Bounty poker is a type of social poker tournament that rewards players for eliminating others. Part of your entry goes towards the prize pool, and the other part is considered your bounty.
The format varies from social poker site to social poker site; however, once eliminated, a portion of the bounty goes towards the prize pool, and some is added to your own. The more people you eliminate, the higher your bounty, meaning that having strategies in place is a must to stay in the game.
First things first, let's take some time to explain what you can expect from a bounty poker tournament at a social casino.
As you would expect, the foundation of this free online poker tournament revolves around a “bounty” that is placed on each player at the sign-up stage. Depending on the format, elimination could lead to your bounty being added (in part) to another player’s bounty or directly to their pot. This adds a little extra from standard multi-table tournaments or sit and go’s, where only those who land in the winning places will walk away with a portion of the prize pool.
You will still find bounty poker tournaments aimed at free Texas Hold ‘em poker, free Omaha social poker, and various other game types. However, you won’t ever need to use real cash to play. This is because social poker follows the sweepstakes model, making use of virtual tokens that allow you to play for fun or with promotional play in mind.
Although you will spend the duration of a bounty poker tournament with a “bounty” on your head, it is important to understand that this has no real-money value. At social poker sites, they utilize Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins – two virtual tokens that allow you to toggle between gaming modes.
Mostly. Any form of social poker falls under the sweepstakes umbrella, which is completely different from the confusing world of real-money gambling in the US. With this, you’ll actually find that you can enjoy social bounty poker tournaments in just about all US states. Currently, full restrictions are in place in just Idaho, Nevada, and Washington. That being said, you may find that additional states block certain social poker platforms.
It is also important to mention that you must meet the minimum age requirements and be able to pass relevant verification checks before getting started. Prize redemptions will incur additional Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, and you’ll also be expected to declare any prize redemptions over a certain value on your tax return.
Now you know that bounty poker tournaments at social poker sites are legal across the US, it is time to focus a little bit more on the gaming experience.
Generally, you will find that bounty poker tournaments can be split into two categories.
As well as focusing on the different types of bounty poker formats, you’ll want to consider the style of the social poker tournament itself. Usually, this will also be split into two categories.
That should have covered the common tournament styles and bounty poker formats. Now, let’s touch on a few common rules.
Although this is likely to vary from social poker site to social poker site, this should give you a little insight into the kind of additional features you can expect to encounter along the way.
Naturally, before you can look to enter a bounty poker tournament at a social poker site, you’ll need to load up your account with virtual tokens. This table covers some of the most common promos that you are likely to come across.
| New customer offer | The welcome bonus is usually packed with Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, allowing you to dive headfirst into the action |
| Daily login bonus | A daily login bonus is a staple of any top social poker site, allowing you to join daily bounty poker tournaments armed with Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins |
| Social media giveaways | You can like, comment, tag, and follow your chosen social poker site on social media to pick up more virtual tokens |
| Refer-a-friend bonus | Send your unique code to friends, wait for them to sign up, and receive additional Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins |
| Alternative Method of Entry (AMoE) | The AMoE allows you to send in a postal request for free Sweeps Coins |
| Purchase promos | Although you will never be expected to make a purchase to enter bounty poker tournaments, you can add to your Gold Coin pots by splashing some cash. Oftentimes, this will come with free Sweeps Coins, too |
Regardless of whether you’re playing Texas Hold ‘em or free Omaha poker in a bounty poker format, we can’t provide you with any guarantees of winning. However, you will find that these tips will get your experience off to a flying start.
To get familiar with this style of social poker tournament, we would suggest testing things out with Gold Coins first.
It is also wise to value knockouts alongside the overall goal of winning a bounty poker tournament. Remember, the stack size and bounty value are your first targets.
When you have the upper hand in bounty poker, you want to try to force other players to fold. Use the chat rooms to make them question their next moves and consider the size of your social bets based on your own cards.
With Gold Coin and Sweeps Coin bounties at stake, players get hungry and start betting loosely. You’ll want to stick to the basics, trapping players with strong hands and letting others overcommit.
There you have it – just about all you need to get started with bounty poker. As you can see, this social poker tournament adds an extra layer to your sweepstakes experience, allowing you to pick up additional virtual tokens by knocking out players along the way.
Of course, this all depends on the type of bounty poker tournament you select. You’ll either add winnings from those knocked out to your own virtual balance or add a portion to your own bounty. Aim to get familiar with things using your Gold Coins to give yourself the best possible head start. Then, remember to stay tight, apply pressure, and enjoy the action.
Why not take some time to check out some of the best poker sites with bounty poker tournaments in October? Our picks can be found in the banners on this page.
No. You won’t win real money playing bounty poker, but you will find more ways to add to your Gold Coins or Sweeps Coin pots by winning tournaments or knocking out other players.
Yes. You will be able to enter bounty poker tournaments and play free video poker in almost all US states. Currently, only ID, NV, and WA prohibit social poker completely.
When you eliminate a player in bounty poker, their bounty becomes a part of your own or is added fully to your Gold Coin or Sweeps Coin pots.
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