Is the "free play" rigged?

   

Its not rigged. They just know you won't be able to stop playing after the $200.

   

I'm no expert but I do play online poker (both free and cash).
In order to get the Bonus on most sites, the bonus is incremental in conjunction with your deposits. In the event that you pay no deposit, you still have to open an account and set up a means to make a deposit. This makes it easier to make future deposits in the event you lose your free bonus.
They make money by charging a small fee for each tournament you enter. These sites also have fees they charge to recieve disbursement from your account and the companies that provide a means for depositing money into and from your account also charge fees, Most likely, the poker site recieves a kickback from the fund sourcing companies.

   

Nope, not rigged! They just know that a) of course the house always has an edge, so they are likely to come out on top and b) if you win money, most likely you're going to spend it and gamble more! So it's usually a win-win situation for them.

That said, no-deposit bonuses like that are a great way to gamble online without risking anything. If you have the willpower to stop while you're ahead, you can do pretty well for yourself.

Also, Platinum Play (like other casinos that do the "no-deposit" thing) also offers you a deposit bonus when you actually do deposit money. So if you just keep playing with the "free" money, you can end up having a good time AND not hating yourself in the morning.

Good luck!

   

They make money from every pot. They take a small percentage of every pot.

Free play is free. I haven't dropped a dime and have been playing free on 5 sites.

   

Read the term of use, you also have to deposit money afterwards and play it if you want to take the money you made from their free play.