Rakeback

What Is Rakeback?

Rakeback is the single most important factor in a serious poker player’s bottom line after skill. Every hand you play contributes rake to the poker room, and rakeback programs return a portion of that money to you. Think of it as a rebate program — the more you play, the more you get back.

Historically, rakeback was offered as a flat percentage deal, often through affiliate partners. A player might receive 30% rakeback, meaning for every $100 in rake paid, $30 would be returned. Modern poker rooms have largely moved toward tiered VIP and rewards programs where your rakeback percentage increases based on your monthly volume.

The impact of rakeback on your win rate cannot be overstated. A breakeven player generating $5,000 in monthly rake with a 25% rakeback deal earns $1,250 per month purely from rewards. For many grinders, especially at lower stakes, rakeback is the difference between a profitable and unprofitable career.

How It Works

Dealt Rake Method: Rakeback is calculated based on the total rake taken from any pot you were dealt into, divided equally among all dealt players. If $3 is raked from a 6-player table, each player is credited $0.50 in rake contribution regardless of whether they folded preflop.

Contributed Rake Method: Only players who put money into the pot receive rake credit, proportional to their contribution. If you folded preflop, you get zero credit for that hand. This method rewards active players.

Weighted Contributed Method: Similar to contributed, but your rake credit is weighted by the proportion of money you put into the pot. If you contributed 60% of the pot, you get 60% of the rake credit.

Tiered VIP Programs: Most modern rooms use a points-based system. You earn points for rake paid, then unlock progressively higher reward tiers. Monthly volume resets mean you must maintain consistent play to keep elite status.

Example

You play NL200 for 40 hours per month, averaging 4 tables simultaneously at 75 hands per hour. Your average rake contribution is approximately $8 per hour per table, totaling $1,280 in monthly rake. Under a flat 30% rakeback deal, you receive $384 back. Under a tiered system, hitting the mid-tier at 25% yields $320, but reaching the top tier at 40% would return $512. The difference between tiers — $192 per month — is meaningful and worth chasing if you are close to a threshold.

Where to Find the Best Rakeback Deals

Rakeback structures vary dramatically between rooms, and the best deal depends on your volume and game type.

• GGPoker runs the Fish Buffet loyalty program with tiered cashback that can reach up to 60% for the highest-volume players. It uses a points-to-reward system with daily chest openings.
• PokerStars replaced its legendary Supernova program with the Stars Rewards system, offering personalized chests based on play volume. Effective rakeback varies but typically ranges from 15% to 30%.
• 888poker offers a Gold Rewards program with rakeback up to 36%, plus frequent promotional boosters that can push effective rates higher.
• WPT Global provides competitive rakeback deals, especially for new players through introductory promotions.

Use our Rake Calculator to estimate your monthly rake and compare effective rakeback rates across rooms.

Related Terms

• Rake — the fee that rakeback partially refunds
• Cash Games — the format where rake accumulates most consistently
• HUD — tracking tools often used alongside rakeback to monitor profitability

FAQ

What is a good rakeback percentage?

Anything above 25% is solid for a recreational player. Serious grinders should target 30% or higher. Some rooms offer effective rakeback above 50% at the highest VIP tiers, but these require substantial monthly volume to achieve. Always calculate total effective rakeback including promotions and bonuses.

Can I negotiate a custom rakeback deal?

In the past, affiliates frequently offered private rakeback deals. Today, most major rooms have standardized their VIP programs. However, some smaller or newer rooms still offer negotiated deals, especially for high-volume players. It is always worth asking.

Is rakeback better at cash games or tournaments?

Cash game players typically generate more rake per hour and benefit more from rakeback in absolute terms. Tournament players pay rake upfront as part of the buy-in, and their rakeback earnings depend on the volume of tournaments played. For pure rakeback optimization, cash games at multiple tables are the most efficient path.