What is Rakeback? Practical Guide for Value (2025)

By ProRakeback Editorial Published: October 2025

Poker Rakeback EV Bankroll

Rakeback is money a poker room returns to you from the rake (cash-game pot fee) or fees (MTT/SNG). It’s effectively a discount on the cost of playing, paid as cash, points, store credit, or bonuses. Done right, rakeback adds steady EV on top of your table edge—without changing your strategy.

Quick answer (30 seconds)

Cash games: you pay rake on pots you play. Rooms give back X% of the rake you generated.
Tournaments: the buy-in includes a fee (e.g., $50 + $5). Rakeback often returns X% of the fee.
Result: lower effective costs → higher hourly/ROI, smoother bankroll growth.

Get tracked and estimate value:

Browse Top Deals · Rakeback Calculator · Site Comparison

How rakeback is calculated (the models)

Rooms use one (or a mix) of these attribution models to decide how much rake you “generated”:

Dealt – Every seated player gets equal credit when a raked hand is dealt.
Contributed – Credit only if you voluntarily put money in the pot.
Weighted contributed – Credit proportional to how much you put in the pot (most common).
Net revenue / hybrid – Adjusts for bonuses, chargebacks, or promos before paying rakeback (less transparent).

Why it matters: weighted contributed rewards active players more; dealt helps tight players. Always check the room’s fine print.

Formats you’ll see in 2025

Flat % cashback (weekly/monthly).
Tiers/VIP ladders (grind more → unlock higher %).
Challenges & leaderboards (hit milestones for cash/bonus tickets).
Store points (convert to cash/entries).
Hybrid (a base % plus missions or seasonal promos).

Real EV: turn rakeback into bb/100 and $EV

Cash games (bb/100)

RB EV (bb/100) = (Rake paid per 100 hands ($) / Big blind value ($)) × RB%

Example (NL50): If you pay $8 rake per 100 hands and have 30% rakeback:

RB EV = (8 / 0.50) × 0.30 = 16 × 0.30 = 4.8 bb/100

That’s +4.8 bb/100 added to your winrate just from RB.

Use the Rakeback Calculator to estimate EV by stake and format.

Tournaments (per entry)

RB EV per game = Fee × RB%

Example: $55 MTT ($50 + $5), at 30% RB → $1.50 back per reg. Across 400 entries, that’s $600 added to ROI.

Key idea: rakeback does not fix losing strategy, but it amplifies a real edge and cushions variance.

How to qualify (without headaches)

Tracked account: Use the correct link so the room can attribute rake to you (and pay the RB). Get a tracked account.
Opt-in: Some rooms require enabling cashback/challenges in the client.
KYC & one account: Complete verification; no multi-accounting or VPNs.
Region & age: Only where legal and licensed; 18+ / 21+ by jurisdiction.

Best practices to maximize value (2025)

Pick sustainable deals, not just headline %
A smaller transparent % can beat a big % with exclusions or net-revenue clawbacks. See Top Deals.
Play in good lineups
Don’t tighten up just to farm RB. Table quality > volume for your actual hourly. Compare sites.
Hit the easy milestones
If the room uses challenges, choose ones you naturally complete (your stake/format).
Track your numbers
Log hands/fees, rake paid, RB %, payouts. If something slips, ask support early. Use Bankroll Tracker.
Don’t over-table
If quality drops and mistakes rise, the extra rakeback won’t cover the EV leak.

Common questions

Is rakeback paid on wins or losses?

Neither—it’s based on rake/fees generated, independent of your results.

Does a higher % always mean more money?

Only if the model and exclusions are fair for your playstyle. Weighted contributed with caps can pay less than a lower, transparent flat %.

Will chasing rakeback hurt my game?

It can. If you play tired lineups, force volume, or ignore study, your net EV falls. Use RB to boost, not replace, your edge.

Are leaderboards worth it?

Great for high-volume regs in soft off-peak windows; risky if you overextend or face tough grinders. Treat them as bonus EV, not the plan.

Quick checklist before you sign up

Model used? (Dealt / Contributed / Weighted / Hybrid)
% range & how to unlock? (Flat or tiers?)
Exclusions? (Net revenue adjustments, caps, bonus deductions)
Payout cadence? (Weekly cash vs. points/bonus)
Your volume fit? (Can you realistically hit the good tier?)

Example scenarios (fast)

NL25 grinder: pays ~$6 rake/100; at 25% RB → (6/0.25)×0.25 = 24×0.25 = 6 bb/100.
$33 MTT reg: $3 fee; at 20% RB → $0.60 per entry; +$60 per 100 games.

These aren’t promises—your numbers depend on pool, rake structure, and volume.

Responsible play & compliance

Play safe and legal

Play only where legal and licensed for your location. Complete KYC and respect one-account rules; no VPNs to bypass restrictions. Age limits apply (18+ / 21+ by region). If poker stops being fun or causes stress, take a break and seek support.

TL;DR

Rakeback returns a percentage of rake/fees you generate. In 2025 it’s delivered via cashback, tiers, and challenges. Convert % into bb/100 and $EV to see real value, qualify with tracked accounts, and prioritize good games over raw volume.