What Is a Rakeback In Poker?

As you look into the world of poker, you might come across terms like “rake” and “rakeback.” In simple terms, the rake is the small fee taken by the casino or poker room from each pot or tournament entry. Now, you might wonder how this fee works and what rakeback could mean for you as a player.

This blog post will unravel these poker terms in a straightforward way. It’ll help you grasp how rakebacks work and why they’re something worth knowing about if you play poker. Whether you’re a curious beginner or looking to potentially boost your poker strategies, read on to discover the value and advantages that rakeback can offer.

What Does Rakeback Mean In Poker?

In poker, rakeback is a reward program offered by some online poker rooms. It involves returning a portion of the rake — the small fee taken from each pot or entry — back to the players. This can come as cashback or as part of a loyalty scheme.

Imagine playing several hands of poker. Each time, a small percentage of your bets goes to the poker room as a rake. With rakeback, part of these fees return to you, helping to offset some of your playing expenses.

Different poker rooms offer various rakeback rates, often expressed as a percentage. For example, if a poker room offers 10% rakeback, you’ll get back 10% of the total rake you’ve paid over a specific period. Remember, it is not necessarily available in every poker game or casino, so always check the specific rules of wherever you choose to play. 

How Does a Rakeback Work In Poker?

When you participate in a rakeback program, the poker room calculates the total rake you’ve contributed over a specific time, usually weekly or monthly. A set percentage of this amount is then returned to you, either as cash or points.

For example, if you contribute £100 in rake over a month and your rakeback rate is 20%, you’ll receive £20 back. Different poker sites have varying rakeback schemes. Some offer direct cash returns, while others incorporate rakeback into loyalty programs where you can earn points for entries to special games or tournaments.

How Is Rakeback Calculated?

Calculating rakeback is quite simple once you understand the basics. The process begins with tracking the total rake you generate while playing poker over a set period, typically a week or a month.

The poker room then applies a specific rakeback percentage to the total rake you’ve paid. For instance, if your rakeback rate is 25% and you’ve paid £80 in rake over the specified period, you would receive £20 back as rakeback.

Different poker rooms might have slightly different methods for calculating the rake. The most common are the contributed and dealt methods.

With the contributed method, only the rake from pots you actively participate in is considered. If you fold and play no part in a pot, it won’t count towards your rake total.

With the dealt method, the rake from a pot is evenly split among all players dealt into the hand, regardless of whether they contributed to the pot or not.

These methods can affect how much you receive, so it’s always a good idea to check the poker room’s calculations. Understanding the potential rakeback can help you manage your poker budget more effectively and possibly increase your enjoyment of the experience.

Who Gets a Rakeback?

Rakeback is typically offered to players who participate in online poker games where a rake is collected from each pot or tournament entry. However, not every player automatically receives rakeback; it often requires signing up for a rakeback deal or joining a specific promotion by the poker room.

Some poker sites automatically enrol players in their rakeback or loyalty programmes, while others may require you to opt-in through your account settings or by contacting customer support. It’s always a good idea to check the terms and conditions to see how these programmes work.

Rakeback is most beneficial for regular players who contribute significant rake over time. However, eligibility criteria might differ between poker rooms, with some offering rakeback to a wider audience, while others reserve it for high-volume players or special promotions.

By knowing who qualifies for rakeback at your chosen poker site or if it is even offered, you can make better-informed decisions about whether you choose to take advantage of these offers and potentially recuperate some of the money you put into the rake.

**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.