PokerClubGames publishes poker news, strategy, reviews and free tools. Readers do not pay for any of it, so here is a plain account of who does, how they pay, and what that does and does not change.
Where our money comes from
We earn money in five ways. Nothing else pays for this site: there is no subscription, no paywall and no charge for the free games or tools.
| Source | Who pays us | How we are paid | How it is labelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner and display ads we sell directly | The advertiser | A fixed fee for a placement over an agreed period | "Advertisement" or "Sponsored" |
| Ads served by Google AdSense and other ad networks | Advertisers, through the network | Performance-based: by ad views or clicks, at rates the network sets | Marked as ads by the network |
| Sponsored articles | The sponsor | A fixed fee for the article | "Sponsored article" notice at the top of the article |
| Paid guest posts and paid links | The contributor or the site being linked to | A fixed fee for publishing the article or the link | "Sponsored guest post" notice at the top; paid links are tagged rel="sponsored" |
| Affiliate links to poker operators | The operator | A commission when a reader completes a qualifying action (see the affiliate disclosure below) | Disclosure beside the links; links are tagged rel="sponsored" |
Free products, trips and other benefits
If we are ever given a free product, service, account credit, trip or any other benefit by a company we write about, we say so on the page where we write about it. A free item is never a condition of a positive review.
Do these relationships shape what you see?
Yes, in one way you should know about. We can only earn from companies we have a commercial relationship with, so those companies are more likely to appear in our lists, reviews and bonus pages than companies we do not work with. Our lists are therefore not a complete picture of the market, and being listed does not mean an operator is the best choice for you.
Advertising and how it is labelled
- Ads we sell directly are labelled "Advertisement" or "Sponsored".
- Ads from Google AdSense and other networks are chosen by the network, not by us, and are marked as ads by the network. We are paid when readers see or click them.
- An ad on this site is not a recommendation from PokerClubGames, whoever placed it. Our own recommendations are in our articles and reviews.
- An advertiser cannot buy a positive review, a higher rating or a better position in a list, whatever it pays.
- Advertising networks have their own rules for gambling ads, including age and country limits. Those rules decide which gambling ads you can be shown.
If an ad looks misleading, or is for something you do not think should be advertised to you, tell us through the contact page.
Affiliate disclosure
How it works
An affiliate link carries a tracking code. When you follow it and then take an action the operator counts as qualifying, such as registering an account, making a first deposit or meeting a play requirement, the operator can credit us. What counts as qualifying, and how much we are paid, is set by each operator's own programme. Operators pay in different ways, for example a fixed amount for each new player or a share of revenue, and the terms can change.
Where you will see it
Operator links open in a new tab and are tagged rel="sponsored". On review and bonus pages a disclosure sits beside the buttons that lead to an operator. If a link to an operator appears in other text without a nearby disclosure, assume it may be an affiliate link.
What it does not mean
We do not claim that affiliate relationships have no influence on what we feature. They can, as explained above. What they cannot do is change a rating, hide a fact that matters to you or turn a poor offer into a good one.
Editorial independence and ratings
Our editors decide what to cover and what to say. Payment of any kind, whether from an advertiser, a sponsor or an affiliate partner, cannot guarantee a positive review.
Every poker site review shows four category scores out of 5: Trust, Bonus, Support and Games. The overall rating shown at the top of the review is our editors' score out of 5 for the site, shown next to those four. The same number is used everywhere on the site, in the review, in lists and in search results. Offers show the date they were last verified, and pages show when they were last updated.
The full process, the rating criteria and how we correct mistakes are in our editorial policy.
Sponsored articles, guest posts and paid links
- A paid article is identified at the very top, before the first line of text, as a "Sponsored article" or "Sponsored guest post".
- Every outbound link inside a paid article, and every paid link anywhere on the site, is tagged rel="sponsored".
- Paid guest posts are kept apart from independent articles: the notice names who paid, and says the piece was not written independently by our team.
- We may refuse or remove any submission that is misleading, inaccurate, promotes something illegal or does not suit our readers.
- Undisclosed paid promotion is not allowed on this site, from us or from contributors.
Want to contribute? Read the guest post guidelines first.
Free games and tools
The free poker games on this site use virtual chips and play credits. They have no monetary value, you cannot buy them, and you cannot redeem them for cash or prizes. The free games and tools, such as the calculators, charts and trainers, are for entertainment and learning only.
Gambling, the law and your safety
- Real-money gambling is for adults only: 18+, or 21+ where the law sets a higher age.
- Gambling involves financial risk. You can lose money, and nothing on this site guarantees winnings or profit.
- Laws on online poker and on gambling advertising differ between countries and between regions inside them. Some places, including India, have introduced rules on real-money online games and on advertising them.
- An operator or offer shown here may not be available, or may not be legal, where you live. You are responsible for checking your local law before you play. If real-money online poker is not allowed where you are, do not use operator links.
- Rules in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom require paid and affiliate relationships to be disclosed clearly. We apply the same standard to every reader, wherever you are.
- What we publish is general information. It is not legal, financial or betting advice.
If gambling is causing you harm, or you are worried about someone else, read our responsible gambling page.
Questions and corrections
Spotted a mistake, an out-of-date offer or an undisclosed paid link? Tell us through the contact page. We correct factual errors and note the update date on the page. Advertising and partnership enquiries go through the same page.
Privacy policy · Terms & conditions · Editorial policy · Guest post guidelines · Responsible gambling
