Play at an Instant Cashback Poker Site

Online poker sites offer all kinds of promotions. Some of these promotions are designed to encourage players to create an account and make their first real money deposit. Other promos are designed to reward existing players, or encourage them to come back and play (more). However, only one type of promotion falls into both categories.

The instant cashback offer.

What are Instant Cashback Offers?

Instant cashback offers are also known as free bankrolls, instant bankrolls or no deposit bonuses. It’s all the same thing.

An instant cashback offer is an amount of money that a poker room offers to give you (instantly) once you sign-up. It’s usually a small amount of money, say, $5, $10 or $20. There usually isn’t any catch and you don’t have to make a deposit (usually) to receive them. Just create an account and the money is credited to your account.

Now, depending on the poker site you may or may not be able to cash the money out. If you can’t cash the money out, you can usually cash out the money you win with it. If you are able to cash the money out, the poker site will have terms and conditions in place telling you how many hands or dollars in rake you need to generate for them first. Do that, and then you can request your money.

Instant cashback offers aren’t strictly sign-up promotions either. Many poker sites have VIP programs where they offer a percentage of the money you raked each day paid back to you the following day. The amount you earn depends on your VIP tier. The higher your tier, the larger the percentage you’ll earn.

Can I Still Have Both the Deposit Bonus and Instant Cash Offer?

Yes and no. It depends on the poker site.

If when you sign-up the offer is instant cash, then chances are that the poker site doesn’t have a deposit bonus. Other poker sites that offer both will often give you a choice between their deposit bonus or free cash offer. They don’t give you both.

But that’s only in regards to new player instant cash offers.

In the case where the poker site has an instant cash offer as a part of their VIP program, you can (usually) take advantage of both the deposit bonus and the VIP program since they’re two different kinds of promotions. So you can make a deposit, earn your deposit bonus, and while you do so, you’ll earn points that will boost your VIP status. In turn, you’ll position yourself to start earning daily cashback.

The one exception is if you have rakeback with the poker site. In this cases you’ll either get the rakeback or the cashback — not both. If you’re a low limit / volume player I would guess based on my experience that the rakeback will be (higher) better option. But it just depends on you, the games and stakes you play.

Pros and Cons of Instant Cash Back Offers

I thought it’d be helpful to list out the pros and cons to instant cash back offers, in case you’re needing to decide between two rooms, or maybe between taking a rakeback or daily cashback offer.

Instant Cashback Pros

• Instant cashback offers are “instant.” Once you create an account the money is put into your account. Often times no deposit is necessary.
• Instant cashback offers can be in addition to a deposit bonus. Earn free money now and later.
• Clearing requirements for instant cashback offers are usually small, therefore being quick and easy to earn.
• No deposit is needed for many instant cashback offers.
• Instant cashback offers are great to use for checking out a poker site (for real money).

Instant Cashback Cons

• Instant cash offers are usually small in size — usually under $50. If you have the money and time for a regular deposit bonus, and you have to choose between the two, it would probably make more sense to take the deposit bonus.
• Instant cashback offers can’t always be withdrawn. Many sites offer them as “play” bonuses only. The money can be used for playing only, and only the money you win can be withdrawn.

I think, at least in terms of deposit bonuses, instant cashback offers are best for players on a budget. Since they can’t take full advantage of the bonus, or clear the bonus before the expiration date, they get money they can play with (and use to build their bankroll) right now.