No Deposit Poker w/Real Money Payouts
Yes, I realize that sounds too good to be true, but it isn't. If you're a low limit player, need to build your bankroll up some, or are just cheap and want to cash in on easy money, this is great deal.
What you do is sign-up like any other regular poker site and verify your account. Because this is a free account yet you'll be playing with real money, you have to be 18+ and voice verify over the phone. (That's more intensive probably because of security so you can't as easily signup multiple accounts and cheat. Real money sites link your financial info -- bank accounts, credit cards, etc -- to your username so you can't signup 10 times.) Other than that you get to play and compete in freeroll tourneys and make real money without having to pay a thing. There's no secret to this. Obviously they're running a business and want you to play for real money. So what better way to market their poker site than to give players free money, teach them with videos, articles and coaching and let them play with zero risk? Really, what's there to lose by trying?
If you aren't aware of how poker rooms make money, you'll be surprised that they want you to do well. Poker sites make money through rakes. Each tournament or cash table hand played makes them a little money (.10 to a buck or two) regardless of who wins overall. What makes them the most money aren't players that are clueless and lose quickly. What makes them money are educated players who clock hours and stick around. I know this very well from personal experience.
Online rakes are tiny in comparison to live poker. It's a great deal but the poker sites still get rich (which is fine, nothing wrong there).
I used to play a lot of online heads up limit holdem. I'd play lots of $50/100 on up to $300/600. Sometimes it would take me two hours to beat the guy, sometimes as long as 24 hours. When you're getting 200+ hands an hour, and they rake each hand, that adds up (~$2/hand). Which outcome do you think they prefer? Do they like us playing 24 hours before someone wins? Or two hours?
See the point is they want you educated. Nothing would be better for them than everyone being equally experienced. Then the result would be the money just gets exchanged back and forth until they rake it to death. Good thing that will never happen though. There will always be a game, just like there will always be winners and losers in business or anything else. Generally, people are lazy and want quick fixes versus studying and being disciplined, so there's always money to be made.
Enough with my spiel... Check it out.
Already a real money player or want to take the plunge? Full Tilt is a good option. I don't really understand why poker sites try to advertise their pros so much. Full Tilt has more big name professional players than any other site, but that doesn't seem like a great marketing angle to me. Would I really want to play with the best players in the world? I'm really there to win, not say I've played with Gus Hansen. That aside, FT is pretty good because they are the up-and-coming site, trying to bump off Poker Stars. Because of that they have that "hungry" factor that usually translates to good bonuses and stuff for new players.
Another thing I really like, which almost certainly contradicts what I just wrote above, is it is fun to watch the big games. They spread some of the biggest games in the world, regularly. So you can sign-up and watch guys lose $500k plus in a session on a Wednesday night. Pretty cool. That's a good thing for entertainment but also in improving your game. Likewise, you never want to play at the biggest game at a cardroom or on a poker site. Always play the second biggest game so you avoid all the best players. There's softer money there than trying to get lucky against guys with infinite bankrolls.
So, try the Full Tilt or at least signup and watch some big games and get a couple laughs when guys lose $100k on a two outer.