Rake
Quick Definition
Rake is a poker operator fee. It may be collected from a cash pot, charged separately as a time fee, or included in the total tournament entry price under the game rules.
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: A room may collect a percentage subject to a cap and rounding increments. No flop, no drop applies only where the stated rules provide it; do not assume it for every game. In a hypothetical 5%-up-to-$3 structure, a $40 pot pays $2 and a $100 pot pays the $3 cap. Confirm the stake, player count and collection rule for a real table.
Tournament Rake: The event lists the fee and prize contribution. A hypothetical $50+$5 entry costs $55 in total; the $5 fee is 10% of the prize contribution but about 9.09% of the total entry payment. Read which denominator an advertised percentage uses.
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
In a hypothetical NL100 table with 5% rake capped at $3, an $85 pot pays min($85 × 5%, $3) = $3. The winner receives $82 before any other stated deductions. A second structure capped at $2.50 would collect $0.50 less from a pot that reaches both caps. That is a table-fee difference, not automatically your personal saving. Your attributed fees depend on the operator’s allocation method; 120 pots played do not prove that 120 pots reached either cap.
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: compare the exact game, stake, cap, player count and collection increments in the local rules.
- PokerStars: distinguish the relevant regional product and table format before comparing fees.
- 888poker: verify the current table or event fee rather than assuming a reduced-rake promotion is available.
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.