Learn exactly how to calculate your poker rakeback earnings, understand rake caps, and estimate your annual rakeback across different poker rooms.
Understanding how to calculate your rakeback is essential for choosing the right poker room and estimating your annual earnings. Here's a practical guide with real numbers.
Step 1: Understand Your Rake
The first thing to know is how much rake you're actually paying. This depends on:
Stakes: Higher stakes = higher rake caps Format: NLH, PLO, and MTT all have different structures Number of tables: More tables = more total rake
Here's a general guide to rake per hour per table for NL Hold'em:
| Stakes | Rake/Hour/Table |
|---|---|
| NL10 | $2-3 |
| NL25 | $4-6 |
| NL50 | $6-10 |
| NL100 | $10-15 |
| NL200 | $12-18 |
| NL500 | $15-22 |
PLO generates roughly 30-50% more rake than NLH at the same stakes due to larger pots.
Step 2: Calculate Your Monthly Rake
Formula: Monthly Rake = Rake/Hour × Tables × Hours/Day × Days/Month
Example: Playing NL50, 4 tables, 3 hours/day, 20 days/month Monthly Rake = $8 × 4 × 3 × 20 = $1,920/month
Step 3: Apply Your Rakeback Percentage
Now multiply by your room's rakeback rate:
| Room | Rate | Monthly Rakeback on $1,920 |
|---|---|---|
| GGPoker (Dolphin) | 50% | $960 |
| CoinPoker | 33% | $634 |
| ACR (Elite) | 45% | $864 |
| PokerStars (Select) | 40% | $768 |
| BetOnline (RISE) | 20% | $384 |
Step 4: Factor in Tier Requirements
Remember that achieving higher tiers often requires minimum volume. If you need to increase your volume just to hit a tier, make sure the extra rakeback justifies any additional losses from playing more.
Step 5: Annual Projection
Multiply your monthly figure by 12 for an annual estimate. Using the GGPoker Dolphin example above: $960 × 12 = $11,520/year in rakeback
That's the equivalent of winning 115 buy-ins at NL100 — just from rakeback alone.
Use Our Calculator
Rather than doing this math manually, use our rakeback calculator. It accounts for rake caps, tier structures, and lets you compare all rooms side-by-side with your specific playing parameters.