Looking to play online poker for real money without risking a cent? Of course you are, and you're in the right place! 'Freerolls' are, as the name implies, free poker tournaments. Despite not costing anything to enter, freerolls often have prize pools where you can win real money, tournaments tickets or other prizes with zero financial commitment. We admit it sounds too good to be true, but there's no catch. What's more, most top online poker sites will run regular freerolls you can enter throughout the week.
So, whether you’re in the US, Canada,UK, or anywhere else around the world where online poker is legal and regulated, we’ve got you covered. On this page, you'll find all the best free online poker tournaments available. If that's not enough, at PokerNews, we also give you exclusive access to private freerollsyou won’t find anywhere else!
Looking for the best freeroll action? Free poker tournaments you can win real money from that run consistently throughout the weekly online calendar? Here are our top 5 picks for the best freerolls you can play in 2026 (in the US, UK and ROW).
Round the Clock freerolls are aptly named, given their regularity in the daily schedule. Ran by PartyPoker, the value with these is not in the prize pool itself, but rather their frequency. Every single hour, you'll be able to play a free online poker tournament and have the chance to win real money. No catch, no entry requirements and no passwords. Yes, the $20 - $50 prize pool up for grabs is modest, but the fields aren't huge and if you're unsuccessful in one, you don't have long to wait until the next Round the Clock freeroll comes around!
Regions
Time
Eligibility
Requirements
US (NJ), UK, France, + Others
On the hour (E.g 20:00, 21:00...)
Available to all players
None
Pros
✅ Frequent - Literally every hour.
✅ No Limitations - Anyone can play with no entry requirements.
✅ Field Size - Often smaller fields compared to other freerolls.
Cons
⚠️ Prize Pool - Relatively small prize pools.
⚠️ Availability - PartyPoker not available in many regions (E.g. only available in one US state - NJ).
PartyPoker's Round the Clock freerolls are well worth registering. If you're already having a session on the site, firing up one of these freerolls is a great opportunity to top-up your bankroll at no additional cost.
GGPoker completely flips the scrip with their freerolls! Downside - there's only one per week. Upside - it comes with a HUGE $100,000 prize pool. Nope, that's not a typo. You really can win a share of $100k by not wagering a dime.
How does it all work? Surely this is too good to be true? We can assure you,
GGPoker is legit and you there's no catch to their $100k freeroll. It is a little more complex, though, than other typical freerolls.
Firstly, you must win entry (a ticket) to it. This can be done a few ways which we outline below. The easiest is to get a ticket is to win one via
GGPoker's daily freerolls. There are two each day, running at 10:00 and 22:00 (UK time), and both act as satellites to the main weekly event. So, no money is up for grabs in the daily freerolls - with the prize pool only consisting of 2,000 tickets to the weekly one.
The daily freerolls also require a ticket, but these are easily obtained. Either make a deposit of any amount, create a new account (new players) or play 100 hands of real money cash games.
How to earn a $100k freeroll ticket:
Make a deposit of $500 or more
Refer a friend
Win a ticket via the daily freerolls
Be dealt aces 10 times in cash games
Regions
Time
Eligibility
Requirements
UK, Canada, Ireland, Brazil + Others
Every Saturday - 16:00 (UK Time)
Available to all players
Ticket needed
Pros
✅ Huge Prize Pool - The largest prize pool for any recurring freeroll tournament.
✅ Easy to Qualify - Considering the prize pool, qualifying for the tournament is fairly simple.
✅ Good Prize Split - Often thousands up to for the winner but also substantial prize structure beneath.
Cons
⚠️ Field Size - Regularly gets over 30,000 entrants.
⚠️ Cash Money - All prizes are paid as cash dollars, which can't be directly withdrawn and must be used in cash games first
⚠️ Duration - Often lasts over six hours, which is understandable given the stature of the tournament
#3 - Daily C-Note Freeroll (BetMGM Poker / Borgata Poker)
Another freeroll on our list of the top free poker tournaments is the Daily C-Note. With BetMGM Poker and Borgata Poker sharing a network, this is available on both sites and can be a nice little bankroll booster.
It's far more straightforward than GG's multi-tournament freeroll structure. There one per day (sometimes more), offering $100 as a standard prize pool. It's nothing too extravagant, but just a solid a reliable tournament that has no entry requirements, passwords nor tickets needed to register.
Regions
Time
Eligibility
Requirements
US only (NJ, MI, PA)
Intermittent - Daily
Available to all players
None
Pros
✅ Straightforward - No nonsense, no fuss - just a simple freeroll tournament available to everyone.
✅ No Registration Requirements - No passwords, tickets or eligibility requirements that need to be met.
Cons
⚠️ Prize Pool - Modest prize pool of $100, which is not as lucrative as other sites considering the lower frequency of these freerolls.
⚠️ Infrequent - While multiple C-Note freerolls will sometimes run daily, the typical schedule sees just one per day.
⚠️ Availability - While there are no entry requirements, BetMGM Poker and
Borgata Poker are only available in a handful of US states.
#4 - Free WSOP Satellites (GGPoker / WSOP.com)
Time to change things up a little. While the other freerolls on this list have award cash prizes, this entry offers something arguably more unique and lucrative - entry to real-life WSOP events!
GGPoker and WSOP.com share rights to run World Series of Poker satellites. Given that some tournaments cost literally hundreds of thousands of dollars (and $1 million in the One Drop's case), it might surprise you that both sites run freerolls satellites to some of these events! It's not always just tickets either.
GG Poker has extensive WSOP packages, which can include flights, accommodation, spending money, merchandise and (of course) a WSOP ticket. Get started by registering for GGPoker's WSOP Express, where you can start at 'Step 0' for free.
While there isn't exactly a frequent schedule for these, both will typically run several regular freerolls during special promotional periods. Often, these will offer tickets to the next stage satellite, so you might have to work your way up until you win entry to a proper WSOP event. However, on occasion, they will put a WSOP event ticket up for grabs directly in a freeroll's prize pool!
Regions
Time
Eligibility
Requirements
WSOP.com: US only (PA, NV, NJ, MI) GGPoker: UK, Canada, Ireland, Brazil + Others
Frequent (Only during promotional periods)
Available to all players
None
Pros
✅ Massive Opportunity - A chance to win entry to literally the largest, most-prestigious events in poker.
✅ Packages - Often lucrative packages on offer that cover travel, accommodation and spending costs, as well as giving you an event ticket.
✅ Wide Availability - Between the two sites, these types of freerolls are widely available to players across many countries.
Cons
⚠️ Step Satellites - The freerolls are often the first stage of a multi-step satellite structure, whereby players need to play multiple tournaments before winning entry to a WSOP event.
⚠️ Competitive - Given the prize on offer, WSOP freerolls will typically have a significantly higher skill level among entrants than other freerolls.
Back to the more conventional freerolls. The iPoker network runs several daily freerolls that might not offer WSOP tickets, but do offer consistent prize pools and far smaller fields.
The schedule is identical among all sites using the iPoker network. The most notable of which are Sky Poker, PaddyPower Poker and Bet365, but if you play on a site that using the iPoker infrastructure then you'll be able to access these as well.
Much like the Daily C-Note freerolls, these daily ones are also fairly low key. There are no bells and whistles, but rather just frequent value and a chance to win money for free. Prize pools vary between £/€25 and £/€50
Regions
Time
Eligibility
Requirements
Sky Poker: UK only PaddyPower Poker / Bet365 Poker: UK + Ireland
Frequent - Around 4 per day
Available to all players
None
Pros
✅ Frequency - Around four per day, split evenly throughout the daily schedule.
✅ Smaller Fields - Field sizes are considerably smaller compared to some other sites' freerolls.
✅ Eligibility - All players are eligible, and no ticket or password is required.
Cons
⚠️ Small Prize Pool - While not insignificant, prize pools are relatively small.
⚠️ Availability - Most sites on the iPoker network are only available in the UK and in some instances Ireland as well.
What is a Freeroll in Poker?
A poker freeroll is a tournament that costs nothing to enter. You register, you play, and (if you end amongst the top players) you win something. Freerolls play exactly as the most expensive poker tournaments. They run around a structure made of levels, they feature increasing blinds and ante bets, and they reward a number of players at the end.
Beginners consider freerolls to be the ideal way to learn how to play poker (you play free poker games, get a chance to win, risk nothing). Pros, see them as value-packed events - especially when freerolls give you a shot at tickets to enter more expensive events for free.
Once on a poker site, you'll find several different types of freeroll events. The majority of them are open to all players, some require a password to play, and others are open only to VIP players who have collected a specific amount of points.
In this section, you'll find everything about the different types of freeroll poker tournaments available online and you'll learn how to identify the best ones to play.
I love the idea of freerolls for two main reasons. Firstly, they're a great way for new players to poker to learn the game. They provide a chance to experience real money poker and tryout strategies in a risk-free environment.
Freerolls are also a great way to build a bankroll. You're never going to win huge amounts of money, but by adopting a solid and patient strategy, you'll likely be able to use freerolls to consistently top up your bankroll.
You may think that there isn't much difference between play money poker and freeroll tournaments because they are both playing poker for free - but that is where the similarities end.
Aspect
Freerolls
Play Money Games
Free to Play?
✅
✅
Can Win Real Money?
✅
❌
Emulates Real Money Gameplay?
✅ - Yes, though freerolls often softer than other real money tournaments
❌
A Way to Build a Bankroll?
✅
❌
Eligibility?
✅ - Some eligibility restrictions may apply based on the freeroll and/or operator
✅ - No eligibility restrictions
Helps to Develop Poker Skills?
✅
✅
Availability?
✅ - Most, if not all, top poker sites will run freerolls
✅ - Some, but not all, poker sites will offer play money games
Play money games are free to enter, butyou can't win any real money.
You play against other players who risk their own play money bankrolls, and you can only win play money. Especially in the lower stakes play money games, play can be wild. Players often go all in every hand, just to try and build a stack. Being patient in these games is important.
Playing freerolls is often a better starting point than to try and run up a bankroll in play money games.
In the early stages of a freeroll tournament, there are often players who go all-in frequently like there are in play money games. However, once the prize money – which is real, actual money – is in sight or if the freeroll awards large prizes, free poker tournaments start to play very much like those tournaments that command an entry fee.
This fact alone makes freerolls the perfect platform to hone your poker tournament skills.
Why do Poker Sites Offer Freerolls?
Poker operators use freerolls to attract new players, for instance, by providing exclusive freerolls for new players.
Operators also run freerolls as part of their rewards program, as a way to reward players for their loyalty.
Lastly a site might run freerolls to give players a chance to experience the software, gameplay and platform in a real-money poker environment.
What Poker Site has the Best Freerolls in 2026?
WSOP and
GGPoker are the best poker sites for freerolls.
Best Freeroll Poker Site - At a Glance [Comparison]
Looking to understand which online poker site is the best for freerolls?
Here's our complete comparison, where we pit each online poker operator against each other so you can decide which is best for freerolls.
The best poker site for freerolls largely depends on what you're looking to get out of them. If you want free ways to satellite into real WSOP events, GGPoker and WSOP Online are your options. If you're looking for volume and frequent, daily freerolls, PartyPoker is the front runner.
Elsewhere, BetMGM Poker, Borgata Poker and sites on the iPoker network like Sky Poker, Bet365 Poker and PaddyPower Poker all run consistent freerolls with some decent prize pools. Freerolls are definitely something you should be trying to capitalize on, especially if you're a new poker player.
PokerNews Exclusive Freerolls are private poker tournaments that you can only enter through PokerNews. They’re hosted on major poker sites like PokerStars, GG Poker and 888poker and others. But unlike public freerolls, they’re password-protected and limited to players who signed up via PokerNews (though passwords are also shared via the PokerNews community on Discord).
Why They're Better Than Public Freerolls
Unlike open freerolls that attract thousands of players, PokerNews-exclusive freerolls typically have much smaller fields, which means:
Higher expected value (EV) for each player
Better chances to make the money or win the tournament
Fewer bots and grinders, creating a fairer playing field
We often partner directly with operators to offer bigger prize pools, custom formats or entry into special events not available to the general public.
How to Access Exclusive PokerNews Freerolls
To join these private events, you’ll need a password, which we only share them with our community members. You can get access in three ways:
It's so easy to get started with playing freerolls - even if you’ve never played online before! Just follow these five simple steps and you’ll be at the tables in no time, playing for real money prizes without staking a dime.
Choose a Poker Site
Create an Account
Verify Your Identity
Find the Freeroll Lobby
Register to Freeroll (with Password if Needed)
To get started, first you must choose a poker site. If you visit our best poker sites page, we go through all the top, regulated and legal online sites for you, weighing up their pros and cons so that could be a good place to begin.
Once you've decided on a site (and you're not just limited to one!), you need to create an account. This is usually a simple process of adding your personal information, before moving to the next step of verifying your identity. It sounds scary but this is an industry standard practice and just in place to ensure you're of legal age to gamble in your region.
Once you're all setup with a verified account, it's just a case of finding the freerolls you want to play. Visit the tournament lobby on your site, enter freerolls or set the filters to only show free poker tournaments and then browse whatever listings come up. Last up is the fun part - playing the freerolls! Register to a freeroll tournament and then let the action commence!
Types of Freeroll Poker Tournaments
All free poker tournaments share the theme of being, well, free, but not all freerolls are created equal. Format, entry criteria and value can all vary widely. Here are the most common types of freeroll poker tournaments you’ll come across so you can learn the difference and find the one that's right for you.
No-deposit freerolls are the best type of free poker tournaments around! They're the most common type of freeroll, require no deposit and anyone can enter. If you are looking to build a bankroll from scratch with zero financial commitment, these are the freerolls for you. Operators often use them as a way to let new users try out the platform before depositing.
New Player Freerolls
New-player freerolls often come as part of a welcome bonus, with many poker sites offering exclusive freerolls just for new sign-ups. These tournaments usually run daily or weekly and offer smaller fields and better odds. Given that only newbies can register, the field is often a lot softer too so they're well worth signing up for! Some may be available for a limited time (e.g. first 7 or 30 days after registration), so don’t miss out!
Points-Based Freerolls
Now come the more restricted freerolls - such as points-based ones. These freerolls are unlocked using loyalty points, earned by playing real-money games. While technically free, they reward active players with added value. The more you play, the more entries you’ll qualify for, and they often have bigger prize pools attached.
PokerNews Exclusive Freerolls
Looking for even more value? PokerNews exclusive freerolls are invite-only tournaments, and are only available to PokerNews readers who register through our partner links. With limited fields, added prize pools, and password-protected access via Discord or email, they often offer some of the highest EV in freeroll poker. What's more, you'll be joining a friendly, active poker community!
Are Poker Freerolls Worth It?
Yes, poker freerolls are worth it as they require no financial commitment and you can win real money!
However, while there might not be any financial downside to player freerolls, there are other factors to consider when deciding if they are actually worth your time.
For many players, especially beginners and those building a bankroll, the answer is yes. But like any format, freerolls come with both advantages and limitations, such as small prize pools, large fields and long duration. Below, we weigh up both sides to playing freerolls.
Pros
No Risk: You can win real money, tournament tickets, or bonuses without ever making a deposit.
Great for Beginners: Freerolls are a low-pressure way to learn the game, test strategies, and get used to online poker software.
Bankroll Builder: With discipline and volume, it’s possible to turn freeroll winnings into a real-money bankroll.
Exclusive Value: Private freerolls (like those offered by PokerNews) often feature small fields and added prize money, improving your ROI.
Cons
Low Payouts: Many freerolls offer small prize pools, especially public ones with thousands of players.
Large Fields: Open-entry freerolls can have thousands of participants, making deep runs more difficult.
Time-Intensive: Freerolls can take several hours for relatively small returns—especially if you're playing without exclusives.
Best Online Freeroll Strategies
Freerolls can be a powerful tool for building a poker bankroll from scratch. However, they don't play like typical online poker tournaments. As such, you'll need to adopt a strategy that's effective for freerolls in order to see success in the long run. Here are some of the best freeroll tips and strategies that we can recommend.
1. Take Freerolls Seriously
Don't think that just because you haven't paid an entry fee, freerolls aren't proper tournaments. Real money is up for grabs, so treat them like any other proper tournament. In doing this, you'll give yourself a greater chance of success. Let others bluff off all their chips in hopeless spots or play ultra-aggressively with 8-9 suited from under the gun.
2. Take Advantage Early On
Many players will ignore the first strategy and play recklessly early on, given that they won't lose any money. This is your opportunity to capitalize. That doesn't mean calling all-ins in medium spots, but rather being patient, waiting for those monster hands to fall and then let others mindlessly throw their chips into the middle.
As the tournament progresses, players will naturally tighten up (and the weak, loose-aggressive players will likely have bustout), so the general standard of the field will be stronger. The early stages is where you can sweep up the chips and gain an initial advantage.
3. Be Patient
Most freerolls, like any other poker tournament, can often last for hours. There's no point being super switched on and alert at the start, then losing patience a couple hours in and punting your chips away. Be patient and dedicate your time to the entire tournament (always assume you will be in till the end).
Again, let others grow tired and make mistakes. It's vital, especially towards the business end of freerolls when you're in the money, that you remain focused and playing your A-game throughout the tournament if you want to be successful.
4. Bluff Less, Call More
Obviously, this is a very broad strategy and decisions should be made depending on the dynamics of each hand. However, in general, opponents will bluff more in freerolls as there is no-risk if they get called - they're out of a tournament they paid nothing to register for. This means you should up your calling frequency to try take advantage of the looser play.
It works the other way round too, with players typically calling more in freerolls because they don't want to get bluffed. Therefore, your bluffs are less likely to get through. That's not saying you should never bluff and always call in freerolls, but just pick your spots and adjust your calling/bluffing frequencies accordingly based on each individual hand.
5. Stay Focused Throughout
It can be tougher to focus in freerolls compared to other tournaments - simply because you didn't stake any money to play them. However, it's vital you remain focused throughout its entirety. There's no point committing hours to playing one, only to carelessly bluff off your stack at the end when you grow tired or lose focus.
ICM becomes more relevant at the end of freerolls, like any tournament, and mistakes during these latter stages are far more costly. Stay focused and remain disciplined till the end and you'll give yourself the best possible chance of earning more.
ALWAYS GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY
While freerolls are free to enter, poker still involves risks and results are never guaranteed. Freerolls also don't reflect the standard of real-money tournaments. Doing well in them doesn't mean you'll be profitable in paid events, so approach real-money play with caution. Read our safer gambling guide.
Are Freeroll Poker Tournaments Legit? What's the Catch?
Yes, freeroll poker tournaments are legit and there isn't any catch to them.
As mentioned on this page, freeroll events are worthwhile to operators as they an promote a site, attract new players and reward the loyalty of recurring players. That's where the benefit comes from for the operators, so while free poker tournaments that pay real money does sound too good to be true, there really isn't any catch.
If you think they're an infinite money glitch, though, it's not quite as easy as that.
Freerolls often have huge fields for obvious reasons, and like any form of poker you can be the best player at the table and play perfect poker but still lose.
Furthermore, the prizes on offer aren't always so lucrative. Some special freerolls like welcome (new player) freerolls might have prize pools in the region of $1,000 - $5,000, but the standard daily/weekly freeroll prize pools are often much less than that.
Legit? Yes. Come with a catch? No. But it's important to note that while there is no real downside to playing freerolls and they are great initiatives for players, you won't become a millionaire by playing them.
While there's no major catch when it comes to freerolls, there are certain caveats you should be aware. These include the prizes on offer being relatively small, large field sizes and sometimes winnings paid out in tickets or cash game money. This shouldn't deter you, though, especially if you're new to poker - as freerolls in this instance offer a perfect opportunity to learn the game and build your bankroll.
A poker freeroll is a tournament with no entry fee that offers real-money prizes or tickets. It’s completely free to play, but winners still get tangible rewards.
Can I win real money playing freerolls?
Yes, many freerolls award real cash, tournament tickets, or even live event entries to top finishers.
Are freerolls actually free to play?
Yes, standard freerolls require no deposit or buy-in, though some may require account registration or modest wagering to become eligible.
How often do poker freerolls run?
Freeroll frequency varies by site. Some run daily or weekly, while others are available only for new players, loyalty-based qualifiers, or special promotions.
What are exclusive freerolls?
Exclusive freerolls are private, password-protected tournaments offered only via PokerNews links or Discord/email invites. These feature smaller fields and added prize pools, giving better EV per entry.
How do I get poker freeroll passwords?
PokerNews shares freeroll passwords via Discord or email. Passwords are usually released a few hours or up to 48 hours before the event, exclusively to our community.
Do I need to deposit money to play a freeroll?
No, many freerolls are completely free and don’t require any deposit. Some may require a sign-up via a PokerNews link or be part of a first-deposit bonus package.
What’s the difference between freerolls and play money games?
Freerolls have real prizes, while play money games don’t. Freerolls cost nothing to enter but let you win cash, tickets, or bonuses.
Absolutely. Freerolls are a risk-free way to learn, with real rewards. They’re ideal for players looking to improve without risking money.
What are loyalty freerolls?
Loyalty freerolls are tournaments that require players to earn points through real-money play. They reward active users with exclusive, high-value games.
Where can I find the best freeroll schedule?
PokerNews maintains an updated schedule of exclusive freerolls, including Discord-only events with added prizes. Check the table above or join our community.
What is the best poker site for WSOP freerolls?
The best site for WSOP freerolls are WSOP.com or GGPoker. Both offer the chance to satellite into the most prestigious tournaments in the world, live in Las Vegas, for absolutely nothing! For instance, you can start for free on GG with the WSOP Express step-based satellites.
What poker site offers the most valuable freerolls?
GGPoker again leads the way when it comes to offering the most valuable freerolls. Once a week, every week, it runs a $100k freeroll! This is crazy value, but you must qualify via one of the daily satellite freerolls (or in the other ways outlined on this page).
What poker site has the most freerolls?
PartyPoker has the most freerolls currently out of any online poker site. It runs 'Round the Clock' freerolls every single hour, giving players ample opportunity to win real money without staking a cent.
