Rake
Also: rakeback
The venue's cut. In cash games a small percentage is taken from each pot, capped at a fixed amount; in tournaments it is the fee added to the buy-in. Rakeback deals return part of it to the player.
Related terms
Full glossaryFrequently asked questions
How much rake does a poker room usually take?
In cash games the common structure is a small percentage of each pot — often around five per cent — subject to a fixed maximum per pot. The cap varies widely between rooms and stakes, and it is the cap rather than the percentage that determines what a player actually pays over time.
What is the difference between rake and a tournament fee?
Rake is taken out of pots as a cash game is played. A tournament fee is added to the buy-in and paid once on entry: a $100 + $10 event sends $100 to the prize pool and $10 to the house. Re-entering pays the fee again.
Does rake make small-stakes poker unbeatable?
Not unbeatable, but much harder. Because the rake cap is often reached in quite small pots, low-stakes games lose a larger proportion of the money in play to the house. Comparing rake structures between rooms is worthwhile before committing volume to any one of them.
What does "no flop, no drop" mean?
It is the rule that no rake is taken when a hand finishes before the flop. If everyone folds to a pre-flop raise, the pot goes to the raiser untouched.