Poker Rakeback Explained
Last updated: May 19, 2026
Rakeback is a percentage of the rake you pay that is returned to you by the poker site or a rakeback affiliate. A 30% rakeback deal means you get $30 back for every $100 in rake you pay. At NL25 (playing 40 hands/hour, 100 hands/session), a typical player pays $0.50-$1.00 in rake per hour; 30% rakeback on $1.00/hr = $0.30/hr returned. For mid-stakes grinders paying $500/month in rake, 30% rakeback adds $150/month — or $1,800/year — to their bottom line.
What is Rakeback?
Rakeback is a deal — between you, the player, and either the poker site or an affiliate — where a percentage of your contributed rake is returned to your account. The concept is straightforward: you play, the site takes rake, the site (or affiliate) shares part of that rake back with you.
Historically, rakeback was offered by affiliates who received a commission from sites for referring players. Affiliates would share a portion of that commission as "rakeback." Most major sites have since shut down direct affiliate rakeback programs and replaced them with in-house VIP loyalty programs — but the economics are the same.
Direct rakeback (old method)
An affiliate signs you up and passes back 25-40% of the rake you generate. Mostly discontinued at PokerStars and major sites. Still available at smaller networks and through specialist rakeback sites.
VIP loyalty programs (modern method)
Sites run their own tier-based loyalty systems. Examples: GGPoker Fish Buffet, PokerStars Stars Rewards, partypoker Diamond Club. Effective return rate varies by volume tier — typically 10-60%.
How to Calculate Your Rakeback
The formula is simple:
Monthly Rakeback = Total Rake Paid × Rakeback %
Example: $200 rake/month × 30% = $60/month returned
To find your actual rake paid, use poker tracker software. HoldemManager 3 (HM3), PokerTracker 4 (PT4), and Hand2Note all track total rake contributed per session and across your database. Most display this in the main stats screen — look for "Rake" or "Total Rake" in the filters. Sites also show rake paid in your account history or cashier section.
One important nuance: some sites use dealt rake (every player at the table contributes equally) while others use contributed rake (only players who put money in the pot contribute). Contributed rake is fairer for tight players — you only pay rake on pots you are involved in.
Rakeback by Stake Level (Estimates)
The table below assumes 4 hours/day, 20 days/month of play at online cash game tables. Monthly rake and rakeback figures are estimates based on typical online rake structures and 30% rakeback.
Estimates based on typical 6-max NL cash game rake structures. Actual figures vary by site, rake cap, and table type (heads-up tables typically charge more rake per hand).
Types of Rakeback Programs
Not all rakeback is the same. The structure of how you earn and redeem it affects the real-world value significantly.
Direct rakeback (affiliates)
The original model — affiliates receive a revenue share from sites and pass part of it to players as rakeback. Typically 25-40%. Mostly discontinued at PokerStars and major sites after 2016; still available at smaller networks (Chico, WPN, iPoker skins).
VIP loyalty programs
Modern replacement for direct rakeback. PokerStars Stars Rewards (chest system, 10-30%), GGPoker Fish Buffet (session-based, 15-60%). Value scales with volume — casual players earn less proportionally than high-volume grinders.
Cashback deals
Some sites offer a flat cashback percentage on net losses or on rake. Common at mid-tier sites. Simpler than tiered VIP programs but usually capped at lower amounts.
Milestone bonuses
One-off bonuses at volume milestones — e.g., PokerStars deposit match bonuses cleared at $X rake paid. partypoker offers tier-up bonuses in their Diamond Club. These are not ongoing rakeback but add to the effective return rate.
Best Rakeback Deals in 2026
The landscape changes year-to-year as sites adjust their loyalty programs. These are the best options available in 2026 for players prioritizing rakeback.
Best rakeback programs (2026)
- GGPoker Fish Buffet15-60% based on session volume
- partypoker Diamond Club~30-40% for mid-volume players
- 888poker (via affiliate)~30% via affiliate deals
- PokerStars Stars RewardsEffective 10-25% for most players
Rakeback rates vary by player volume, stake level, and can change as sites update their programs. Always verify current rates directly with the site or affiliate before signing up.
How Rakeback Affects Your Win Rate
Rakeback adds directly to your bottom line. For a breakeven player ($0 EV/100 hands) at NL25, 30% rakeback at $3.50/100 hands rake = $1.05/100 hands returned. At 100bb stack sizes that is approximately 3-5 bb/100 hands added to your win rate — enough to turn a breakeven player into a winning one.
This effect compounds at higher stakes. At NL100, 30% rakeback on $10/100 hands = $3/100 hands returned. Over a sample of 100,000 hands (a serious annual volume for a mid-stakes grinder), that is $3,000 in rakeback — regardless of whether you are a winning or losing player in terms of pure card equity.
Key insight: Rakeback is essential for high-volume players to maximize. A 10% difference in rakeback rate at NL100 (100k hands/year) is worth approximately $1,000/year. Choosing the right site for your volume matters as much as your win rate at that stake.
Definitions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is rakeback in poker?
Rakeback is a rebate on the rake you pay, expressed as a percentage. A 30% rakeback deal means you get back $30 for every $100 you pay in rake. It is returned by the poker site directly (via VIP/loyalty programs) or through a rakeback affiliate. Rakeback effectively reduces the cost of playing and can turn a marginally losing player into a winning one.
Does PokerStars offer rakeback?
PokerStars does not offer traditional direct rakeback. Instead, it runs the Stars Rewards system — a chest-based loyalty program where you earn chests by playing hands. The effective return rate is roughly 10-25% for most regular players, rising toward 30% for high-volume grinders. It replaced the original VIP system (Supernova/Supernova Elite) in 2018.
How do I get rakeback?
Two main routes: (1) Sign up through a rakeback affiliate site before creating your account — affiliates negotiate a cut of the rake and share it with you; or (2) use platforms with built-in loyalty programs like GGPoker Fish Buffet, partypoker Diamond Club, or PokerStars Stars Rewards. Note: you usually cannot add rakeback to an existing account — it must be set up at registration.
Is rakeback worth it for micro-stakes players?
Yes. Even at NL10, rakeback adds $10-30/month. At NL25 it adds $70-100+/month. At NL100 it adds $200-300+/month. These amounts compound significantly over a year. At micro stakes the effective rake percentage is highest relative to win rate, so rakeback is actually more impactful at lower stakes in percentage terms. Always sign up with rakeback enabled — there is no downside.
What percentage is good rakeback?
25-30% is standard and worth optimizing for. 40%+ is excellent and usually only available at lower-volume sites or through specialist affiliates. Below 20% is not worth prioritizing unless you are at micro stakes where even 15% adds meaningful dollars. At NL100+ any fraction of a percent matters — a 5% difference in rakeback can be worth $500+/year.
Does rakeback affect how I should play?
Only marginally. Do not play more hands or looser just to generate rake — the rakeback does not offset losses on bad plays. A $1 bad call that loses $0.70 is not rescued by getting back $0.09 in rakeback. Play optimally first; treat rakeback as a bonus on top of good decisions. The only valid adjustment is preferring hands where you are a slight favorite over folding in marginal spots near the bubble of a rakeback tier.
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