The short version
- What it is: a share of the rake you've paid, returned to you.
- Where it comes from: the rake itself, through the room's own programme or an affiliate deal.
- How it's worked out: a flat percentage, tiered by volume, or points.
- What to check: how it's calculated, when it's paid, whether it comes as cash or tournament tickets, and the rake underneath it all.
Rakeback in One Sentence
Rakeback is a share of the rake you've paid, returned to you. Pay $100 in rake, get a slice of that $100 back.
Think of a coffee-shop loyalty card, except the coffee is poker hands and the price of each cup is the rake. Every hand you play feeds the room, and rakeback is the room saying thanks with a partial refund. Note the word “partial”.
If the first half of that sentence is new to you, start with our guide to what rake is in poker, then come back.
Where Does Rakeback Come From?
Rake is how a poker room makes money. Rakeback exists because the room (or a partner) agrees to hand some of it back to keep players at the tables. There are two main routes:
- The room's own loyalty or VIP programme. Play more, earn more back. The room sets the rules, so read them.
- Affiliate deals. The room pays a partner a commission on the rake its players generate, and some partners pass part of that commission on to the player. That's how deal sites work, including this one.
Either way, the money comes from the rake you generated. No rake, no rakeback.
Deal Site vs Signing Up Direct: Which Pays More Rakeback?
Fair question, and you should ask it. Here's the straight answer for our deals:
- More rakeback. Players who sign up through us, or link an existing account to us, get more rakeback than they would on their own. The exact rate is on each deal page.
- The same rake. The rake you pay at the tables doesn't change. Same games, same structure, same cost. Only the part that comes back is different.
- It adds to the room's VIP programme. Our rakeback stacks on top of the room's own VIP rewards. It doesn't replace them.
- Someone in your corner. We work directly with the rooms' internal teams, so when something goes wrong with your account, a payment or your rakeback, we can help you get it sorted.
How do we get paid? The room pays us a commission on the rake its players generate, and we pass part of it on to you. It doesn't change what you pay. No trick, that's the whole model.
How Rakeback Is Calculated: Flat, Tiered or Points
Three models cover most of what you'll see. Learn to spot them and most offers stop being mysterious.
Flat Percentage
A fixed share of your rake, say 30%. The easiest model to understand: generate $200 in rake, get $60 back.
Tiered by Volume
The more rake you generate in a period, the higher the percentage. Think of it as bands: stay in a low band and you get a smaller share, climb into a higher one and the share grows. Terms differ on whether the new percentage applies to everything or just the extra, so read the small print.
Points
You earn points for the rake you generate, then swap them for cash, tournament tickets or other rewards at a set rate. Your real rakeback depends on that exchange rate, so do the maths before assuming a points system is generous. Points are only ever as good as the exchange rate.
How and When Rakeback Gets Paid
The percentage is only half the story. Two other questions decide what an offer is really worth: when you get paid, and in what form.
- When: some offers pay instantly, others weekly, others monthly. The schedule decides how soon you can actually use the money.
- What form: most rakeback arrives as cash or tournament tickets. Cash is yours to withdraw; tickets get you into tournaments.
- Minimums: a minimum payout or minimum volume can matter if you don't play a lot.
Same percentage, different payment terms, very different value. Cash gives you flexibility; tickets are only good for tournaments. Read the terms before you compare offers.
A Worked Example: What 30% Rakeback Really Does
All numbers here are illustrative.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rake you generated this month | $200 |
| Rakeback rate | 30% |
| Rakeback returned | $60 |
| Rake you effectively paid | $140 |
Pick up the player from our rake guide who keeps $100 after $200 of rake. With 30% rakeback, that $100 becomes $160.
The flip side is just as important. Take the same $200 of rake in a month where you finish $300 down: rakeback brings that to $240 down. Better. Still down. Rakeback softens the rake, but it doesn't touch variance.
Rakeback is a cushion, not a cheat code.
Do the Maths in 30 Seconds
One multiplication, zero spreadsheets:
- Find the rake you paid in the period (your room's account stats, hand history reports or tracking software can show it).
- Multiply it by the rakeback percentage:
rake × rate = rakeback - Subtract the result from the rake you paid to see your effective rake.
With the example above: $200 × 30% = $60 back, so your effective rake is $140.
Rakeback vs Deposit Bonus vs Loyalty Points
These get mixed up constantly, but they're three different things:
| Type | What you get | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Rakeback | Share of the rake you paid | Cash or tickets? Payment timing |
| Deposit bonus | Extra funds for depositing | Released as you play |
| Loyalty points | Points swapped for rewards | The exchange rate sets value |
Quick test: ask what the percentage is a percentage of. The rake you paid? Your deposit? Your points? The answer tells you which one you're looking at.
Poker Rakeback vs Casino Rakeback
If you landed here after searching “rakeback”, you may have seen the word used by casino-style sites too. There it's usually a share of what the house earns from your bets. Same idea (a slice back for playing), different maths.
In poker, rakeback is tied to the rake you pay on pots and tournament fees, and it only exists because you're playing against other players, not the house. Same word, different game.
Four Myths About Rakeback
- “It's a bonus.” It isn't. A bonus is extra money for signing up or depositing. Rakeback is a refund on a cost you've already paid.
- “It's free money.” Not even close. You only earn it by paying rake, which means you only earn it by playing. The room isn't being generous, it's being competitive.
- “It guarantees a profit.” It doesn't. A player losing 10 big blinds per 100 hands who gets 3 back is still down 7.
- “It's the same everywhere.” It isn't. Rate, calculation method and payment schedule all vary.
How to Judge a Rakeback Offer (Read the Percentage Last)
Before you get excited about a headline percentage, ask:
- How is it calculated? Flat, tiered or points?
- When is it paid? Instantly, weekly, monthly?
- Is it cash or tournament tickets? It decides what you can actually do with it.
- Are there minimums? A minimum payout or minimum volume can matter if you don't play a lot.
- Does it apply to everything you play? Some offers exclude certain games, stakes or tournaments.
- Does it stop you claiming other promotions? Some offers can't be combined.
And remember the rake itself: 30% back on a high-rake structure can be worse than 20% back on a lighter one. Check the rake first, then the rakeback.
Where to Find Rakeback Deals
Ready to compare? Our rakeback deals page lists current offers with their terms. Availability and conditions vary, so read each offer's page before you sign up.
Poker is a game of skill and chance, and you can lose money. Only play with money you can afford to lose. 18+ only. All figures in this guide are illustrative. If gambling stops being fun, reach out to a support organisation in your country.
