Are you tired of watching your poker profits slowly disappear into the house’s pocket? Every hand you play, the poker site takes its cut—the rake—eating away at your hard-earned winnings.
What if you could get a significant portion of that money back? That’s exactly what rakeback deals offer, and they might be the difference between being a break-even player and a profitable one.
In this article, you’ll discover how rakeback works, the different types of deals available, and how to maximize this often-overlooked source of poker income.
What Is Poker Rakeback Deal?
A Poker Rakeback Deal is a loyalty reward system where poker sites return a percentage of the rake you generate back to you. Think of it as a cashback program for poker players. When you play in cash games or tournaments, the site collects a fee (the rake), and with rakeback, you get a portion of that fee returned.
Let’s say for example, if you play in a $1/$2 cash game where the site takes a 5% rake capped at $5 per hand. If you play 1,000 hands in a month and generate $1,000 in rake, a 30% rakeback deal would return $300 to your account. That’s significant money that goes directly back into your bankroll.
Types of Rakeback Deals
Fixed Percentage Rakeback
This is the most straightforward type of rakeback deal. You receive a fixed percentage of the rake you generate, typically between 20% and 50%. The amount is usually credited to your account daily, weekly, or monthly.
The beauty of fixed percentage rakeback is its predictability. If you know you’re getting 30% rakeback, and you generate $500 in rake this month, you can count on receiving $150 back.
VIP Programs
Many poker sites have moved away from traditional rakeback toward tiered VIP programs. These programs award you points based on how much you play, and you can exchange these points for cash, tournament tickets, or merchandise.
With VIP programs, your effective rakeback percentage typically increases as you climb the loyalty tiers. At the lowest tier, you might receive the equivalent of 5-10% rakeback, while at the highest tiers, this can increase to 50% or more.
Hybrid Systems
Some sites offer a hybrid approach, combining a lower fixed rakeback percentage with additional rewards through a VIP program. This gives you immediate rakeback benefits while also incentivizing long-term play.
The Benefits of Rakeback
Improved Win Rate
The most obvious benefit of rakeback is its direct impact on your bottom line. If you’re a break-even player without rakeback, a 30% rakeback deal instantly makes you profitable. If you’re already profitable, rakeback significantly boosts your win rate.
For serious players, rakeback often represents a substantial portion of overall poker income. Even winning players at mid-stakes can find that 20-40% of their total profit comes from rakeback.
Bankroll Sustainability
Poker is a game of variance, and even skilled players experience downswings. Rakeback provides a consistent income stream that helps smooth out these fluctuations. During losing streaks, rakeback can slow the depletion of your bankroll, giving you more staying power.
Freedom to Table Select
Without rakeback, you might feel compelled to seek out the softest games with the weakest opponents. While this is generally a good strategy, rakeback gives you more flexibility. You can afford to play in slightly tougher games if they have higher volume and generate more rake (and thus more rakeback).
How to Get the Best Rakeback Deals
Research and Compare Offers
Different poker sites offer varying rakeback percentages and structures. Take the time to research current offers and compare them based on:
- The percentage of rakeback offered
- How often rakeback is paid out
- Whether there are caps or limitations
- The overall traffic and game quality on the site
Consider Using an Affiliate
Many poker affiliates can offer special rakeback deals that aren’t available if you sign up directly through the poker site. These affiliates have arrangements with the poker rooms and can often secure better terms for their players.
When signing up through an affiliate, make sure they’re reputable and check that their rakeback offer is legitimate. The best affiliates provide ongoing support and can help resolve any issues with the poker site.
Calculate the Effective Rakeback
When comparing VIP programs to traditional rakeback, calculate the “effective rakeback” percentage. This requires estimating how many points you’ll earn based on your volume of play, and then determining what percentage of the rake those points represent when redeemed.
Let’s say for example, if playing 10,000 hands per month earns you points worth $200, and you generated $1,000 in rake, your effective rakeback is 20%.
Watch for Promotions
Many poker sites run temporary promotions that can boost your effective rakeback. These might include:
- Double points periods
- Rake races (leaderboard competitions with cash prizes)
- Special challenges that award bonuses for reaching certain volume thresholds
These promotions can significantly increase your return, especially if you can adjust your volume to take advantage of them.
Maximizing Your Rakeback Value
Volume Is Key
Since rakeback is directly tied to how much rake you generate, increasing your volume is the most straightforward way to maximize your rakeback income. Consider adding more tables if you can maintain good decision-making.
Play at the Right Stakes
Higher stakes generate more rake per hand, but they also come with tougher competition. Find the sweet spot where you can generate significant rake while still maintaining a positive win rate (or at least minimizing losses).
Mid-stakes games often provide the best balance of reasonable rake generation and beatable opposition.
Track Your Results
Keep detailed records of your play, including the rake you generate and the rakeback you receive. This data helps you evaluate whether your current rakeback deal is competitive and whether your volume of play is optimized for rakeback maximization.
Common Rakeback Mistakes to Avoid
Chasing Rakeback at the Expense of Win Rate
While rakeback is important, it shouldn’t be your primary consideration. A site with 40% rakeback but extremely tough games might be less profitable overall than a site with 25% rakeback and much softer games.
Ignoring the Fine Print
Some rakeback deals come with conditions that can significantly affect their value:
- Inactivity clauses that cancel your rakeback if you don’t play for a certain period
- Caps on how much rakeback you can earn
- Restrictions on which games count toward rakeback calculations
Always read the terms and conditions carefully before committing to a rakeback deal.
Playing Too Many Tables
While multi-tabling increases your volume and rakeback, playing too many tables can hurt your decision-making and overall win rate. Find your optimal number of tables where you’re maximizing rakeback without sacrificing too much on your base win rate.
Conclusion
Rakeback deals represent one of the most significant edges available to online poker players. Whether you’re a recreational player looking to minimize losses or a professional seeking to maximize profits, the right rakeback arrangement can dramatically improve your poker results.
By understanding how rakeback works, comparing the available offers, and optimizing your play to take advantage of these deals, you’re positioning yourself for long-term poker success. In a game where edges are often measured in small percentages, rakeback can provide a substantial boost to your bottom line.
Remember that the poker landscape is constantly changing, with sites adjusting their rakeback offers and loyalty programs. Stay informed about current deals and be prepared to switch sites if significantly better terms become available elsewhere. Your bankroll will thank you.
