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Chillin' with the Rake in Poker: Lower Your Game Costs
Poker's no walk in the park—not even the games themselves. Everyone's got to play by the house's rules, and one of the most common is the rake. Yeah, that fee whenever you collect pot gold. In this guide, we're breaking down everything you need to know about the rake in poker, from its origins to ways to cut down the costs. Plus, we're spilling the beans on those high-rolling platforms offering rake-free fun.
So, let's dive in and learn the shady stuff nobody told you about poker.
The Rake Breakdown
What's the rake in poker? Simple, it's a small fee collected by the platform to keep the games running smoothly and put cash in their pockets. In cash games, it's usually a percentage of the pot. In tourneys, it's a piece of the buy-in—think of it as the daily cover charge for the gaming room.
The rake dates back to the casino poker rooms of the 1970s and is an integral part of the game today, both online and offline. The more players there are and the bigger the pots, the more rake there is to collect. And, like any good business, smart players learn to navigate the rake.
The Necessity of Rake
Don't think of the rake as just a cost—it's an investment. It funds secure transactions, tournament guarantees, promotions, fast software, and more. Great, right? Got it!
Why Online Poker Sites Need the Rake
Here's the deal: poker sites don't oppose you—they just provide the tables. They need a source of revenue to pay their bills and keep the servers humming. So, they take a small rake from the cash game pots and tournament fees.
Where Your Rake Goes
- Security: Encryption, fraud detection, and fair gaming systems
- Software: User experience upgrades, mobile apps, smoother gameplay
- Promotions: Bonuses, freerolls, leaderboards
- Tournaments: Guaranteed prize pools and overlay protection
- Marketing: Attracting new players to keep the games active
Is the Rake in Poker Illegal?
If a business collects a fee without proper regulation, yeah—it's illegal. But if they're licensed and play by the rules, it's sweet as pie.
Rake Types
Not all rake is created equal. Here's a rundown of the various rake types:
Pot Rake
The processor snags a percentage of the pot (often after the flop) from each hand. A 5% rake on a $100 pot equals $5, leaving the winner with $95. Commonplace in online poker.
Dead Drop
A fixed fee is collected at the start of each hand (usually from the big blind) regardless of the pot size or the hand's result. Mostly seen in in-person poker games.
Fixed Fee
Every player pays a flat rate per hour, regardless of how many games they play. Perfect for regular grinders but not ideal for casual players.
Time Collection
Rather than per-hand fees, a fixed amount is collected from each player every 30 to 60 minutes. Widely used in high-stakes live poker.
Tournament Fees
A portion of the buy-in is designated as rake. For example, a $100 + $10 tournament has $100 for the pot and $10 for the house.
Subscription Fee
For a monthly fee, say $50, players get access to rake-free games. A rare but emerging model on newer platforms and apps.
Contributed Rake
Only players who contribute to the pot pay rake, and it's split based on each player's contribution. Common in online poker.
Player Value Index Rake (PVI)
Rake is adjusted based on a player's profile, including play style, win rate, and frequency. Some players don't like this because it lacks transparency.
CoinPoker's Rake Structure
CoinPoker calls the rake "Community Contributions" and employs a transparent, player-friendly approach:
- Cash games: 5% rake with caps based on stakes and table size
- Tournaments: 8% fee built into the buy-in
But there's a catch—CoinPoker gives players a little something back: weekly cashback. Players who hold CoinPoker's native token, CHP, receive 33% of their contributions automatically each week.
Online vs. Live Poker Rake
Rake is in every poker game, but how it's handled can vary greatly between online and in-person games.
Online poker is more transparent and faster, with rake caps to boot. Live games have higher average costs and fewer perks.
The Best Rake for You
Not every rake system fits everyone's style. Here's a quick guide to help:
For Casual PlayersCapped pot rake is ideal for low-stakes and infrequent players. It only applies when there's action, and the rake remains predictable.
For Frequent PlayersContributed rake and cashback align well with frequent players' wallets. With this setup, you'll recover more of your costs simply by being active.
Savvy Strategies to Pay Less Rake
Experienced players don't just pocket pots—they conquer margins. Here's how rakeback and bonuses help players maximize profits.
Rakeback
Rakeback is a percentage of your rake returned to you. It's a way for poker sites to reward loyal or high-volume players. CoinPoker calls it cashback, and players who hold CHP tokens in their account receive 33% of their contributions every week automatically.
Bonuses
Welcome bonuses, milestone rewards, and reloads can add tremendous short-term value, especially for newbies. The best part—combine them with cashback, and you've got a potent win-maximizing method.
Find Soft-Rake Games
Selecting the right games can significantly reduce your rake costs. Look for:
- Tournaments with large prize pools compared to buy-ins
- Cash games with capped rake or clear contribution rates
- Promotions that lower or refund entry fees
- No-rake events like freerolls
Rake-Free Poker Titles
Want to play without paying the rake? Here are your options:
- Freerolls: No fees at all and real prizes. Great for practice and growing your bankroll.
- Large-field MTTs: More competitors = higher payouts vs. rake requirements.
- Low-stakes cash games: Smaller pots, smaller rake caps.
CoinPoker offers all three.
In poker, the rake is a fee collected by the platform, such as online poker sites, to keep games running and generate revenue. It's often a percentage of the pot in cash games or a piece of the buy-in in tournaments. The rake supports security measures, software updates, promotions, tournaments, and marketing to attract new players.
Poker sites require the rake to cover their expenses and maintain their operations, regardless of whether it's online or offline. The rake system in online poker is typically more transparent and offers caps, whereas live games have higher average costs and fewer perks.
Not every rake system is suitable for all players. Casual players may prefer capped pot rake, while frequent players may find contributed rake and cashback systems more advantageous. Experienced players can reduce their rake costs by taking advantage of rakeback, bonuses, and selecting soft-rake games.
Rake-free options include freerolls, large-field MTTs, and low-stakes cash games, all of which can be found on platforms like CoinPoker. By following these strategies, players can reduce their rake costs and focus on maximizing their profits.
While the rake may not seem beneficial at first, it plays a vital role in keeping poker games running and providing a safe and enjoyable experience for players. However, it's crucial to practice responsible gambling and ensure that the rake is always collected by licensed platforms following the rules. The casino-and-gambling industry evolves with trends, and casino personalities play a significant role in shaping the casino culture. Sports betting, another popular form of gambling, is also influenced by these trends and continues to gain popularity among enthusiasts.
