What is the dealt vs contributed rake method?

The 'dealt' method splits rake equally among all players dealt into the hand. The 'contributed' (or 'weighted contributed') method distributes rake based on how much each player put into the pot. Most modern rooms use the weighted contributed method, which rewards active players more.

How do I know how much rake I'm paying?

Check your poker tracking software (PokerTracker, Hand2Note, DriveHUD) for exact rake paid. Without a tracker, estimate based on stakes: at $0.25/$0.50 NLH 6-max, expect to pay roughly $4-6/hour in rake per table. At $1/$2, expect $12-18/hour.

Does rakeback apply to tournament fees?

Yes, most rooms include tournament fees (the portion after the '+') in their rakeback calculations. For example, in a $10+$1 tournament, the $1 is the fee that counts toward your rake volume. This means tournament grinders also benefit significantly from good rakeback programs.

Calculator Guide

How to Calculate Your Poker Rakeback

A step-by-step guide to understanding rake, calculating your earnings, and choosing the room that pays you the most.

Understand How Rake Works

Rake is the house fee taken from every cash game pot or tournament buy-in. In cash games, it's typically 2.5-5% of the pot, capped at $3-$5 depending on stakes and room. In tournaments, the fee is the amount after the "+" sign (e.g., $10+$1).

There are two methods rooms use to calculate how much rake each player contributed:

Dealt Method

Rake is split equally among all players dealt cards, regardless of whether they played the hand. Tight players benefit from this method.

Used by: Few modern rooms (legacy method)

Weighted Contributed

Rake is distributed based on how much each player put into the pot. Active, loose players get credited more. This is the modern standard.

Used by: GGPoker, PokerStars, ACR, most rooms

Estimate Your Hourly Rake

If you don't have tracking software, use these estimates for NLH 6-max (per table):

Stakes	Approx. Rake/Hour	At 30% Rakeback
$0.01/$0.02 (micro)	$0.50-1	$0.15-0.30/hr
$0.05/$0.10	$2-4	$0.60-1.20/hr
$0.25/$0.50	$4-6	$1.20-1.80/hr
$0.50/$1.00	$8-12	$2.40-3.60/hr
$1/$2	$12-18	$3.60-5.40/hr
$2/$5	$25-40	$7.50-12/hr
$5/$10	$50-80	$15-24/hr
$10/$20+	$80-150	$24-45/hr

PLO rates are approximately 2-3x higher due to larger pot sizes.

Apply the Rakeback Formula

Monthly Rakeback = Rake/Hour x Tables x Hours/Week x 4.33 x Rakeback%

Example: $1/$2 NLH, 4 tables, 20 hrs/week, 30% rakeback

$15/hr x 4 tables x 20 hrs x 4.33 weeks = $5,196 monthly rake

$5,196 x 30% = $1,558.80/month rakeback

At 60% rakeback instead: $3,117.60/month — that's $1,558 more per month just by choosing the right room.

Use Our Free Calculator

Skip the math. Our calculator does it all — enter your stakes, tables, and hours to instantly compare rakeback across all 8 rooms.

Ready to see your exact numbers?

Our calculator supports NLH, PLO, PLO5, and MTT formats with room-specific tier calculations.

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5 Ways to Maximize Your Rakeback

Play more tables

More tables = more rake volume = higher VIP tier. If you can handle 4 tables instead of 2, you double your rakeback.

Play during peak hours

Softer games mean bigger pots. Bigger pots mean more rake generated, which means more rakeback.

Choose the right room for your volume

Low-volume players do best at CoinPoker (100% flat). High-volume grinders benefit from tiered programs at GGPoker or ACR.

Consider PLO over NLH

PLO generates 2-3x more rake per hour. If you're skilled at both, PLO is more profitable from a rakeback perspective.

Negotiate a private deal

If you generate $5,000+/month in rake, contact the room's VIP team. Custom deals can exceed published rates.