Poker Rake Calculator — Compare Sites
Calculate and compare monthly rake costs across major poker sites. Select your stake level, playing volume, and see exactly how much rake you'll pay at each room.
Calculate Your Monthly Rake
~75 for 1 table, ~300 for 4 tables
~40 casual, ~100 regular, ~160 full-time
Monthly Rake Comparison at NL25
| Site | Rake % | Cap | Rake/Hand | Monthly Rake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PokerStarsLowest | 5.0% | $1.00 | $0.1250 | $937.50 |
| GGPokerLowest | 5.0% | $1.50 | $0.1250 | $937.50 |
| ACRLowest | 5.0% | $1.00 | $0.1250 | $937.50 |
| IgnitionLowest | 5.0% | $1.25 | $0.1250 | $937.50 |
| BC PokerLowest | 5.0% | $1.50 | $0.1250 | $937.50 |
* Average pot estimated at 10x big blind. Actual rake varies with pot size, player count, and hand action.
How Poker Rake Works
Rake is the primary revenue source for online poker sites. Each cash game hand has a small percentage of the pot taken by the house before the winner receives their chips. This percentage typically ranges from 3.5% to 5%, with a cap that limits the maximum rake per hand.
The cap is the critical factor at higher stakes. At NL100, a 5% rake on a $20 pot would be $1.00, but on a $200 pot it would be $10 — far too much. The cap (typically $2-$3 at NL100) prevents this, meaning the effective rake percentage decreases as pots grow larger. This is why high-stakes players often pay a lower effective rake percentage than micro-stakes players.
Why Rake Matters for Your Win Rate
Your win rate is measured after rake. A player winning 5 big blinds per 100 hands before rake might only net 2-3 bb/100 after rake at micro-stakes. At higher stakes where the cap keeps effective rake lower, more of your pre-rake win rate survives. This is one reason many players find it easier to beat NL50+ than NL2-NL10 despite tougher competition — the rake burden is proportionally smaller.
Rakeback Reduces Your Net Cost
Most poker sites return a portion of rake through VIP programs and rakeback deals. Americas Cardroom offers 27% base rakeback, GGPoker's Fish Buffet scales to 60%, and BC Poker's VIP program reaches 50%. When comparing sites, calculate your net rake (total rake minus rakeback) rather than gross rake alone. A site with higher rake but better rakeback may cost you less overall.
Best Poker Sites — Quick Picks
Americas Cardroom
100% Deposit Match up to $2,000
27% Rakeback · 60+ Cryptos · All US States
Play at ACR