What is a Freeroll?

There are a lot of new words and phrases to learn in order to be able to comfortably navigate the sometimes choppy waters of online poker, words without vowels (SnG, MTT) words that seem out of place (Flat Tire, Donkey Call) and some words that will have you wondering if you wandered into the bread line at a soup kitchen—Freeroll. So what is a freeroll, and why should you, the online poker player, care?

A freeroll is just another clever poker player expression that, depending on the circumstances, has two very similar meanings.

In one case a poker player saying he or she is "on a freeroll" or is "freerolling it" is referring to playing without risk but with potential gain. It is often used in a slightly ironic fashion, such as when a player in a poker tournament makes a stupid mistake but gets lucky, they are "freerolling" from there on out because they should have been busted.

More commonly, however, a freeroll is a poker tournament that is "free" to enter, but has a cash reward or other valuable benefit to winning. Notice the quotes around the word free in that sentence? That's right, there are few things in life that are actually free, and freerolls are included. Often a freeroll ticket is awarded to a player in exchange for player points, which are earned while spending their money in other games.

Sometimes they actually are free, however. A poker room will put up a hundred dollars or so and throw it open to all comers, but typically there are some requirements a player has to meet to be in on the game. There might be a "newcomer freeroll", for example, where only new players to the site can play, or freerolls held for gold members of the loyalty club.

However you can get in to a freeroll, do so. It is a great opportunity to add to your bankroll for zero risk.

(Editor's Note: Ladbrokes Poker has great freerolls- and a $500 sign up bonus. Sign up today and play!)