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Getting into poker on a novice level one quickly gain experience and also knowledge of the business aspects of poker, and the short of it is that operators put great efforts cost and time in building liquidity and networks, but online gaming is also on a less profitable path with bonus levels escalating, and in recent years rakeback schemes have been introduced to attract players. However this article is not about the controversy of bonuses and rakebacks, instead a brief introduction to rakebacks for the novices to online poker, explaining rakebacks we do however need start with the business in brief.

Playing online poker the short business of it is that operators supply technology and software (commonly through software providers) as well as support in managing their online poker room(s), and to that loyalty schemes for players. In return they charge a small fee per poker round, known as the rake. Rake is based on the size of the pot, and also capped at a maximum rake per round. However in recent years rakeback schemes have been introduced that enables players to get some of its contribution back, needless to say most poker rooms and networks are not fond of it.

Rakeback

Rakeback is giving some of the rake back to the players having contributed, hence rakeback is a payment to the players based on play and how much the player have contributed into the rake (pot) during game play, hence a portion of that is set to be re-paid to the player. The term "rake discount" and "rake rebate" is also sometimes used, but regardless it is rakeback, and the latter is also the common term used.

As a novice to online poker rakeback is less important, but almost all high volume players view it important as it serves as an supplemental income stream, and it can make winning months even better, or bad months break even etc.

How does it Work

Commonly rakeback payments are deposited directly into you online poker account, and the frequency of payments varies from daily, weekly, bi-weekly and monthly, dependent on the poker rooms policy.

Some poker rooms may also pay directly to the affiliate partner with whom you signed up with, commonly you will then hold an account with the affiliate where your rakeback will be hold until you decide to cash out. The affiliate may also offer you the option to receive cash payment or gift certificate or poker merchandise, some casual players simply look on the rakeback as a nice bonus to have some fun with, while others view it as hard cash.

Affiliate Partner

Affiliate partners are often sites, source of information, that is not directly managing their own poker room but instead driving traffic to other poker rooms, often together with services such as game rules, advice and strategy etc.

Payments

As with your regular poker account you often have the option to withdraw you rakeback through wire transfer, check or directly into you Neteller or PayPal account.

Percentage

Perhaps the most obvious aspect of rakeback, what do I actually get back? This varies between poker rooms and the more you play the higher levels you qualify for, standard levels are however 30 to 50 percent of the rake you have contributed.

Rake(back) Calculations

In general there are two methods of rake(back) calculations that operators use, dealt and contributed. The dealt method will credit you with rakeback whenever you are dealt cards in a hand that is raked, or meets some rake minimum policy used. The total rake for that hand is then divided by the number of players who were dealt cards and that is then multiplied by your rakeback percentage to determine you are rakeback.

Dealt method... If you are getting a 30 percent rakeback and are one of 8 players in the hand dealt cards, and the total rake of the hand is 1, you will receive 0.03 in rakeback for that hand.

The other method, contributed, you only receive rakeback in hands where you actually put money into the pot and where the hand is raked, some pots, commonly low limit tables, don't rake if the pot don't reach a specific level, hence no rakeback is given for that hand.

Contributed method... If you have a 30 percent rakeback and are one of five players who contributed money to the pot in a hand that rakes 1, you would get 0.06 back.

Dealt vs. Contributed

Many players prefer the dealt method, as there is no pressure to contribute to the pot, leaving the door open to play as tight or loose as they want. While contributed give back only to those contributing into the pot. Most operators and poker rooms is today using or moving towards the contributed method, also known as the weighted contribution.

Games and Tournaments

Cash games will always qualify for rakeback, while rules tournaments will vary. Some poker rooms offer rakeback for tournament entry fees, while some don't.

Bonuses vs. Rakeback

Commonly poker rooms will discount any rakebacks for any expenses they incur due to your play, i.e. if receiving a sign up bonus, or other deposit bonus, the value of these may be subtracted from the total rake contributed prior to earning rakebacks. Other things that may affect your rakeback earnings are loyalty store purchases, or if the poker room pays your entry fee to a tournament, in short fair is fair but make sure you understand the rules in following you rakeback payments.

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