditions of every poker bonus before using it, which is why we gave them a dedicated section in this overview.
Key Poker Bonus Terms and Conditions and Their Meaning
The bonus T&C page can be exhausting to read through, as it contains a lot of information and complex terminology, some of which are not easy to understand if you’re a novice player. To help you decipher this technical jargon, we’ve made a list of only the most important bonus terms and the meaning behind them:
Wagering requirements: Also called playthrough or rollover, this is a multiplier telling you how many times you must play through the bonus funds before being able to cash out the winnings. If the wagering requirements are 5x and your bonus is £100, your collective bets on poker games must reach £500 before the bonus is released.
Time limit: Every bonus has a time limit, after which the funds will become void. How much time you have depends on the bonus type and value, and it can be anywhere from a few days to several weeks or months. Not only do you have to use the bonus within this period, but you also need to complete the wagering requirements.
Game eligibility: Your bonus may not be available on all poker games and game formats, so review eligible games on the T&C page before playing.
Win limits: Some poker bonuses may put a limit on the amount you can withdraw once you complete the rollover.
The one thing that unites all poker promotions is the legal and regulatory compliance for UK players. You can’t join a poker site unless you are at least 18 years old, and you must be a new player if you wish to claim a welcome bonus.
Another important thing to remember is that playing poker is gambling, and as such, carries a lot of risks. In the UK, responsible gaming for online poker is supported by strict regulations and resources to promote safe play. Organizations like BeGambleAware provide tools, advice, and support for managing gambling habits, while operators must comply with UK Gambling Commission standards, including self-exclusion programs, deposit limits, and access to professional help services.
With this in mind, you can now use poker promotions and play poker games safely and responsibly, and our next section will review which games are best for exploring with your newly acquired bonus funds.
Popular Games You Can Play With Poker Sign Up Offers
Aside from understanding the bonus terms and how to claim them, it’s essential to choose the right poker game to use that bonus on. Each game suits different playstyles and skill sets, so understanding the rules and opportunities will help you make the most of your bonus. Here are six popular poker games and formats to consider.
Texas Hold’em
This highly popular poker variant has players combining their two hole cards and five community cards to create the best possible five-card combination. It’s played in no-limit, pot-limit, or fixed-limit formats.
Free play and deposit match bonuses are commonly used in Texas Hold’em due to the game’s popularity among players. The game is ideal for beginners and seasoned strategists alike, offering a balanced mix of skill and luck.
Omaha
Not too different from Texas Hold’em, Omaha is played with four hole cards instead of two, and the players must use exactly two of them in combination with three community cards.
Omaha is also a very popular poker format, often being on the list of eligible games for match deposit bonuses and free tournament tickets. Recommended for players seeking more complexity and larger pots, Omaha appeals to those who prefer strategic gameplay.
Seven Card Stud
In this variant, the players receive seven cards throughout the hand, three face down and four face up for the others to see, and the goal is again to make the best five-card combination.
Free play poker bonuses are ideal for exploring this variant and learning the rules, but it’s a bit less common in the tournament format. The game mostly suits analytical players who are good at reading opponents and managing limited resources.
Razz
Contrary to other popular variants, Razz flips the script when it comes to hand rankings and rewards the lowest five-card hand.
You can use poker bonuses to explore Razz, but keep in mind that this game is not available on every UK poker site. Nevertheless, the game is great for those who wish to try a unique twist on traditional poker rules.
Short Deck Hold’em
This is a fast-paced version of Texas Hold’em that uses a shorter deck, with cards 2-through-5 completely removed.
The reduced deck increases hand strength and action, making the game attractive to risk-takers. Just like with Razz, you won’t find Short Deck Hold’em on all UK poker sites, but those that do have it may give you bonuses for the game as well.
Sit & Go Tournaments
Sit & Go tournaments, or SNGs, are single-table tournaments that start as soon as enough players join, offering quick and structured play.
Many tournament tickets included in welcome bonuses are often redeemable for SNG events. The format is great for beginners who have the opportunity to learn tournament tactics in a low-pressure, fast-paced environment.
Wrap Up
Choosing verified poker bonuses with Gamblizard will undoubtedly improve your online poker experience and give you more winning opportunities down the road. One way in which you can stay ahead of the game is by subscribing to our WhatsApp channel or email newsletter to never miss out on the latest and most rewarding poker deals.
Remember, playing poker should always remain fun. Therefore, don’t hesitate to use responsible gaming tools like GamStop, set deposit limits, and consider self-exclusion programs to ensure safe play. Always read the bonus terms and conditions carefully and prioritise responsible gambling. Best of luck!
Jamie Wall is a personal finance strategist and casino analyst at Gamblizard, with deep expertise in financial psychology and behavioral dynamics. Through years of studying decision-making and human behavior in high-stakes environments, he's also developed a keen ability to interpret body language signals.
