Poker rake: rake structures

What is rake?

The definition of rake in online poker is: the commission online poker rooms take for providing poker games. In cash games the rake will be a predetermined fraction of the pot up to a certain maximum. In tournaments the rake can be seen as an entry fee; it is the amount after the plus. So for a tournament of $10 + $1, $1 is the rake that goes to the online poker room while $10 goes into the prize pool.

Rake structures at online poker rooms: how much rake do they take?

You can click an online poker site's or poker network's name in the list below to view the rake structure of that particular room or network at the bottom of this page.

Rake structures at online poker rooms: poker rake guide

Sifting through the rake schedules at the bottom might be quite a tedious job and is even pointless if you don't know what you should be looking for. Therefore I put together this rake guide which will give you some quick rake tips and will also be a summary of the different rake structures reviewed.

Rake tips and observations:

The best online poker rake structures

Below you can see a table listing the best rake structures from the ones reviewed on this page for several categories of online poker games taking into account all of the points mentioned above.

Online poker rooms with the best rake structures. Micro = up to $0.05/$0.10; low = $0.05/$0.10 < $0.50/$1.00; higher = $0.50/$1.00 and up.
Betting limitStakesBest rake structure(s)
Fixed limitMicroPokerStars, Bodog, and Everest Poker
LowPokerStars, Bodog and Everest Poker
HigherFull Tilt Poker and Everest Poker
Pot limit and no limitMicroPokerStars, Bodog and Ladbrokes
LowFull Tilt Poker and Cake Network
HigherFull Tilt Poker and Cake Network

Getting a part of your paid rake back

Because not every online poker room charges the same amount of rake, you can save money by choosing to play at the poker room with the best rake structure for the games you play. But even when you do, you will find yourself paying a big amount of rake. You might even be a losing player purely because of the rake taken. And therefore it is very important when deciding at which online poker room to play to see if you can get a part of your rake back and if so, how much rake you can get back. As already mentioned in the article about poker bonuses and rakeback the way in which you can get some of your rake back varies with different rooms. At some rooms you get bonuses, other online poker rooms offer a loyalty program, rakeback or a combination of these methods.

Ways of getting paid rake back at different online poker rooms/networks.
Poker room/networkRakebackLoyalty programBonuses
iPokernyy
PokerStarsnyy
Full Tilt Pokeryyy
Cake Poker Networkyyy
Merge Gaming Networkyyy
Ladbrokes Pokernyy
Boss media/IPNyyy
Everest Pokernyy
Bodogyny

It is beyond the scope of this article to extensively go into the details of all the 'rake back' programs of the online poker rooms and networks listed above and compare them. For this article I would like to point out that it can certainly be worth it, even when you are playing at the nano and micro stakes, to take a closer look at rakeback. If you are interested in specifically PokerStars and/or Full Tilt Poker I would like to recommend you to read the pages about PokerStars rakeback, Full Tilt Poker rakeback and PokerStars VIP vs Full Tilt Poker rakeback

Poker rake - conclusion

There are several factors that decide whether an online poker room's rake structure is competitive or not. Of these factors, the ones which differ the most between different poker rooms and networks are the maximum amount of rake charged, the differentiation based on the number of active players at the table and the pot size increments from which rake is taken. When taking all of these factors into account the best overall rake structure seems to be the one of Bodog.

The amount of rake charged by an online poker room can influence your win rate tremendously. This doesn't mean however that rake, and in particular a poker room's rake structure, is the only thing to take into account when deciding where to play online poker. For example, the degree to which the poker room's software annoys you and the number of fishy opponents you meet at the tables every session can have a much more pronounced impact on your win rate than the amount of rake charged. Another important aspect is the amount of rake you can get back in the form of bonuses, loyalty rewards and/or rakeback.


Further reading at First Time Poker Player:


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Appendix to poker rake

Rake structure of the iPoker Network

Rake schedule of iPoker rooms (BetFred, Sun Poker, etc.) in cash games:

Rake structure of iPoker's Fixed Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$0.02/$0.04 - $1.00/$2.002-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
$2/$4 - $30/$602$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$1.00
3-4$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$2.00
5-10$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$3.00
$50/$100 and up2-3$1 for every $20 in the pot$2.00
4-10$1 for every $20 in the pot$5.00

Rake structure of iPoker's Pot Limit and No Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$.01/$.02 - $.02/$.042-10$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$1.00
$0.05/$0.102$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$1.00
3-10$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$2.00
$0.10/$0.20 - $0.25/$0.502$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
3-4$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$2.00
5-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$3.00
$0.50/$1.00 to $10/$202$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$1.00
3-4$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$2.00
5-10$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$3.00
$25/$50 and up2-3$1 for every $20 in the pot$2.00
4-10$1 for every $20 in the pot$5.00

Rake taken by iPoker rooms in tournaments:

At iPoker 10% rake is charged in tournaments. This percentage gradually decreases with increasing buy-ins of $100 and higher. At the Jackpot Sit and Go's an amount of 20% rake is charged.

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PokerStars rake structure

Rake structure of PokerStars in cash games:

Rake structure of PokerStars' Fixed Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$0.02/$0.042-9$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.04
$0.04/$0.082-9$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.08
$0.05/$0.102-9$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.10
$0.10/$0.202-9$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.20
$0.25/$0.502-9$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.40
$0.50/$1.002-9$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.50
$1/$22-9$0.25 for every $5.00 in the pot$1.00
$2/$4 - $100/$2002-3$0.50 at a pot size of $20 and $40$1.00
4-5$1 at a pot size of $20 and $40$2.00
6-9$1.00 at a pot size of $20, $40 and $70$3.00
$200/$400 and up2-3$1 for every $100 in the pot$2.00
4-9$1 for every $100 in the pot$5.00

Rake structure of PokerStars' Pot Limit and No-Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$0.01/$0.02 to $0.10/$0.252$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.50
3-4$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
5-9$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$2.00
$0.25/$0.50 to $50/$1002$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.50
3$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$1.00
4-5$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$2.00
6-9$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$3.00
$200/$400 and up2-3$1 for every $100 in the pot$2.00
4-9$1 for every $100 in the pot$5.00

Rake structure of Pokerstars' Pot Limit and No-Limit Euro games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
€0.01/€0.02 to €0.10/€0.252€0.01 for every €0.20 in the pot€0.50
3-4€0.01 for every €0.20 in the pot€1.00
5-9€0.01 for every €0.20 in the pot€2.00
€0.25/€0.50 and above2€0.05 for every €1 in the pot€0.50
3-4€0.05 for every €1 in the pot€1.00
5-9€0.05 for every €1 in the pot€2.00

Rake structure of Pokerstars' Pot Limit and No-Limit British Pound games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
£0.01/£0.02 to £0.10/£0.252£0.01 for every £0.20 in the pot£0.50
3-4£0.01 for every £0.20 in the pot£1.00
5-9£0.01 for every £0.20 in the pot£2.00
£0.25/£0.50 and above2£0.05 for every £1 in the pot£0.50
3-4£0.05 for every £1 in the pot£1.00
5-9£0.05 for every £1 in the pot£2.00

Rake taken by PokerStars in tournaments:

PokerStars charges 10% rake in all tournaments with a buy-in from $2 up to $100. All tournaments below $1 are free of rake, while for tournaments with a $1 buy-in $0.20 in rake (20%) has to be paid. The rake percentage for tournaments with a buy-in of $100 and higher gradually decreases from 9% to 5% for the highest stakes tournaments ($1000 + $50 for the Super Tuesday).

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Full Tilt Poker rake structure

Rake schedule of Full Tilt Poker in cash games:

Rake structure of Full Tilt Poker's Fixed Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$0.05/$0.10 and $0.10/$0.20 2$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.50
3$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
4$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$2.00
5-9$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$3.00
$0.25/$0.50 and $0.50/$1.00 2$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.25
3-9$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.50
$1/$2 2$0.25 for every $5 in the pot$0.50
3-9$0.25 for every $5 in the pot$1.00
$2/$4 and above 3$0.50 for every $10 in the pot$1.00
4$1.00 for every $20 in the pot$2.00
5-9$1.00 for every $20 in the pot$3.00

Rake structure of Full Tilt Poker's Pot Limit and No-Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$0.01/$0.02 to $0.05/$0.10 2$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$0.50
3-4$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$1.00
5-9$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$2.00
$0.10/$0.25 2$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.50
3$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
4$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$2.00
5-9$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$3.00
$0.25/$0.50 and up 2$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.50
3$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$1.00
4$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$2.00
5-9$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$3.00

Rake taken by Full Tilt Poker in tournaments:

Full Tilt Poker mostly charges 10% rake for tournament buy-ins. This percentage gradually drops for tournaments with a $100 buy-in or higher to 4-6% at the highest stakes tournaments. In $1 tournaments like 'The Daily Dollar' and 'The Ferguson' no rake is charged.

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Rake structure of the Cake Poker Network

Rake schedule of the Cake Poker Network (Cake Poker, Red Star, etc.) in cash games:

Rake structure of Cake Poker Network's Fixed Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$0.02/$0.04 to $0.05/$0.10 2$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$0.50
3$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$1.00
4$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$2.00
5-9$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$3.00
$0.10/$0.20 2$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.50
3$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
4$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$2.00
5-9$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$3.00
$0.25/$0.50 and $0.50/$1.00 2$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.50
3-9$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$1.00
$1/$2 2$0.25 for every $5 in the pot$0.50
3-9$0.25 for every $5 in the pot$1.00
$0.05/$0.10 and $0.10/$0.20 HU$0.50 for every $10 in the pot$0.50
3$0.50 for every $10 in the pot$1.00
4$1.00 for every $20 in the pot$2.00
5-9$1.00 for every $20 in the pot$3.00

Rake structure of Cake Poker Network's Pot Limit and No-Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$0.01/$0.02 to $0.05/$0.10 2$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$0.50
3-4$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$1.00
5-9$0.01 for every $0.15 in the pot$2.00
$0.10/$0.20 2$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.50
3$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
4$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$2.00
5-9$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$3.00
$0.25/$0.50 and up 2$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.50
3$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$1.00
4$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$2.00
5-9$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$3.00

Rake taken in Cake Poker Network's tournaments:

At the Cake Poker Network a maximum of around 10% is raked in tournaments.

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Rake schedule of the Merge Gaming Network

Rake taken in cash games at the Merge Gaming Network (Aced Poker, Carbon Poker):

Rake structure of Merge Gaming Fixed Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
up to $1/$22-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
$2/$4 and above 2-3$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
4-5$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$2.00
6-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$3.00

Rake structure of Merge Gaming Pot Limit and No-Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
All stakes2-3$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
4-5$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$2.00
6-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$3.00

Rake taken at Merge Gaming tournaments:

Rake charged on tournament buy-ins at Merge Gaming poker rooms does not differ from the standard maximum of around 10%.

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Ladbrokes Poker rake structure

Rake taken by Ladbrokes in cash games:

Rake structure of all cash games at Ladbrokes.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
Below $0.05/$0.102-10$0.01 for every $0.10 in the pot$0.10
$0.05/$0.10 and up2$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.00
3-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$3.00

Rake taken by Ladbrokes in tournaments:

Ladbrokes charges 10% rake on all tournaments.

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Rake schedule of the Boss media/IPN network

Rake taken at the Boss media/IPN poker network (ParadisePoker) in cash games:

Rake structure of Boss media/IPN Fixed Limit games (in either $, €, £ or YTL).
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$0.10/$0.202-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$1.50
$0.25/$0.502-10$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$1.50
$0.50/$1.00 and $1/$22-10$0.25 for every $5.00 in the pot$1.50
$2/$4 to $10/$202-10$0.25 for every $5.00 in the pot$3.00
$15/$30 and up2-10$0.50 at $30, $40, $50, $70, $85 and $100$3.00
$100/$200 and up2-3$1 for every $100 in the pot$2.00
4-10$1 for every $100 in the pot$5.00

Rake structure of Boss media/IPN Pot Limit and No-Limit games (in either $, €, £ or YTL).
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$0.02/$0.042-10$0.01 for every $0.10 in the pot$3.00
$0.05/$0.102-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$3.00
$0.12/$0.25 to $25/$502-10$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$3.00
$50/$100 and up2-3$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$2.00
4-10$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$5.00

Rake taken at Boss media/IPN in tournaments:

At Boss media/IPN poker rooms 10% rake is charged on all tournament buy-ins.

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Everest Poker rake structure

Rake taken by Everest Poker in cash games:

Unique feature: no rake is taken from any pot that is less than 3 times the big blind.

Rake structure of Everest Poker's Fixed Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
Up to $0.10/$0.202-3$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.10
4-5$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.25
6-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.50
$0.25/$0.502-3$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.10
4-5$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.25
6-10$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.50
$0.50/$1.002-3$0.10 for every $2.00 in the pot$0.25
4-5$0.10 for every $2.00 in the pot$1.00
6-10$0.10 for every $2.00 in the pot$1.00
$1/$22-3$0.25 for every $5.00 in the pot$0.25
4-5$0.25 for every $5.00 in the pot$1.00
6-10$0.25 for every $5.00 in the pot$1.00
$2/$42-3$0.25 for every $10 in the pot$1.00
4-5$0.25 for every $5.00 in the pot$2.00
6-10$0.25 for every $5.00 in the pot$3.00
$3/$62-3$0.25 for every $5.00 in the pot$1.00
4-5$0.50 for every $10 in the pot$2.00
6-10$0.50 for every $10 in the pot$3.00
$5/$10 and up2-3$0.50 for every $20 in the pot$1.00
4-5$1.00 for every $20 in the pot$2.00
6-10$1.00 for every $20 in the pot$3.00

Rake structure of Everest Poker's Pot Limit and No-Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
Up to $0.10/$0.102-3$0.02 for every $0.30 in the pot$0.25
4-5$0.02 for every $0.30 in the pot$1.00
6-10$0.02 for every $0.30 in the pot$2.00
$0.20/$0.20 and up2-3$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$1.00
4-5$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$2.00
6-10$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$3.00

Rake taken by Everest Poker in tournaments:

At Everest Poker the rake taken from tournament entry fees does not differ from the industry's standard of 10% with a lower percentage for tournaments of $100 and above.

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Bodog rake structure

Rake charged at Bodog cash games:

Rake structure of PokerStars' Fixed Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
$0.02/$0.052-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.05
$0.05/$0.102-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.10
$0.10/$0.252-10$0.01 for every $0.20 in the pot$0.25
$0.25/$0.502-10$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$0.50
$0.50/$12-10$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$1.00
$1/$22-10$0.25 for every $5.00 in the pot$2.00
$2/$4 and higher2-3$1 for every $20 in the pot$1.00
4-5$1 for every $20 in the pot$2.00
6-10$1 for every $20 in the pot$3.00

Rake structure of PokerStars' Pot Limit and No-Limit games.
Stakes# PlayersRake per pot size incrementMax rake
All stakes2-3$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$1.00
4-5$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$2.00
6-10$0.05 for every $1.00 in the pot$3.00

Rake at Bodog tournaments:

The rake charged at Bodog on tournament buy-ins is in line with the standard for online poker with a maximum of 10%.

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