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Joined: Feb '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1886
The other day on here I read a post arguing party poker was a good site (we can agree to disagree there) but the case was made that paying that extra high rake was justified because of all the promotions and bonuses. It was said that "even tho rake is bigger you can get more from it when you play good".
I would argue that this marketing technique doesn't reward good players, it rewards regular players. Poker sites don't really have any loyalty for their casual players, the full-time workers who are loyal to the site but only have two nights a week for poker. Rake may not seem that important when you are winning but it is -ev to be subsidizing the promotions and marketing gimmicks that you don't qualify for.
The site is essentially charging you to attract new players. All that television ads and marketing costs not to mention the bonuses it offers to new players and to players whose accounts haven't been active in years (yes I'm talking about Party again, they send me the odd bonus from time to time, and that's the only reason I'd play there). Poker sites seem to cater for two extremes, those who don't deposit (freerolls, free money) and those who grind daily (promotions, rakeback, vip points).
Does anyone disagree? Is there anyone who feels they are getting a good deal from poker sites for the amount of custom they give?
TBO I really hate bonuses. They are hard to clear and one must go thru the agony of it all before one can cash out. It almost always seems that variance prevents one from clearing the bonus. I always wish one could deposit online without a bonus because in the end it's just not worth it. For what one earns completing a bonus compaired to what one has to pay in rake is a joke. This is where variance, all the bad beats, and sucks out have their most detrmental effect. Your bankroll goes for a nosedive and struggle just to maintain what you have left. This instance is where one needs lady luck to kick in and if she turns the other cheek your up the creek without a paddle. If one is a thinking player and playing an A game one is penalized for it becoz one does not earn points when forced to fold. The bonus sysem almost always forces one to play marginal at best with the hope of getting lucky. We all know long term this is a -ev style of play. Personally have only ever cleared one and took me almost six months to accomplish that. On one now and it's not going well, the time frame doesn't allow me to take a break. Btw had the Party bonus...it was a disaster and I'll never play there again. I vote #7...not a bonus fan.
Joined: May '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 38 (M)
Posts: 2064
I think they can be good..... If you're not TRYING to get it. If it's just an added bonus, that's fine. But playing specifically to unlock a bonus is never a good idea.
Joined: Jan '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 1204
Posted by rbdflyboy: TBO I really hate bonuses. They are hard to clear and one must go thru the agony of it all before one can cash out. It almost always seems that variance prevents one from clearing the bonus. I always wish one could deposit online without a bonus because in the end it's just not worth it. For what one earns completing a bonus compaired to what one has to pay in rake is a joke. This is where variance, all the bad beats, and sucks out have their most detrmental effect. Your bankroll goes for a nosedive and struggle just to maintain what you have left. This instance is where one needs lady luck to kick in and if she turns the other cheek your up the creek without a paddle. If one is a thinking player and playing an A game one is penalized for it becoz one does not earn points when forced to fold. The bonus sysem almost always forces one to play marginal at best with the hope of getting lucky. We all know long term this is a -ev style of play. Personally have only ever cleared one and took me almost six months to accomplish that. On one now and it's not going well, the time frame doesn't allow me to take a break. Btw had the Party bonus...it was a disaster and I'll never play there again. I vote #7...not a bonus fan.
Joined: May '08
Location: Lithuania
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 10090
Posted by awood88: Poker sites seem to cater for two extremes, those who don't deposit (freerolls, free money) and those who grind daily (promotions, rakeback, vip points).
very nice sum up- they can't drop daily grinders, since they generate steady income, they can't drop their efforts in getting new players- that's why they try to lure freerollers/ no depositors hoping they will become regular depositors. but it's sh1t considering that poker sites kinda forget those who are in between...i guess u just have to be one of the two extremes to get most value from your pokersite
Joined: Feb '11
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 59 (M)
Posts: 5712
Of course it rewards regular players. Those are the players the site wants to keep coming back so they can take their money from them. If they only rewarded good players the site would ultimately lose, but the marketing gets you thinking that by playing on PP with their promos that this makes you a better player!
Joined: Mar '11
Location: Germany
Age: 55 (M)
Posts: 1242
Well so far I never cleared a bonus in total, because I don´t have the time to do so. Nevertheless I like bonusses which are paid out in partial amounts, so I can clear a part of the whole bonus by playing my games and timeframe. So it gives some extra money to my bankroll.
