To alot of players, this is common knowledge, but I get the same questions from many people so I thought "Why not blog it?"
The questions come from players looking to gain experience without spending money on the poker directly out of their own pockets.
I tell players a few options. The next question is always, "Well how does that work? "Why would they give you money?" "what's the catch?" "What do you get? Sounds like a scam!"
I usually tell players about 2 different instant bankrolls, with no deposit. Poker Source Online and Poker Strategy. I have the banners here. I like these two. But this isn't a pitch, let me finish what I have to say about them and what I get out of the deal.
I believe strongly that if you can't freeroll to a bankroll, beat the worst and least experienced of players, you have no business pulling out the credit card. I learned this the hard way, losing about $400 dollars on microstakes as a new player. Since, I have read many bankroll experiments and learned a little about the game and my own tilt and poker money management leaks.
While $400 is hardly losing the farm, most new players next turn to blaming online as "fixed" or micro stakes as "bingo, donkey poker".
And so rather than practise bankroll management or looking for leaks, they quit practising in thier free time, discount a great training ground as "not real poker" or just think they can't play online.
All this comes from losing their own money. While this is important to do and face, disipline is eventually learned and players come to realize maybe they should ask questions of poker mentors and that it really is a game that takes a life time to master, there are other ways.
So why does a site give free money? What's the catch? The rake. As always, the house will not lose. You can't take the money out, even winnings until you meet rake requirements. By the time you have made these, chances are you will have paid it back in full 3 times over.
If you lose all the money, it will be to a winning player, who will feed the rake. If you are winning, you will feed the rake. Poker Strategy requires you to prove "poker competence" before awarding the maoney by passing a test. All ego aside, it is a good test and really opens a players eyes. It isn't hard becuase they don't want to give what they promise, they are "head hunting" for true winning players, those that will make money and make the site money.
Why are these sites not on every forum if they are so good?
We will get to that.
Now, some players think, well, why wouldn't I just deposit so I can take out my winnings right away. No arguement there. If you are confident that you can make money right away, go for it.
Some players just have natural talent or don't try till they are winning players. But what is the hurry to cash out if you plan to keep playing. Are you afraid that long term you will not have the discipline to countinue to manage the account or play solid and paitently? Either way the rake gets paid. There is no avoiding that. Bad beats and suckouts, for and against, will always be there. Live and online.
What do I gain by refering players? Well, should they become winning players and deposit, I would get a kickback. But that is 100% the opposite idea of why I like them.
I should put in that I am not an online fan. I practise poker online, repetion is the mother of all skill. Blind reads, all the right info, truly it is an awesome place to go through motions, try things from the security of cyberspace, get your game down. But it isn't what I like about poker. 92% of players will lose money online, it is just to easy to develop leaks. There is no embarasing walk to the atm. There is no having to look into a players eyes when you make a true donk play.
The freezeout is a click away from from a new game. Not an hour wait for the next live SNG or 3 hours home, because, well you played bad. You never truely have to face this online. Thats why Sharkscope and other tools are so great. You can find those 92% fast.
Back to the topic. I don't want players to get instant bankrolls to deposit. In most cases if they deposit that means what I was hoping to show has failed. The money wasn't managed properly, the player needs to work on leaks, etc. Not always true though. I got a PM the other day that one player that looked it up did welll. He has built it sufficently to meet the rake and will get a check if he countinues. If he cashes out to pay the player and then decides to put some back in and I get a kick back from the site, great! I don't care and it hasn't happened to date.
Which means I have saved players some of their own money. Even the ones who lose still won. They gained knowledge in their game. I like that. I believe that at every level the key to winning is finding edges. Avoiding dangerous players. Reading your table. Looking for spots and not cards. That is what my mentors teach me. 3 years in it has taken alot to get on this path, I would gladly go back and take it all in right from the begining. I would be a much better player today.
Now it is true, you can just play freerolls to win a bankroll, but it is very hard to start one that can be managed using a 5 to 10% rule, playing 12000 player fields and winning a buck. It is actually counter productive. You invest time and patience that could be saved by putting a little effort into setting up an instant bankroll. It also becomes tempting to say "I can beat these once in a while, I'll just save time and deposit."
Patience and discipline. No excuses, no shortcuts. The difference the other 8% have.
So, this is running on. The last question. "Why doesn't everyone do this?" "Why doesn't every forum advertise these?"
Well, these sites do get paid for finding new players. These sites are out there to get you making a site money on the rake. The bankroll is only available for a site you don't have an existing account on. Most, but not all forums have the same goal.
Exclusive freerolls that require you to join a site that may be new to you. Or you have an account and will feed the rake with any winnings. Forums provide an iteresting place to visit and learn, make friendships and become part of a community. You will play poker with those you like and know, this is a fact that makes it all work. The bigger the community the more an online poker site will offer. It is simply a numbers game, of 
so many will and do use the banners, 
dollars given in freerolls will lead to 
in revenue. Nothing is free.
So to advertise for a site that provides instant bankrolls to find new players is cutting your own grass, burning up your own potential revenue. Not smart. So don't expect anyone to stick their neck out and just offer it up. If they own a revenue generating forum.
Some site owners, like the ones here at pokerweblogs, just don't care about money though. They build it for personal satisfaction. For a true love of seeing something flourish and grow.
No banners on the platform. Thats how you will know. No HTML to sign up for a site that takes money. So am I being hypocritical in having banners? One day, if I make money, great. The Gloss banner affiliate code is linked to the friend to owns the site and has done alot for me in giving me free license to post any topic on their forum. I believe in the instant bankroll and how it works for everyone. I can't stand deposit matchs, another version with less value to me. But hey it is still incentive to some.
Either way, we can't fault those in the industry from collecting "finders fees". They invest their time and risk money to build it, the same as any other business. If you have to pay for this service, if the forum or league charges you a direct fee, then it is time to point the "swindler finger".
They are double dipping. Asking you to pay them to make money. I am ok with paying the rake to play. I am glad they legitmate forums are rewarded for their time. That is unavoidable and business. Products will always have hidden mark up, profit margins, money makes the world go round. But never pay a site or league to find you deals. I guess there is nothing wrong with it, there are just more efficient and cost effective ways for you to get them wihout paying out of your pocket. Everyone gets paid in the end, double dipping is taking advantage of persons who just don't know what is available and how it all works.
Enough on this one, next blog, subscription sites and bar league, other inexpensive options to learning and how it works. (Without disclosing the all the trade secrets)
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