Rake

What Is Rake?

Rake is how online poker rooms make money. Unlike casino games where you play against the house, in poker you compete against other players. The poker room acts as a neutral host, and rake is the fee it charges for providing the table, software, dealers, and infrastructure.

In cash games, the rake is typically a percentage of the pot taken after each hand, usually between 2.5% and 5%, up to a fixed maximum called the “rake cap.” In tournaments, the rake is built into the buy-in as a separate fee. For example, a “$10+$1” tournament means $10 goes to the prize pool and $1 goes to the room as rake.

Understanding rake is essential because it directly affects your long-term profitability. A winning player at a high-rake table might become a losing player at the same stakes simply because the room takes too much off the top. Over thousands of hands, even small differences in rake structure can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars.

How It Works

Cash Game Rake: The room takes a percentage of each pot, but only if the hand reaches the flop (the “no flop, no drop” rule). A typical structure might be 5% up to a $3 cap at NL50. This means if the pot is $40, the room takes $2. If the pot is $100, the room takes $3 (the cap), not $5.

Tournament Rake: Charged upfront as part of the buy-in. Standard tournament rake ranges from 5% to 15% of the buy-in. A $55 tournament is usually structured as $50+$5, with the $5 being rake.

Pot Rake vs. Timed Rake: Most online rooms use pot rake. Some high-stakes live games use a timed rake (also called a “seat charge”), where each player pays a fixed fee per half-hour regardless of how many pots they win.

Rake Cap: The maximum amount the room can take from a single pot. Caps vary by stakes and table size. Heads-up tables typically have lower caps than full-ring games. Always check the rake cap structure before choosing a room — it matters more than the percentage itself at many stakes.

Example

You are playing NL100 ($0.50/$1.00 blinds) at a table with a 5% rake and a $3 cap. A hand plays out and the final pot is $85. The room calculates 5% of $85 = $4.25, but the cap is $3, so only $3 is taken. The winner receives $82. Over a session of 500 hands where you are involved in 120 pots, even small rake differences add up significantly. If another room caps at $2.50, you save $0.50 per capped pot — potentially $30-$60 per session.

Where to Find the Best Rake Structures

Not all poker rooms charge the same rake. Comparing rake structures is one of the most important factors when choosing where to play.

• GGPoker offers competitive rake caps especially at micro and low stakes, making it popular among grinders.
• PokerStars has a well-known rake structure that varies by game type, with reduced rake at heads-up tables.
• 888poker frequently runs reduced-rake promotions and has lower tournament fees on select events.

Use our Rake Calculator to compare how much rake you actually pay across different rooms and stakes.

Related Terms

• Rakeback — the portion of rake returned to players as a reward
• Cash Games — the primary game format where pot rake applies
• Multi-Table Tournament — tournament format where rake is charged upfront

FAQ

Is rake the same at every poker room?

No. Rake percentages, caps, and structures vary significantly between rooms. Some rooms charge lower percentages but have higher caps, while others do the opposite. Always compare the full rake schedule, not just the headline percentage.

Does rake make poker unbeatable?

No, but it does raise the bar. You need to beat your opponents by enough to overcome the rake. At micro stakes, where rake as a percentage of the pot is highest, choosing a low-rake room or securing rakeback deals is critical for long-term profitability.

How can I reduce the amount of rake I pay?

Three main strategies: choose a room with low rake caps at your stakes, sign up for a rakeback deal or VIP program that returns a portion of your rake, and avoid playing too many small pots where the rake-to-pot ratio is unfavorable.