Poker rakeback: what it is, how to calculate it, and a glossary of terms
What rake and rakeback are
Rake is the fee a poker room charges for hosting the games. In cash games it’s a percentage of the pot (around 5% on average), with a cap per hand. In tournaments it’s built into the buy-in and usually sits between 6% and 12%.
Rakeback gives part of that rake back to the player. With 50% rakeback, half of the rake you paid comes back to your account.
How to calculate rakeback
The math is simple: rake generated × rakeback percentage = amount returned.
- You generated $1,000 in rake this month and have 35% rakeback: you get $350.
- You generated $400 in rake and have 50% rakeback: you get $200.
To see how much rake you generate, check your hand history or the stats area in the room. Many rooms pay rakeback as points, weekly cashback or rake races, and the RakebackPokerWorld deal adds an extra return on top of the room’s own program.
Rake and rakeback compared: selected rooms (2026)
| Room | Rake (room fee) | Rakeback via RPW | Reward system | Best for | Sign-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ignition Poker | ~5% | 50% | Loyalty points / bonuses | Recreational players / anonymous tables | Sign up |
| Betsson Poker | 5% to 6.67% | 50% | iPoker network (loyalty) | Stability and security | Sign up |
| Betsafe Poker | 5% to 6.67% | 50% | iPoker network (loyalty) | Series with big guarantees | Sign up |
| 888poker | ~5% | 50% | 888poker Club / weekly cashback | Beginners and freerolls | Sign up |
| RedStar Poker | 5% | 45% | Fixed 2-level system | Simplicity and steady rakeback | Sign up |
| Everygame Poker | ~5% | 36% | Direct cashback | Softer fields | Sign up |
| Netbet Poker | 5% to 6.6% | 35% | NetBet store (tokens/cash) | Choice of deposit methods | Sign up |
| BetOnline Poker | ~5.5% | 33% | Weekly payout (every Friday) | Crypto deposits | Sign up |
| ACR Poker | 4% to 5% | 30% | Elite Benefits (points) | Grinders and high rollers | Sign up |
| Tigergaming | ~5.5% | 30% | Weekly payout (every Friday) | Crypto deposits | Sign up |
Poker glossary (NLH and PLO)
A–C
- Action: whose turn it is to act in a hand. Also used to describe a game with lots of betting.
- All-in: betting all of your chips.
- Bad beat: losing a hand in which you were a big statistical favorite.
- Bankroll: the money a player sets aside only for poker.
- Blinds (small/big): forced bets posted before the cards are dealt.
- C-bet (continuation bet): a bet on the flop by the player who raised before the flop.
D–R
- Draw: when you need specific cards on the turn or river to complete your hand (for example, a flush draw).
- EV (expected value): what a play is worth in the long run. It can be +EV (profitable) or −EV (losing).
- Flop, turn and river: the three rounds of community cards (3 cards, then 1, then 1).
- NLH (No-Limit Hold’em): the most popular game in the world, where each player gets two cards.
- Nuts: the best possible hand in a given spot.
- PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha): a game where you get four cards and must use exactly two of them with three from the board.
- Rakeback: a refund of a percentage of the fee (rake) the room charges. For regular players it’s the steadiest source of extra return. See our rakeback deals.
S–V
- Showdown: when the remaining players show their cards after the last round of betting.
- Tilt: playing emotionally and badly after a frustrating loss.
- VPIP (voluntarily put money in pot): how often a player voluntarily puts money into the pot before the flop. A key stat in HUDs.
Work out your equity in real time
Count your outs (the cards that complete your hand) and see your chance of hitting on the turn, the river or either. You can also use it to decide whether a call is worth it: compare your equity with the pot odds.
Frequently asked questions
What is rakeback in poker?
Rakeback is a refund of a percentage of the fee (rake) a poker room charges players. For regular players it's one of the most reliable ways to improve long-term results.
How do I calculate poker odds?
Count your outs and use the real-time equity calculator on this page. It shows your chance of hitting and whether a call pays off against the pot odds.