Last updated: September 26, 2024
Welcome bonuses at online poker sites can vary wildly. Some are better for recreational players that do not plan to play at a high volume; others are suited to people who have a lot of money to deposit.
Here, we will dig into the welcome bonuses offered at each regulated online poker site and outline the pros and cons.
We recommend three poker sites in Pennsylvania — PokerStars, WSOP and BetMGM. All are fully legal and regulated, and each has a great welcome bonus for new players. There is over $2,775 in bonus money on offer between the three top operators. So, how do you pick between them? What order should you do them in? Should you choose the free-play offer, or max out the deposit match? That’s where this guide comes in.
STARS600
where the operator will match 100% up to $600 deposited. POKERFUSE
when you sign up.PokerStars PA is the best for new players who are getting to grips with online poker for the first time, thanks to their $150 free play offer. BetMGM Poker is good for high-volume players as they will match up to $1000 deposited. WSOP Online adds $100 in extra funds to new depositors on top of the deposit match bonus and is a great option for players both recreational and high volume.
Best Online Poker Welcome Packages in Pennsylvania | |
---|---|
⭐️Top Choice for New Players | PokerStars PA $150 free play |
😎 Best for Pros | BetMGM Poker $1,000 despoit match bonus |
🏆The Best Free Play Offer | PokerStars’ $150 free play welcome offer |
🫧Best Deposit Match | WSOP Online($1100) |
🤑Fastest Clearance | BetMGM Poker (42% RB) |
🤖Best for Added Value | WSOP PA free play money, 7 prize wheel spins and deposit match bonus |
If you are new to online poker we recommend PokerStars as the top site to play on in PA. Players can either choose between a deposit match bonus or opt for a unique, very generous free-play deal which allows players to try out games on the poker and casino site without playing with their own money.
STARS600
for the deposit match bonus.To claim the free play money offer, make any real money deposit, opt-in in your customer account area, and play just one cash game hand to trigger the bonus. This is released over the course of the next five days. No deposit code is needed to take part in the free play money promotion.
Day After Deposit | Free Play Ticket |
---|---|
Instant | 2x$5 Spin & Go ticket & 50 $1 Spin & Go tickets |
Day 1 | 50 bonus spins for casino slots |
Day 2 | 2x$5 & 1x$10 Spin & Go tickets |
Day 3 | $10 casino bonus |
Day 4 | 2x$10 tickets |
Day 5 | $30 casino bonus |
For the deposit match bonus, new players must enter code STARS600
to get a 100% deposit match bonus on deposits up to $600.
You do not need to deposit the whole $600 at once to max out on the deposit at PokerStars. The welcome bonus applies to the first three deposits you make, as long as you use the promo code and deposit before 60 days of signing up. So you can split the cost across three deposits up to $600.
The deposit match bonus, like all those in the market, is released back to you in chunks, rather than in all one go. In order to unlock each chunk, you need to play online poker at PokerStars for real money. For each hand of poker you play, redemption points (RPs) are accrued at a rate of 5 RPs for every dollar in rake paid. For every 140 redemption points you earn, you will receive $10 of your bonus. That works out to a 36% return on each dollar of rake and tournament fees you pay while clearing the bonus.
You have 120 days to clear the entire deposit match bonus before the offer expires. This is longer than the window at the WSOP which is just 90 days.
Remember, you cannot choose the deposit match and the free play money offer. If you add the deposit code in when depositing you will not be able to change your mind and opt for the free play offer, so make your mind up before you make your first deposit as to which offer you want to redeem.
BetMGM has the best deposit match bonus in PA because of its fast clearance rate. The welcome offer is also sweetened with up to $75 in MTT tickets.
First deposits at BetMGM Poker will be matched 100% up to $1000 and is released back to players in chunks at a quick rate. To release each $1 in bonus money, you need to earn 12 rewards points. Players earn 5 bonus points for every dollar in rake paid. This means the earn rate at BetMGM is 42% — so for every $1 of rake you are getting 42% of that back in bonus release.
Players have 120 days to clear the deposit before the offer expires like at PokerStars. Players can use our exclusive code POKERFUSE
when signing up to make sure they get the best bonus available.
New players are also welcomed with up to $75 in MTT tickets after the initial deposit has been made. All deposits get $25 in tickets. But if you deposit $500, you get $50; and those who max out the bonus at $1000+ unlock $75 in MTT tickets.
POKERFUSE
The ticket bundle will contain tickets valued at $5, $10, and $20. Tickets must be used within 14 days of being issued.
Deposit | Tournament Ticket |
---|---|
Deposits up to $499 | $25 worth of tickets |
Deposit $500 to $999 | $50 worth of tickets |
Deposit $1000+ | $75 MTT worth of tickets |
WSOP Online offers a three-part bonus to new players. Your first deposit will be matched up to $1000 with a bonus; you’ll also get a free-play bonus up to $100; and you’ll receive 7 freeroll tickets as well. It’s a massive deal.
You can claim all parts of the bonus, and it stands out as the most generous in Pennsylvania.
However, there are a few things to note before diving in. The bonus match clears slower than at PokerStars or BetMGM. You also only have 90 days to clear it. This means unless you are prepared to put in the time to accrue the player points in order to unlock the deposit match (it is released in chunks), then bonuses at BetMGM or PokerStars may be more valuable to you.
To clear the bonus, you need to collect player points, known as APPs, through playing online poker. Every $1 in rake will give you 2 APPs, and you need 10 APPs for every $1 in bonus money. Therefore, you need to rake $50 to release a $10 block of bonus.
That amounts to 20% of the rake you pay being returned to you in the form of bonus release. It will take you twice as long to clear a WSOP bonus as it will to clear the same value at BetMGM or PokerStars.
The 90-day window will also work against you — it clears slower, and you have less time to do it. It compares unfavorably with the 120-day window offered at PokerStars and BetMGM Poker. Players who are not working hard to clear this down may not release all the value within the window.
A point to note. Reload bonuses are offered throughout the year at WSOP Online where players can get a 100% match between $500 and $1000 on their next deposit. So if you didn’t managed to clear down the welcome deposit match bonus, there is probably another chance later in the year to get some more value out of an additional deposit that you might make.
In addition to the deposit match, all players will get up to $100 in freeplay depending on how much they have deposited. This can be used at the online poker tables immediately, so it’s worth depositing just to claim some freeplay money. Unlike PokerStars, you do not need to choose between offers: at WSOP Online, the freeplay is all bundled in the welcome offer.
You also get 7 spins on their prize wheel giving away BLAST and MTT tickets when $10 is deposited for the first time.
Deposit | Bonus Total | Instant | Day 3 | Day 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Deposit $10 | $25 bonus | $5 Free Play, $5 Tournament Ticket | $5 Tournament Ticket | $5 Free Play, $5 Tournament Ticket |
Deposit $251 to $500 | $50 bonus | $5 Free Play, $5 Tournament Ticket | $5 Tournament Ticket, $10 Tournament Ticket | $5 Free Play, 2x $10 Tournament Ticket |
Deposit $501 to $999 | $75 bonus | $5 Free Play, $5 Tournament Ticket | 2x $5 Tournament Ticket, 2x $10 Tournament Ticket | $5 Free Play, $30 Tournament Ticket |
Deposit $1000+ | $100 bonus | $5 Free Play, $5 Tournament Ticket | $10 Tournament Ticket, $30 Tournament Ticket | $10 Free Play, $10 Tournament Ticket, $30 Tournament Ticket |
Operator | Deposit Match | Earn Rate | Extras | Bonus Expires |
---|---|---|---|---|
PokerStars | 100% up to $600 | 36% | Or up to $150 in free play | 120 days |
BetMGM Poker | 100% up to $1000 | 42% | Up to $75 in MTT tickets | 120 days |
WSOP | 100% up to $1000 | 20% | Up to $100 in extra funds | 90 days |
It is super easy for new players to sign up and join the action in PA. Follow a few simple steps to create your account, deposit and get started:
Yes! For the deposit match bonus add in the code STARS600
to get a 100% match up to $600 deposited. No code is needed for their $150 free play offer — players cannot choose both offers. They have to choose between either the free play or deposit match bonus offer.
It depends what kind of player you are, but PokerStars offers $150 in freeplay tickets after a player plays one real money hand. These tickets can be spent on online poker or casino tables, and is a great way to spend the operators money rather than your own.
You do not need to add a deposit code in when making a new deposit at WSOP in order to claim their welcome offer. Their welcome package is made up of a deposit match bonus, spins on a prize wheel and a cash bonus of up to $100.
Add in code POKERFUSE
when making a first deposit at BetMGM or Borgata to claim the deposit match welcome bonus.
Yes! PokerStars offers a deposit code STARS600
for their deposit match bonus, and for the BetMGM welcome bonus add in code POKERFUSE
when depositing.
The BetMGM Poker deposit match bonus clears the fastest compared to all other online poker operators in PA. Read the in-depth BetMGM section for more details.
For recreational or new online poker players we recommend the PokerStars free play welcome offer. Opt in, play one cash game hand and receive $150 in free play tickets that can be used across the online poker and casino products.
BetMGM Poker offers 100% up to $1,000 deposited and clears down the fastest in the market.
BetMGM Poker’s welcome match deposit bonus clears the quickest in the market, at a rate of 42% rakeback equivalent.
WSOP Online gives new players a deposit match bonus, spins on their winner spinner prize wheel, and free play funds.
PokerStars has the best free play welcome offer with $150 in free play tickets after opting in and playing one cash game hand.