Understanding the Rake in Poker Games Online: How It Impacts Your Winnings

Poker is quite a popular game worldwide. That is because it involves a combination of focus, strategy and skill. But, if you are a newcomer and wish to know what is rake in poker, continue reading below. 

What Do You Mean By Rake in Poker?   

In simple terms, it refers to the buy-in amount charged by us to balance the costs of hosting the game on our servers. In physical or live poker, the rake amount is used to pay the salaries of the casino staff members.

That’s why you have to pay a certain amount (rake) when you play Online Rummy Games on our website, because of the reasons mentioned previously.

Furthermore, the rake amount is a source of revenue for online and offline gaming platforms. 

How is the rake levied?

Depending on the kind of rake that is taken during a match, a rake amount will be charged either:

i) During the beginning of the game 

ii) On a half-hourly or hourly basis

Types of Rake in Poker   

Let us now continue talking about the different varieties of rakes charged in poker games online below:

Pot Rake  

A pot rake refers to the amount the website charges after all the players have paid the entry fee. In other words, if we assume the sum of the entry fees paid by all players as ‘a’, then the pot rake amount charged will be ‘x% of a’. 

Suppose the rake is 7% of the entire entry fee. So, if all the players have paid INR100, you will pay a rake of INR7 as the rake in a casual game. The tournament rake amount might be lower. 

When you play poker games online, you might have to pay the pot rake amount after the first hand has been played. 

Furthermore, you need not worry about paying a high pot rake amount since there is always a limit. 

Tournament Fees   

It refers to the fees we charge in addition to the buy-in amount or entry fee. 

This is why we recommend that you first assess your finances before you enter a tournament. You might have to pay more fees than anticipated, leading to financial loss.

Time-Based Rake   

You must pay these at periodic intervals or the beginning of the game. The frequency of paying this rake will depend on the individual rules of the tournament or match.

Generally, players pay this amount every 30 minutes to an hour. You should remember that you will still have to pay our entry fee separately, which will be more than the timed rake. 

That’s why you will find that these rakes are generally used in low-stakes games, as periodically paying a high fee will not be financially viable for you. 

Rake in Online vs. Live Poker   

Let us now discuss rakes in online and offline poker games below.

Online Poker Rake   

When you play poker games online, you don’t have to pay a substantial amount as a rake. However, the rake amount charged by each website differs. Read the guidelines carefully before paying the requisite amount. 

However, sometimes, platforms might charge a little extra for their dealers when you play online tournaments, though this will depend on the scale of the game.

Platforms also offer rakeback and loyalty programs for their players, so you can redeem a certain amount of money you were charged. In simple terms, rakeback refers to the portion of the service charge amount that players can redeem, depending on their rank.

Find out more information on the percentage you can redeem here. 

Live Poker Rake   

Unlike an online poker game, you will have to pay a higher rake amount due to the physical costs of setting up the game. That’s why organisers often opt for time-based rakes to make their matches more inclusive and accessible to all. 

Furthermore, offline poker game organisers often use the “no flop, no drop” rule. In other words, you won’t have to pay a rake amount if you don’t reach the flop stage (face-up card stage). So if you see an offline game that offers this option, you should go for it.

Impact of High Rake

But how detrimental is an elevated rake? Continue reading to know about it. 

A Decrease In The Number of Games Won

When you pay a high rake amount, you lose the confidence to keep playing since you might or might not be able to redeem your cash. This lack of confidence leads to a loss of focus and poor gameplay. 

Unpredictable Factor

It is not possible to predict the flow of a game of poker. That’s because some players choose to play their community cards, while others choose to bluff their way through the game. That’s why the added element of a high rake amount can increase the pressure and unpredictability.

How You Can Minimize the Impact of Rake   

Choose Lower Rake Games   

Gaming platforms often organize low-stake games on our websites to ensure everyone can play. We would recommend checking your favorite platforms to keep an eye on the various games we host. 

Maximise Rakeback Offers   

You should be alert for the various rakeback offers on the platform. By doing so, you’ll be able to redeem some of the service charges that we levy. 

Focus on Skill Development   

You should never discount the value of practice when it comes to playing poker games online. That’s because practice makes perfect, and you’ll also get a better idea of how to bluff or use your cards to win the game.

The Final Word

So, as you can see, the rake amount is an essential component of poker games online. That’s because it helps online platforms balance the costs of hosting the games on the website servers.

Alternatively, paying the rake amount to live casino game organisers helps them pay their staff members’ salaries and offset the value of setting up the game.  

We recommend thoroughly reviewing the guidelines before playing poker games online. By doing so, you’ll be able to get a grasp of the rake amount and how you can work around it to win the game.
For more information, do get in touch with our team at A23. We wish you the best of luck!