Offering a refreshing departure from the typical online poker welcome bonus, the 888 Poker bonus instantly issues 25% of the 100% bonus match into the real money account of first time depositors, before they even begin playing online. When players make their first deposit at 888 Poker, the amount of their preliminary deposit is matched 100%, up to $800, by the 888 Poker bonus. However, 25% of the bonus is received immediately upon making a qualifying deposit, while the lingering 75% of the 888 Poker bonus remains pending.

In order to release the second portion of the 888 Poker bonus, players simply need to obtain Bonus Points by playing real money online poker cash games and 888 Poker tournaments. The Bonus Points earned in many of the 888 casino games will also be applied toward the release of the remaining 888 Poker bonus. A meter in the upper left-hand corner, above the table, displays the player's 888 Poker bonus progress, and the number of 888 Poker Bonus Points required to finish clearing the residual bonus.

Online poker players who receive the 100% 888 Poker bonus will have 30 days to release the entire bonus before it expires. The 75% pending 888 Poker bonus will be moved into the player's cash account, in full, upon accumulation of 10 Bonus Points for every $1 of the pending bonus amount. 888 Poker Bonus Points are only accumulated when a player has a pending 888 Poker bonus. Players earn 2 Bonus Points for every $1 the player contributes in rake or tournaments fees to the 888 Poker room. Additionally, online poker players are awarded one 888 Poker Bonus Point for every $16 wagered in the 888 Casino.

A new player signs up an account with 888 Poker, and decides to deposit $200 into their real money online poker account. The player is instantly granted 25% of the 888 Poker bonus, bringing their real money account total to $250. The player will also find that they have a pending bonus amount of $150.

Because the player has a pending 888 Poker bonus, as they participate in real money online poker games, they will receive 888 Poker Bonus Points in addition to the 888 Poker Status Points that all players are awarded for real money contributed in online poker cash game rake and tournament fees. The 888 Poker Bonus Points will be applied toward the release of the new player's pending 888 Poker bonus, where as the Status Points are part of 888 Poker's VIP program, and are counted toward the player's status level.

The new online poker player earns 2 Bonus Points at 888 Poker for every $10 + $1 online poker tournament they enter. In order to clear the remaining 888 Poker bonus amount, the new player will need to obtain 1,500 Bonus Points; ten times the 75% pending bonus dollar amount. The 888 Poker bonus will need to be released within 30 days of activating the 888 Poker bonus, otherwise the $150 pending bonus will be forfeited.