A field guide to poker fees
Poker rakeback, made clear.
See how eligible poker fees become rewards, and calculate an example with your own figures.
What comes back to you?
Include excluded fees, other rewards and membership costs in the full calculator
01 / THE BASICS
What is rakeback in poker?
Rake is the fee a poker room collects for running a game. In a cash game, the room usually takes a percentage of an eligible pot, subject to a cap. In a tournament, a separate entry fee can fund the room's charge.
Rakeback returns an agreed share of qualifying fees to the player. A program may pay cash directly or release rewards after a player completes a points target. The amount shown on a banner can differ from the return you actually receive.
Does "rake back" mean the same thing?
Yes. Poker players use both "rakeback" and "rake back" for a return of poker fees. The spelling does not change the calculation.
A cash-game pot of $100 at 5% rake with a $3 cap would produce $3 in total table rake. Your personal eligible rake is the share assigned to you under the room's attribution rules. Use that figure in your rebate calculation.
Follow the money
A simple flat-rate program with no deductions or membership fee.
The $150 rebate reduces the cost of play. Your results at the table remain a separate part of your overall result.
02 / THE ROOM GUIDES
Read the room rules.
Each guide follows the fees through a different reward program.
CoinPoker
CoinRewards, 3-Bet Club and the effect of membership costs.
partypoker
Weekly Cashback and completed points targets.
PokerStars
Rewards, Select and Select+ under their own program rules.
Stake
Poker rake and casino house edge in the published calculations.
Program sources checked November 3, 2026. Each guide links to the terms behind its examples. Availability and eligibility depend on the applicable account terms.
03 / THE ACTUAL COST
Compare the amount you keep
Start with the same period
Match rake and rewards to the same week or month. Keep a record of eligible fees, completed rewards and membership charges. An unfinished target should stay separate from cash already credited.
For a completed period, divide the net cash reward by total rake paid to get an effective return. If $600 in rake produces $120 in cash rewards after costs, the effective return is 20%.
Check the rake itself
Consider two illustrative offers for otherwise comparable play. Room A charges $500 in rake and returns 20%, leaving $400 in cost. Room B charges $650 and returns 30%, leaving $455. The larger rebate rate still leaves a larger fee.
Rake caps, table size and the way fees are attributed can change this comparison. A higher rebate alone cannot tell you which room costs less.
For a calculation with excluded fees and membership costs, use the full rakeback calculator.
04 / THE PRACTICE TABLE
Take a practice seat.
Small browser games for the moments between reading. Scores have no cash value.
05 / QUICK ANSWERS
The questions behind the percentage
How is rakeback calculated?
For a flat-rate program, multiply eligible rake by the reward percentage. Subtract any membership cost, then add other cash rewards only if they have not already been included. Points programs require their own completed-target calculation.
Is rakeback a refund of poker losses?
The calculation starts with qualifying fees. A player can receive a fee rebate after a winning session or a losing session. Actual losses are a different figure.
Does every player get the advertised rate?
Eligibility, game type and completed targets can change the payment. Check the terms attached to your account and compare them with rewards actually credited.
Is "no rakeback on PokerStars" accurate?
PokerStars has a general help page using that wording and separate Select documentation describing cash rakeback. The PokerStars guide explains which rules belong to which program.
What is rakeback on Stake?
Stake's published help distinguishes poker rake from the theoretical house edge on casino wagers. The Stake guide shows the two calculations side by side.
Are the games on this site free?
Yes. The games use browser-only scores. There are no deposits, purchases, cash prizes or account registration in the games.
Program references: CoinPoker CoinRewards, partypoker Cashback, PokerStars Select and Stake rakeback help. Read how the calculations and sources are handled.
YOUR FIGURES
Calculate your net reward.
Include excluded fees and membership costs to see what remains.