What is Rakeback?

Once you have become familiar with rake that makes the concept of Poker Rakeback much easier to explain. As an added incentive, a majority of online poker rooms have decided to give back a percentage of the rake that they make back to their players. How much you can earn varies from room to room, but the average is around 30%. Not only that, but also each room has a different way of calculating how much rake you have earned for the previous period.

Related Articles

• What is Rake?
  
• Types of Rakeback
• Shared Rakeback
• Dealt Rakeback
• Contributed Rakeback

Contributed Method

The most common method that you will see being used is called the "Contributed" method. By playing at rooms that employ this method, you will have to be involved in hands to earn rakeback. It does not matter how much of the hand you play, or whether you win or lose, just the simple fact that you were involved. All of the players that were in the hand will have the rake split amongst themselves and you will earn a percentage of that.

For example, if you were in a pot with 3 other people and at the end of the hand there was $4.00 in the pot and $.60 of that was taken for rake, you would split that with the other 3 people. When you divide $.60 4 ways, you will have been credited with $.15 rake. If you were at a room where they paid 30% rakeback, you would have earned $.04. If you would like to figure this out on your own, be sure to use this equation:

(rake) / (number of players in the pot) = MGR

MGR * Rakeback % = amount you earn

Using the example in the last paragraph above, this is what your equation would look like:

($.60) / (4) = $.15

$.15*.30% = $.04

Weighted Contributed Method

The weighted contributed method is not used all that often and is very similar to the contributed method. The only difference that you will be able to find is that the WCM calculates your rake based on the exact amount that you have put into the pot.

So for example, if you were involved in a hand with 2 other players and you contributed $2 to the pot while the other 2 players contributed $4 each, you would have invested only 20%. If there were $1 taken in rake, you would be credited with only 20% or $.20. From that, you would deduct your rakeback. Using 30% as an example again, you would earn about $.06 for being involved in that hand. To figure this out while you are at the table, please use the following equation:

($ you put in the pot / total $ in the pot) * (rake) = MGR

MGR * Rakeback % = amount you earn

Using the example above:

($2 / $10) * ($1) = $.20

$.20 * .30% = $.06

Dealt Method

The dealt method is another method used by many card rooms. This method considers every player to be dealt cards to have contributed to the rake. Therefore, when the rake is divided up, it is divided up for everyone at the table.

So if at the end of the hand, there was $1 taken in rake and there are 10 players at the table, each player would be given credit for $.10 in rake. From that, you would use your percentage to figure out how much you earned. Using 30% as an example, you would earn approximately $.03. This is what the equation would look like if you would like to figure it out on your own:

($ raked) / (# of players dealt cards) = MGR

MGR * Rakeback % = what you earn

Using our example above:

($1) / (10 players) = $.10

$.10 * .30% = $.03

When choosing a room it is important to remember that you should not base your decision solely on who offers the highest percentage rakeback. The reason for this is simple. Since every room is different in how they calculate rakeback, it is best to determine what kind of player you are first and then make a decision.

For example, the contributed method favors more of a loose and aggressive player since you need to be involved in a hand to earn rakeback. The dealt method will favor tighter players since every player that is dealt cards will receive rakeback. Determining what kind of player you are will be the first step when choosing a room. From there you can use other factors such as rakeback percentage, deposit bonuses, games, traffic, and software when weighing which room is best for you.

What You Need to Know About Rakeback

Aside from knowing what room is best for you, it is also important to keep in mind that if you are already signed up as a player for a room, you will not be allowed to switch to a rakeback account. The exception to this rule may be if you signed up through an affiliate or other 3rd party and they were able to negotiate a deal with the poker room.

You will also want to do some homework on the site you wish to sign up with and look for information on how often and where they pay your rakeback to, whether or not if affects your deposit bonus, and if you are prohibited from any promotions since you earn rakeback.

There are always rooms that go above and beyond what is considered the norm in the rakeback industry to make sure you get the best deal. If you happen to use our article as a guide and do your homework, you too can sign up for the best rakeback deal and earn some of your hard-earned money back.