The Poker Lab Rat

April 27, 2008

Two Days left to claim your poker rebate at Canbet.

Filed under: Poker Bonuses — webmaster @ 7:53 pm

Players can get a nice cash bonus at Canbet Poker

With unlimited bonus cash up for grabs, Canbet Poker Points are a chance for players to dominate their opponents and grow their bankroll in every hand they play, win or lose.

The more a player plays, the more Canbet Poker pays :
50 - 200 : $1 for every 6 points earned
201 and above : $1 for every 5 points earned

To register for this promotion, players must enter the promotional code: POKERP on the My Account page of the website at any time before the end of Wednesday, 30 April.

Make sure you get your share at Canbet Poker

Stumble it!

April 23, 2008

ELO Rating System Introduced for Poker Player Ranking

Filed under: General Blog Rant, Poker Bonuses, Industry News — Mike @ 3:59 am

How Good is your Poker? Do you Rate?

Carbon Poker ELO Rating System introducedPoker is a game with worldwide recognition and a massive field of elite players. A new ranking system, recently introduced at popular Carbon Poker, aims to give players a credible reference on their overall poker skills. The rankings help players to set themselves goals and to monitor play progress better than factors such as “bankroll growth” or “number of hands played” (time-in). It also gives you another statistically based method to “stick it to the little guy” (bragging rights).

This poker ranking system is based on the ELO rating system, a world-class official system popular for ranking international Chess players that has also been adapted for player ratings at some sports. 

The ELO rating system ranks poker players by assigning a base numerical score, with wins and losses adjusting the score as you play. ELO rewards strong play against tough opponents, and penalizes bad play against weak opponents.

This is a long-term fully automated promotion on the Merge Gaming Network (Carbon Poker) and is available to all players.

Here is a typical example provided by by the team at Carbon Poker on how the new player ranking system works:

Are you an elite poker player?A player in a bounty tournament with a below-average ELO score may eliminate a player with a high ELO score. Because the high-ranking player is effectively judged as a stronger competitor, the low-ranking player is awarded more points, because they defeated a player far above their determined skill level. Alternatively, If the high-ranking player eliminates a weak player, they will still earn points, but not nearly as many because the ELO system has ranked them as an easy opponent based on their playing history.

For this reason, the ELO system can be used effectively by any player regardless of their time commitment to the game. It rewards quality of play (defeating tough opponents, avoiding eliminations) above quantity of tournaments and number of bounties claimed. While tournament place isn’t a factor in calculating ELO scores, the top players will generally progress to the later stages of the tournament, and therefore this is where all the top points are found.

To rate highly in CarbonPoker.com’s ELO system, you need to perform well with both eliminations and tournament placings. Check out the basics on site at Carbon Poker so you understand the mathematics - e.g. For every 3 consecutive days that a bounty event is not played, players will have their ELO rating decayed by 15 points.

The ELO system works across all Bounty tournaments and Sit n’ Gos, and every player is automatically registered for an ELO score. Play as many or as little Bounty games as you like and track your progress via ‘Player Admin’ throughout each month.

ELO points start at 1500 each month, and the highest ranking players at the end of the month will receive leaderboard prizes of cash and tournament entry coupons as well as player acolades. The counters are reset as each month rolls over.
Check out the Bounty Grand Master promotion at Carbon Poker if you want to know just how good your poker skills are.

For more information on this US-friendly poker site read the latest independent player review for Carbon Poker onsite at PokerLabRat.com.

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April 12, 2008

US Based Poker Players Feel the Squeeze on Payment Options

Despite financial institutions admitting that implementing measures required under the new American ‘anti online gambling’ legislation are verging on impossible, especially without further definition and clarification, some USA based poker players are still struggling to deposit and cash out from their favorite online poker rooms.

The team at PokerLabRat.com understands that a number of previously viable poker deposit methods such as ePassporte are now no longer options for US players. We have therefore developed a summary of poker deposit options at each of the US Player-friendly poker sites that we review and recommend. It may be of assistance to you when you’re deciding which site to join to build that bankroll!

Carbon Poker
Click to visit Carbon Poker online poker roomWith it’s friendly support team in Australia, Carbon Poker offers a couple of reliable payment methods that may suit you, namely: Fonelinx (pre-paid phonecard poker deposits), eWalletExpress (a US-friendly online wallet) and EcoCard Poker Deposits (another branded e-Wallet that takes US customers). Visa and mastercard deposit options are also available for US Players at Carbon Poker - but it really depends on your bank. Prepaid Visa cards are also a viable option for US online poker deposits if your bank does not play ball and let you use your usual Visa account for poker.

Carbon Poker has a good reputation for efficient, no B.S. processing of cash outs to American poker players. If you’re not a member yet at Carbon Poker, use the bonus code FIRST1K for a 200% to $500 join bonus.

Full Tilt Poker
Click to visit FullTiltPoker.com where the pros playThis serious-money poker room requires some serious-money deposit solutions for its huge contingent of US-based players.

Moneygram is apparently the easiest (and cheapest) way to make large deposits at FullTiltPoker.com. Players just need to set up an account then e-mail the Full Tilt Poker customer suppoert team who’ll send instructions to make each deposit a nice discrete, hassle free transaction. Pre-paid visa cards are recommended by Full Tilt Poker for smaller deposits. If you reference the referral code GOG when you sign-up you’re eligible for the maximum deposit bonus available of $600.

Bodog Poker
Click to visit Bodog Poker roomBodog offers an amazing online digital entertainment site specifically targeted at USA residents. Formerly Canadian based, Bodog’s popular sportsbook is focused on US-sports betting, their online poker has $5 Million in guaranteed tournament prizes a month and the Bodog Casino has excellent blackjack, video poker and even some slots worth a look if you’re that way inclined…
 
Deposit Methods at Bodog Poker that work well for US based players include eWalletExpress (an online wallet that takes USA residents) and Instant Check/eCheck (instant bank transfers). Depositing a Check by mail is also an option. Apparently Bodog is currently one of the easiest poker sites (and Sportsbooks and Casinos) for Americans to deposit with and they take cash outs pretty seriously with a great team onboard to process these ASAP. Bodog Poker’s latest bonus for new players is 110% to $550.

For more information on each of these Poker rooms for American players use the links above to visit them directly or:

Read the latest detailed poker room reviews of each of these US-friendly sites: 
>>Review of Carbon Poker
>>Review of Full Tilt Poker
>>Review of Bodog Poker

Compare the US friendly poker rooms on one page here at PokerLabRat.com

Stumble it!

April 2, 2008

April Poker Promo: Win a Playstation 3 and 2 of the latest FIFA football games!

Filed under: General Blog Rant, Poker Bonuses, Poker News & Views — Mike @ 8:42 pm

Last month top Aussie online entertainment site Canbet handed out a £20,000 betting bankroll to one lucky player to place on the Grand National. I did not win :-( , did you?

In April at Canbet Poker you can win a Playstation 3 and 2 of the latest football games!

For more info on this poker promotion - click hereThree Playstation®3’s are up for grabs, each including FIFA 08™ and FIFA Street™!

Playstation®3 is the most advanced gaming console on the market and the piece de resistance in high-definition entertainment. Blu-ray™ technology enables you to play the latest generation games, as well as watch movies in unparalleled HD quality. You can also listen to music, browse photos and connect to the Internet. Add to the mix two of the hottest football game titles and it doesn’t get better than this!

Three lucky poker players will win a Playstation 3 and 2 of the latest football games just by playing poker!

Register to participate by entering the promotional code: PS3 on the My Account page of the Canbet Poker website between 1 April 2008 and 30 April 2008. (New and existing Canbet customers are eligible to enter)

Earn an entry into the draw every time you:

- Play 50 Poker Raked Hands
- Bet £50 (€65) at Canbet Casino
- Bet £50 (€65) on Sports or Racing

The lucky winners will be announced on Thursday 1 May 2008.

Click to go to Canbet Poker for a look around

>>Visit Canbet Poker (a member of the Microgaming Poker Network)

>>For more information on this great Australian poker room, check out the latest review of Canbet Poker here at PokerLabRat.com.

Stumble it!

February 5, 2008

Attention all Aston Villa (or Middlesbrough) fans who can play poker

Filed under: General Blog Rant, Poker Bonuses, Poker Tournaments — Mike @ 3:56 am

The popular UK online poker room hosted by 32Red is giving you the chance to win VIP Tickets to see Aston Villa vs. Middlesbrough on the 8th of March at Villa Park.

32Red sponsors Aston Villa Football team32Red Poker is a member of the Microgaming Poker Network - but this is an exclusive offer available only to 32Red members, not poker players from other Microgaming-powered poker sites.

Here’s some details of this Texas Holdem poker tournament:

Date: Monday 25th of February
Time: 20:15 GMT
Buy-in: $5+$0.50 and Guaranteed at $1,000
Tournament Type: Multi Table Hold’em No Limit Tournament with unlimited re-buys during first hour and one add-on after the first break ($5)

The prizes: (What’s in it for me…)
1st Place - Pair of Director’s Box Tickets + Signed Ball
2nd Place - Pair of Stand Tickets
3rd Place - Pair of Stand Tickets

On top of the tickets you’ll also get $100 in Travel Expenses.

The football match plays Saturday the 8th of March at 15:00 BST at Villa Park.

>>Check out 32Red Poker (sorry, no US players)
>>Read more about 32Red Poker (32Red Poker room review)

Good Luck and see you at the tables!
Mike

PS: As Aston Villa Sponsors, 32Red regularly runs similar promotions for their members. This is not just a one-off!

Stumble it!

November 15, 2007

Are you into poker milestones? Fancy a $1000 free bankroll a month for a year?

Filed under: General Blog Rant, Poker Bonuses, Industry News — Mike @ 3:16 am

Check this poker promotion one out if you’re feeling lucky - it could be worth a $1000 poker bankroll each month for a year!

Click to visit top rating Bodog PokerTop US friendly online poker room Bodog Poker is about to celebrate it’s Billionth Hand - it’s due by the end of November and they’ve been giving away cash and poker chips all month in eager anticipation of this auspicious occasion.

Bodog Poker is awarding what they call “Milestone Hands” leading up to their billionth. All players dealt in at the table where one of the milestone hands is dealt will receive $109 in Tournament Credits and will split the following prizes: Players in the 1,000,000,000th hand split an extra $10,000, players in the 995,000,000th hand split and extra $5,000, the 990,000,000th hand split $4,000, the 985,000,000th hand split $3,000 and players in the 980,000,000th hand split an extra $2,000 between them. Great. 

Bodog Poker are also running daily draws right up until November 26 where 10 players each day will win $50. Nice. To qualify for this draw all you have to do is earn 100 Bodog Points to be in the next day’s draw. (ie any real money poker cash game rake and tournament buy-ins accumulate Bodog Points) The more times you meet the 100 point threshold, the more entries you have into every draw.

At the end of the promotion there will be one final grand prize draw - with the winner scoring a $1,000 monthly bankroll for an entire year! Excellent.

This promotion ends - not surprisingly - when the 1 billionth hand of poker has been dealt.

For more about Bodog Poker read the latest Bodog Poker room review here at PokerLabRat.com - or compare Bodog Poker with the other top sites for US poker players.

Stumble it!

September 3, 2007

Be in Quick: Win Full Tilt Merchandise this week!

Filed under: Poker Bonuses — Mike @ 1:22 am

Be lucky at Full Tilt Poker in SeptemberHere’s your chance to win some Full Tilt Poker gear for free!

In September, seven is the lucky number at Full Tilt Poker. They’re giving away $77 free plus a range of Full Tilt Poker Merchandise each day from September 1st through September 7th.

So how do I enter the draw? 

Earn a minimum of seven Full Tilt Points playing in any ring game, Sit & Go, or Multi-Table Tournament. Once you’ve earned your points, you’ll be entered into a daily draw.

All you have to do is click on the “My Promotions” button in the game Cashier. From there, register by clicking on the “Lucky 7s” link. You will need to register each day in order to be eligible to win the free cash and prizes.

Full Tilt Poker merchandise as daily prizesSo what’s up for grabs? 

Each day 77 lucky players will win $77 in cold, hard cash.

In addition to the cash prizes, one player wins a grand prize from the Full Tilt Poker Store each day. Grand prizes range from iPods to a custom Full Tilt Poker jersey, so this is the perfect time to press your luck.

US players welcome too!>> GO TO FULLTILTPOKER.COM
>> READ MORE ABOUT FULLTILTPOKER.COM

Stumble it!

August 3, 2007

Join the WSOP After-Party - Thousands of $’s to be won

Filed under: Poker Bonuses, Poker Tournaments, WSOP — Mike @ 12:46 am

Click for more info on site at Eurobet Poker

 

 

 

 

 

The WSOP Main Event has concluded for another year and Jerry Yang will probably still be partying after his $8,250,000 win! However, why should he be the only one celebrating? The team at Eurobet Poker are joining in with their own WSOP After-Party - and you’re invited!

See you at a table 4th - 19th August at Eurobet Poker as they’re running 16 days of events (including a $5,000 added Main Event) over a range of poker formats and with some special bonuses which could see you raking in the big bucks!

High-Five! Party On with the WSOP Winning Hand!
Win any hand during any WSOP After-Party event with Jerry Yang’s WSOP winning hand (8c/8d) and Eurobet Poker’ll give you a $10 bonus. Win the WSOP After-Party Main Event with the same result as Yang’s WSOP Main Event last hand (a nine-high straight following pocket 8 hole cards) and you’ll win a $5,000 bonus!

Celebrate a Winning Streak – With Extra Cash!
If you win 3 WSOP After-Party events, they’ll pay you a $500 bonus! Win 5 and you’ll get an extra $1,500 bonus, and if you win at least 3 WSOP After-Party events AND the WSOP After-Party Main Event, you’ll score a $5,000 bonus – on top of all your winnings!

So one lucky winner could walk away with an extra $10,000!

You’re invited to the biggest party of the year – the Eurobet Poker WSOP After-Party!

Click to visit this top UK and European online poker siteEurobet Poker is a long standing member of the Ongame Poker Network and is part of Europe’s largest betting & gaming company, Gala.

Stumble it!

July 20, 2007

Highroller? Want a $2500 Free Bankroll?

Filed under: Poker Bonuses — Mike @ 1:20 am

Click to visit Carbon Poker now...The July poker room join bonuses are just getting crazy! Top US-friendly online poker room CarbonPoker.com has just come to the party with an “up to $2500 free” first deposit match bonus that runs until the end of July.

Normally Carbon Poker offer a 100% match to $200…

So what?
Click to visit Carbon Poker - US players welcomeWell…if you’re a highroller and want to play at a stylish new poker site, deposit $2000 as your starting bankroll and they’ll add an extra $2500 as a 125% match to your bankroll.

Yes, of course there’s no such thing as a free lunch - playthrough requirements do apply to release the bonus. 

The bonus is released at $1 per 350 comp points - and paid into your Carbon Poker account in $10 increments as you earn it. The remaining bonus expires if you withdraw so as long as you keep playing without cashing out, you’ll keep earning free bankroll until the $2500 payout is reached. 

Oh, yeah you also get free entry into a $10,000 Freeroll and then the option to enter a daily $500 new depositor freeroll each day for 14 days just to get used to the software.

>>Check out more about Carbon Poker in the latest poker room review here

>>Visit CarbonPoker.com to score your free $2500 bankroll here.

Stumble it!

July 8, 2007

Time for some European Style Online Poker?

Filed under: Poker Bonuses — Mike @ 10:59 pm

Click to visit Betsson Poker nowNew at Betsson Poker - check out this month’s 150% joining bonus! If you’ve wanted a reason to try European style online poker, a bonus to $1500 Free may just be the excuse you need! (Betsson Poker is a leading member of the Ongame Poker Network - NO US PLAYERS)

How do I get this poker bonus? This bonus is ONLY for new customers. The bonus is granted on your very first deposit/transfer to a Betsson poker account. NO DUPLICATE ACCOUNTS!! The Maximum bonus amount is $1500. (You can deposit any amount you wish up to $1000 to get it)

Betsson Bonus ReleaseHow is the Betsson Poker Bonus released?  You have 60 days to earn 10 player points for every bonus dollar.

…so if I’ve got my calculation right, and you just want a $150 bonus, deposit $100 and play 750 raked hands at $3 rake/hand in 60 days!

How to use the bonus code? (and this bit is IMPORTANT !! ie do not bitch at me when you forfeit your bonus ‘cos you didn’t follow instructions!)

1.  Sign up through any links or banners for Betsson Poker on PokerLabRat.com
2.  Make a first deposit/transfer to poker account
3.  Make sure the bonus offer box is ticked and type in bonus code VIP1500
4.  Complete your transfer  

NOTE: this bonus is on FIRST POKER DEPOSIT-TRANSFER, not on the first deposit to Betsson.

For more about Betsson Poker, check out our latest poker room review on Betsson Poker onsite at PokerLabRat.com here.

** As with any poker site, the rate at which you earn Betsson Poker Play Points depends on the number of raked hands you play and the stakes of the tables at which you play.

Stumble it!
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