Online Poker News

Poker and online poker are subject to the rake, unlike other casino games where the casino bets against the players to make its income. Poker players are charged a small percentage of each pot or a percentage of the buy in to compete at the table or tournament. This is usually around ten percent of the pot/buy in for small stake games with a maximum of a £3 rake per pot. For the higher stake games the percentage or the rake is a little less. For example if the total pot was £15 the rack taken by the casino or online poker room would be £1.50, for the games with a larger stake say £5-£10 the maximum rake of £3 would be met.  As for tournament rake fees, for a low cost buy in of £20 the rake would be £2 usually shown as £20+£2. For the larger buy in say £500 the rack would be around £40 (£500+£40) depending on the poker room.
The rake can make it very hard to advance from the small stake games when someone first starts playing poker hoping to advance through the ranks; it’s said it best to get out of the small stake games as soon as possible. You may find yourself stuck there as the rake slowly eats up your stake, even if you do win the odd hand ever now and again.
It is possible to get a percentage of the rake back usually when you sign up to an online poker room they guarantee to match a percentage of your initial deposit. It’s also possible to sign up for rake back which only a few poker sites offer; this will give you a small percentage of the rake from each pot. This however will tie you to one site, and only a handful of poker sites offer this. You can use an affiliate but they can offer players deals that conflict with poker sites terms and conditions which could lose you your membership and winnings. So make sure you check it out thoroughly before you sing up to anything.