Rake is the fee the poker room takes from each pot or tournament. It's how poker sites and casinos make money, and it significantly affects your win rate.
Rake is the hidden tax on every pot you play
| Type |
How It Works |
| Pot rake |
% of pot, capped at max |
| Time rake |
Hourly seat fee |
| No flop, no drop |
No rake if no flop |
Example: 5% rake, $3 cap. $100 pot = $3 taken.
| Component |
Example |
| Buy-in |
$100 |
| Fee |
$9 |
| Total cost |
$109 |
| Effective rake |
9% |
| Stakes |
Rake |
Cap |
| $0.01/$0.02 |
3.5-5% |
$0.30 |
| $0.05/$0.10 |
5% |
$1.00 |
| $0.25/$0.50 |
5% |
$2.00 |
| $1/$2 |
5% |
$3.00 |
| Stakes |
Rake |
Cap |
| $1/$2 |
10% |
$5-7 |
| $2/$5 |
10% |
$6-8 |
| $5/$10 |
5% or time |
$8-10 |
Live rake is usually higher than online.
| Scenario |
Your Edge |
Rake/100 |
Net Win Rate |
| Low stakes online |
8 BB/100 |
4 BB |
+4 BB/100 |
| Micro stakes |
10 BB/100 |
8 BB |
+2 BB/100 |
| High rake live |
6 BB/100 |
8 BB |
-2 BB/100 |
Reality: Rake can turn a winning player into a loser.
| Program |
How It Works |
| Rakeback |
Return % of rake paid |
| VIP tiers |
Higher volume = better rewards |
| Challenges |
Bonuses for hitting targets |
| Rake Paid |
Rakeback % |
Return |
| $1,000/month |
30% |
$300 |
| $1,000/month |
50% |
$500 |
Rakeback can be huge for grinders.
| Factor |
Look For |
| Lower rake caps |
Especially at micro stakes |
| Better rakeback |
Can add 20-50%+ |
| Promotions |
Rakeback boosts, leaderboards |
| Factor |
Consider |
| Pot size |
Bigger pots = relatively less rake |
| Stack depth |
Deeper = bigger pots |
| Player type |
Loose tables = more rake paid |
| Truth |
Implication |
| Rake is unavoidable |
Factor it into decisions |
| Micro stakes rake is brutal |
Relative % is high |
| Rakeback matters |
Can be your profit margin |
| Live is more expensive |
But fields are softer |
Rake is a constant drain on your win rate. Factor it into game/site selection. Seek sites with lower rake caps and better rakeback. At small stakes, rake can eat your entire edge. Always know what you're paying.