In my last entry, I provided an overview of one of the legal US poker sites, UB. I discussed their player base and VIP program, but even more importantly, I mentioned the UB referral code. You need to have a UB referral code because that way you have access to a large first time deposit bonus. Now I would like to tell you how you must clear this bonus because while it's nice to think you're getting some free money, it's usually important to learn what you need to do before you start grinding.
Let's start with the basic info. First things first: use your computer and make a UB download. Now that you've got the software, you can go to the cashier. When you make your first ever real-currency deposit, UB.com gives you additional dollars equal to 111% of the currency you put in, up to $1100. These extra funds are not yet yours to use. In order to release the extra dollars, you need to obtain Status Points. You will do this by playing poker hands in real cash games, whether it be cash or MTT poker.
Now you will see how the UB bonus clearing works. For any 20 Status Points you get, $1 of your additional cash is given out. Each time you get 100 status points, you get a deposit of $5 placed in your account. If you make a first deposit of $1000 (and thus receive $1100 bonus dollars), you need to earn 22,000 status points to free the full $1100. There is one problem, though: you are only allowed 60 days to clear all of your bonus dollars before you lose the ones that remain unreleased.
You might be asking how Status Points are accumulated? For tournaments, you get one status point for each $0.30 of entry fee (so in a $30+3 tournament, you'd win 10 status points). For cash games, you get Status Points depending on the stakes you're playing. This is the chart they use to decide your Status Points:
No Limit
$0.01/0.02 - 1 point apiece per 15 hands
$0.02/0.04 - 1 point for every 10 hands
$0.05/0.10 - 1 point per 10 hands
$0.10/0.25 - 1 point per 5 hands
$0.25/0.50 - 1 point for every 3 hands
$0.50/1.00 - 1 point for every 2 hands
$1.00/2.00 - 1 point apiece per hand
$2.00/4.00 through $5.00/10.00 - 1.5 points per hand
$10.00/20.00 and higher - 2 points for each hand
Limit
$0.01/0.02 - 1 point per 20 hands
$0.02/0.04 - 1 point per 20 hands
$0.05/0.10 - 1 point apiece per 15 hands
$0.10/0.20 - 1 point for every 15 hands
$0.25/0.50 - 1 point for each 10 hands
$0.50/1.00 - 1 point for every 5 hands
$1.00/2.00 - 1 point per 2 hands
$2.00/4.00 - 1 point for every hand
$3.00/6.00 - 1.5 points for every hand
$4.00/8.00 and up - 2 points apiece per hand
So, for example, you'd have to play 22,000 hands of $1.00/2.00 no-limit poker within 60 days to be able to clear the full $1100 bonus. If you're playing lower stakes like $0.10/0.25, you'd have to see 110,000 poker hands. If you think that this is something for you, then UB Poker clearly presents a lucrative bonus deal for you. One huge benefit of this bonus is that because you get the money in $5 allotments, you can deposit as much as you desire and not really have to worry about being unable to clear the bonus. You might not receive the maximum value, but something is of course better than nothing.
Lastly, here is a word of caution: for new players especially, the temptation to try to clear this bonus quicker by playing higher stakes is always there. Don't lose sight of bankroll management! When you're at low stakes, the UB bonus is tough to earn, but trying to play higher than your bankroll will allow will probably hurt you more than it will aid you when it's all said and done.
