button in SafariPoker Rakeback Calculator: Calculate Cashback on Tournaments & Cash Games
Rakeback in poker is an incentive offered by most online poker sites to players, which awards them a cashback amount based on the amount of rake that's paid. However, not every poker operator offers the same rates of rakeback, nor do they award it in the same way.
So, with the PokerNews Rakeback Calculator, you'll be able to work out how much rakeback you'll earn over a specific time period. Just give us some simple details about your play and we'll do the rest! What's more, we have options for tournaments and cash games.
Start using our Rakeback Poker Calculator tool below.
How to Use the PokerNews Rakeback Calculator
Our Rakeback Calculator has two tabs, Basic and Detailed. The Basic version is a simpler way to calculate your rakeback amount and requires less information. The Detailed version offers more fields, gives you options to filter by cash game or tournament and can provide a more accurate overview of your rakeback.
Basic: Best if you already know how much rake you've paid.
Detailed: Best if you know your playing volume but don't know your exact rake.
Both are easy to use, so just follow the step-by-step instructions below to get started.
Basic Calculator
- Input the amount of rake you've paid (can be an estimate if you're not sure).
- Select the currency - USD / GBP / EUR.
- Select the time period you paid the rake over - Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Yearly.
- Drag the slider to the rakeback rate your site offers.
- Your rakeback will automatically be calculated. Just check the right-hand panel to see the amounts.
Exclusive Poker Rakeback Deals
Our partner, Universal Poker, offers exclusive poker rakeback deals. If you play at one of the major poker sites, you could get better cashback rates on your rake than those offered directly by the operator! Just sign up for a FREE Universal Poker account, link your online poker account at any eligible poker site and take advantage of enhanced rakeback rates.
Detailed Calculator
- Choose between cash games or tournaments, based on what you play.
- Select the currency - USD / GBP / EUR.
- Input your playing volume (Tournaments - Number of tournaments / Cash Games - Stakes + Number of hands played).
- Select the time period (Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Yearly) and then drag the slider to the rakeback rate you get.
- Check the right-hand panel, where your rakeback will be automatically calculated and displayed.
What is Rake in Poker?
Rake in poker is a fee paid by players to the casino or poker site. Poker is different from many other online gambling games, such as blackjack, slots and roulette, where players are competing with the casino directly. A poker site or room has no vested interest in the game. If one player wins, they win money from other players rather than 'The House.'
Casinos simply facilitate the games, organize the structure, provide the location and set up the dealers. So, the rake applied to tournaments and cash games helps to cover the costs of running the game - while allowing the operator to generate revenue.
If that part makes sense, you might be wondering how rake is paid and taken by casinos. It can seem complicated, but in reality, it's a smooth and straightforward process. However, how it's paid depends on the type of game you're playing.
| Tournaments | Cash Games | |
|---|---|---|
| How it's Paid | Included in the buy-in amount | Automatically taken by the dealer from the pot |
| When it's Paid | Automatically when buying in | At the end of each hand - rules vary but most rooms exclude preflop hands from rake |
| How Much is Paid | Typically around 10-20% but can vary | Typically anywhere from 2.5-15% depending on stakes, game and poker room |
| How to Find the Rake | Should be displayed next to buy-in - check tournament lobby if playing online | Usually displayed but can ask the dealer/floor staff or check the game lobby if playing online |
| Cap on Rake | No, it's a one-off fee | Often yes - max amount per hand based on stakes, game and poker room |
Why is Rake Important in Poker?
Rake is more crucial than most people think because it can directly impact your P&L.
Poker is all about fine margins and finding an edge, no matter how small. Rake impacts the amount you win, and subsequently has an effect on your bankroll. Just because it's not something you can compete for, it should still be considered and accounted for if you're serious about poker.
A player could be profitable in theory, but if the rake is high, that can severely cut into any profit made at the table.
Why Calculate Rakeback with the PokerNews Rakeback Calculator?
Just as rake is a factor worth considering in poker, rakeback should also be taken into account and can go someway towards mitigating some of the funds lost to rake.
The important question with rakeback is not whether the site or card room offers it (because most do), it's what rate is offered.
Most online poker sites run some form of rakeback incentive, but 0.5% cashback each month is far less enticing than a site offering up to 40%. Imagine you play $1,000 worth of tournaments. If rake for all of them is 10%, then you'll have paid $100 in rake in total. If the site offers you 0.5% in cashback on rake, this amounts to just $0.50, despite you buying in for $1,000. Now imagine the site offers you 40% - that's $40 back. This shows how varying rakeback rates can make a difference.
So, why use our Rakeback Calculator? Not only is it the best poker rakeback calculator online, but it's also simple and easy to use. We're not just journalists, we're poker players ourselves - so we know what matters.
If you calculate the rakeback you're earning, you can factor it into your bankroll management and better understand what rate you're getting. Poker is poker, regardless of the site you're playing on, so you might as well actively choose to play on a site that offers the best rates of rakeback.
What Online Poker Sites Have the Best Rakeback Deals?
Several top online poker sites have very good rakeback deals. Read on below to compare the best ones and see which rakeback deal best suits you.
| Site | Rakeback (*Up to) | Frequency | Stipulations | Sign Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PartyPoker | 65% | Weekly | Standard rakeback is 20% for all players, but up to 65% for Diamond Elite Club members | Sign up to PartyPoker |
| 888poker | 40% | Monthly | 40% on BLAST games only - 10% flat on all other games | Sign up to 888poker |
| WPT Global | 30% | Monthly | Must connect a Universal Poker account - WPT also run various ad-hoc rakeback promotions | Sign up to WPT Global |
| GG Poker | 80% | Weekly / Earned Continuously | Redeemable Tide Points automatically awarded as you play - Amount of rakeback depends on tier level | Sign up to GG Poker |
| BetRivers Poker | 75% | Weekly / Earned Continuously | Varies based on promotional period and tier level | Sign up to BetRivers Poker |
Universal Poker - Exclusive Free Rakeback Deals
Universal Poker Overview
| Cost | Free |
| What is it? | Independent site that works with poker operators and offers exclusive rakeback deals |
| What sites are included? | PartyPoker, 888poker, WPT Global (*May differ depending on location) |
| How does it work? | Create a Universal Poker account, link it to an existing online poker account and start earning better rates of rakeback |
| Other benefits | Rake Chase - Monthly competitions run by Universal Poker that award cash bonuses to the highest-volume players |
| Who can sign up? | Anyone can sign up, whether they're new to online poker and don't have an account at an operator already, or if they're an experienced pro with an existing account |
Universal Poker is one of our partners that provides online poker players with exclusive, enhanced rakeback rates. It's absolutely free and once you've created a Universal Poker account, all you need to do is link an existing account at an eligible poker site to start earning higher rates of rakeback.
You don't have to pay a penny to access and take advantage of Universal Poker's offers, and linking accounts is simple. What's more, you'll also have access to other benefits such as monthly 'Rake Chases,' where players who pay the highest amounts of rake earn additional cash bonuses.
Click the link below to get started with a Universal Poker account.
Other Tools and Useful Links
• Rake Guide
• Best Rakeback Sites Guide
• Best Poker Sites Guide
• Best Poker Bonuses Guide
Rakeback Calculator FAQs
What is a poker rakeback calculator?
A poker rakeback calculator helps you to work out how much rakeback you can expect based on your play and the rake you've paid. It can also tell you the percentage of rakeback (compared with rake) you're receiving, so you can make sure you're getting the best deal for your money.
How does a poker rakeback calculator work?
A poker rakeback calculator works by using information about your playing volume (E.g. number of hands played/number of tournaments played), selecting the stakes and adding your current rate of rakeback. The calculator will then show how much rakeback you're earning as a percentage of the total rake you've paid.
What is the best poker rakeback calculator?
We're going to be biased, but we truly believe the PokerNews poker rakeback calculator is the best one available. Many of the team are serious poker players, so we understand what you need and want from a tool like this, and have carefully curated it to be intuitive and easy to use.
Is the PokerNews rakeback calculator free?
Yes, all our tools and calculators, including this rakeback calculator, are free and you can use them as much as you want without restriction.
What's the best poker site for rakeback rewards?
This depends on your location, as some sites vary offers and deals depending on the region. But in general, 888poker, GG Poker, PartyPoker and BetRivers Poker all have great rakeback deals.