Seneca Poker Room Rake
Attention Poker Rooms: Get your Real-Time Live Action on PokerAtlas! Rake House Rake 10% up to $5 +$2 for promos. Seneca Niagara Casino $1/$2 No Limit Holdem. In poker, the rake is how the casino or poker site makes money. Following a pre-set schedule, a portion of the pot is taken out at the conclusion of certain hands and set aside for the poker room. Almost all casinos follow the “no flop, no drop” rule which means only hands that reach post-flop are eligible to be raked.
Recently, a friend who does not play poker asked me what rake is. I have been playing for years yet was still a bit vague on the subject. So I did some research on the subject in order to find the exact details on how poker rake works.
What is
Seneca Poker Room Rake Ideas
Now that you know what the rake is, you might want to learn more about how it is calculated across various poker rooms or how beating the rake is possible. If so, I’m happy to help.
Part 1: How Rake Is Calculated
Rake is calculated differently depending on the type of game being played:
- In Cash Games, the rake is based on the amount of money in the pot.
- For Tournaments, there is a pre-set rake amount built into the buy-in.
Let’s discuss the way rake is handled in cash games first, since it is the most complicated.
1. Cash Game Rake Rules
In poker, the rake is handled a bit differently depending on whether you play live or online.
Online Cash Game Rake
In online cash games, the rake will often vary based on the stake being played. Usually, there is a pre-determined threshold of rake that is taken up to a certain cap. For example, $0.01 might be taken for every $0.20 in the pot with a max
Here is an example partial rake schedule:
Typical Online Cash Game Rake Rules
As an example, let’s say that a pot is being played on a table with 3 players at 100NL. The final pot on the river is $40. The above schedule shows the rake at $0.01 for every $0.18 in the pot, up to a cap of $2.00 for 3 players.
The rake is calculated as $40.00/$0.18*$0.01= $2.22. Since the cap is met, $2.00 is taken out of the $40 and $18 is distributed to the winner(s).
What Is Casino Poker Rake Rules for Cash Games?
In most live casinos, the rake is usually at 10% up to a cap of between $3 and $5. The rake is almost always much less punitive the higher you go in stakes. Personally, I would never play in a casino that took more than $4 a hand unless I was playing at stakes above $5/$10.
What Is the “No Flop, No Drop” Rake Rule?
No flop, no drop is a cash game rake rule that is almost universally practiced by poker rooms. What it means is that no rake is generated when a hand ends before the flop is dealt. No matter how big the pre-flop pot or how great the action is, no rake will be taken if post-flop is not reached.
2. Tournament Rake Rules
Whether live or online, the rake is completely baked into the initial buy-in of a tournament. In fact, usually the event will be billed as a $10+$1 buy-in, for example. $10 goes to the prize pool while $1 goes to the house.
Usually, the higher the stake the lower the rake. Some common buy-in levels are:
- $10+$1
- $50+$5
- $75+$7
- $150+$12
Poker Rake Comparison Between Online Sites
The amount of rake charged by the poker site should be a serious consideration when deciding where to play. Through my research, I have found that the rake amounts can vary wildly from room to room.
The following chart shows the amount paid by a 6-handed player on average per 100 hands on various poker rooms at each stake. Big blinds/100 paid in parenthesis.
The lowest rake of a particular stake is in bold. Much of this info obtained from various sources, including my own personal database. Rake rules are subject to changes by each poker site.
What does this information tell us?
As you can see, every poker room charges their players something different for the privilege of playing on the site. However, there are a few universal things we can glean from the information:
- Micro-stakes players get hammered by the rake – Basically, the lower you play, the worse it gets. For example, let’s look at 10NL. Even on the site that charges the lowest rake for that stake (Pokerstars) you still have to beat the players by 8.7bb/100 in order to turn a profit.
- High stakes players pay the lowest relative rake – In the grand scheme of things, higher stake players pay very little compared to the amount of money they are playing for. Even so, they still pay a lot more in rake total. It’s the relative rake that matters. For instance, a 1000NL players on Ignition pay 16 times more rake than a 10NL player but only has to beat the games for 1.7bb/100 to break even.
Which Poker Sites Have the Lowest Rake?
The sites with the best rewards tend to have the lowest rake. If you look at sites like America’s Cardroom (Winning Poker Network) and Pokerstars, who have historically had a lucrative rewards system, they tend to charge players the least amount of rake. They appear to make up for it by trying to get their players to play huge amounts of volume for rake-race type rewards.
How VIP Rewards Are Affected by Rake
Some poker sites tout generous rewards to attract players and lure them into playing high volume. Either they have a direct rakeback program or they offer a VIP program that rewards you based on how much you play.
The way rake is calculated doesn’t effect you if you have a straight-up rakeback deal. However, if you are in a VIP system it’s good to know how points are calculated.
There are two ways this is done.
Contributed Rake Versus Dealt Rake
- Weighted Contributed Rake Calculation Method – Sites that use the contributed rake method only give points out to players who actually make a contribution to the rake during the course of play. In other words, if you fold and contribute $0 to the rake, you get 0 points. However, if you see a flop the number of points you receive will typically be commensurate with the amount of rake you pay during the course of the hand.
- Dealt Rake Calculation Method – The dealt rake method does not require players to contribute to the rake during a hand. Merely being dealt into the hand will qualify you for VIP points, assuming rake was generated during the hand.
Which Rake Method Is Best for Me? Dealt or Contributed?
If you are an active player who plays a lot of pots and is aggressive, then you will enjoy a higher VIP Point per hand accumulation on sites that use the contributed rake method.
However, if you are a tight player who is very selective in which pots you enter, then you are much better off on a site with the dealt method.
Poker Sites That Use the Contributed Rake Method
- America’s Cardroom (WPN)
- Ignition
- BetOnline
- Pokerstars
- PartyPoker
- 888
Poker Sites That Use the Dealt Rake Method
- Betsson
- Redstar
As you can see, virtually all poker sites are moving to the weighted contributed method. I guess tight is no longer right.
What Is Rakeback?
Rakeback is usually a flat percentage of rake that is given back to players at a specific scheduled time. Usually,
Major Poker Networks That Offer Rakeback
- Winning Poker – 27%
- I-Poker – 60%-70%
- Revolution – 36%
- Microgaming – 30%
- Natural8 – 35%
Part 2: How to Beat the Rake
Now that we have this information, how do we use it to improve our chances of winning?
While this article is not a strategy guide, there are a few career management things we can do to increase our hourly rate that
Beating the Rake in Cash Games
The first thing we can do is to play on the softest site possible that has a reasonable
Let’s say your ability to beat the players for 10bb/100 at 50NL on ACR and 18bb/100 on Ignition:
Based on my experience, these numbers are not unrealistic. Ignition typically has 1-2 fish on every 50NL table while ACR tends to have 1 on every 3-4 tables. The effect of having more recreational or bad players in the player pool cannot be overstated.
So here’s my advice. Always choose the softest possible poker site and then play on a stake that is comparable in toughness to the more reg-heavy sites.
In other words, if you can beat 50NL on ACR, you can probably be 100NL or even 200NL on Ignition. In a nutshell: Softer site, higher stake= more money for you.
Why Its Harder Than Ever to Win at the Micros and Low Stakes
The micro-stakes may eventually be virtually unbeatable, save for seasoned players who probably would be playing a higher stake anyway. If the micro players continue to improve overall as a group, it will be increasingly difficult for a beginner to intermediate player to start small and build a bankroll
Fortunately, I don’t think we are there yet. Even the toughest networks still have plenty of fish at the micros.
Based on Rake, Where Should I Play?
Based on my rake research, if you are looking to start with a small amount of money and build up, then I recommend the Winning Poker Network. That network has, by far, the lowest rake of any other poker site out there.
In fact, I recently did just that and buil a $50 deposit on America’s Cardroom up to $500 in a couple of weeks. I then moved my money to Ignition and turned it into $1,500 in 4 more weeks playing 50NL and 100NL. I found the competition at 100NL on Ignition to be comparable to 25NL on ACR.
Here’s the graph:
Starting on One Site and Moving to Another Can Be Smart
Feel free to follow my lead and play ACR until 25NL. Once you have enough to move up to 50NL, move your bankroll to Ignition. For Euro players, you can start at Pokerstars and then move to a softer site like 888 or PartyPoker
By using this method, you also get the added benefit of being able to clear more of a deposit bonus. By moving a 50NL bankroll, you can
Shorter Stacks Tend to Pay Less Rake
I have been playing a 30 to 40 big blind starting stack in cash games since 2011. While I was doing this research, I looked through my own database to see how much rake I have personally been paying. I was actually shocked to find out I pay less rake than full-stacked players, and it’s not even close.
Here are my personal 6-max rake stats compared to the field on Ignition Poker:
The average is 3.4bb/100 that I am paying less in rake. This is jaw-dropping for me and explains why I have been fortunate enough to have a high win-rate over the years compared to other regs. It’s because my typical 8bb/100 win-rate is actually 4.5bb/100 if I didn’t get the discount in rake!
Here is a screenshot of the raw rake stats from my play on Ignition in the last couple of years.
Drawbacks of Paying Less Rake (lol?)
I know, it seems silly to even contemplate that there is something negative about paying less rake.
Even so, I have tried “chasing the Beast” on the Winning Poker Network a few times over the years and have been frustrated that I generated much fewer Beast Points than seemingly everyone else. The obvious reason is that I pay a lot less rake and therefore accumulate less BPs/Hand.
I actually can’t believe I never put two and two together on this one before now. I mean, who needs rewards when you pay that much less rake?
How to Pay Less Rake
Besides deciding to buy in for less money, I think the key to paying less rake lies in the choices we make in pots to enter. I think that your average player gets involved in way too many marginal spots. Here are a few ways to minimize your exposure to inflated rake:
- Throw out the call button – Most of the time, it’s rather murky as to whether a pre-flop flat call is going to be profitable. Make sure you have a plan after the flop anytime you make a call and are not just doing so arbitrarily.
- Be more positionally aware – It’s really hard to turn a profit with a really wide range in early position or in the blinds. I suggest checking your database and seeing if there are any unprofitable hands from every position. Just shaving off the biggest losers can have a big impact on both your win-rate and how much you pay in rake. That’s doubly good!
- Stop playing fit or fold – If you ever call 3-bet or continue post-flop just to “see what happens” then you are probably leaking money right down the drain. Anytime you commit money to the pot, make sure it has a purpose and you know exactly what your plan is going forward. This usually takes a read of some kind.
Basically, this all comes down to shoring up your poker fundamentals, which I talk about in detail in my comprehensive poker tutorial. Be sure to check it out.
Winning at Tournaments and SNGs
Winning money at tournaments is usually much easier since the fields are typically much softer. However, you also have to pay a lot more rake to play these events
Poker sites tend to charge 5% rake in cash games and 10% rake in tournaments. However, the bigger the buy-in the less rake you will usually have to pay.
How to Beat the Rake in Fixed Buy-in Events
There are a couple of strategies that you can use to lower your total cost to play:
- Mix satellites into your schedule – Satellites tend to be much softer than regular events. Using these to win seats into bigger buy-in events can help lower your overall costs of doing business.
- Play more turbos – Turbos Usually Have Lower Rake Look for events that charge a lower
rake due to them being faster speed. Just keep in mind that your win-rate will tend to be lower in these due to the higher luck factor due to how fast the blinds go up. This is especially a big consideration for STT/SNG players. - Play on softer sites – The biggest contributing factor to your ROI will be how many bad players are in the tournament field. While all poker sites have beatable tournaments, some are much softer than others. I recommend avoiding sites with rewards for high volume players. I’d stick to Ignition Poker or Bovada for US players and PartyPoker or 888 for the rest of the world.
One thing to keep in mind is that turbo events tend to charge lower rake than standard ones. This is usually true for single table SNGs and not necessarily the case for MTT. If the buy-in is $10+$1 on a standard event, it is often $10+$.50 in a turbo or hyper-turbo
History of Poker Rake
As long as casinos have been around they have had found ways to charge their customers.
The first casinos were called “gambling houses” and have known to have been around for hundreds of years. In America, saloons were where you went to do your gambling.
During the early 20th century, most of these “casinos” were outlawed. It wasn’t until 1931 that Nevada completely legalized gambling.
Why Do Online Poker Sites Even Take Rake?
Online poker sites are businesses. Just like their brick and mortar counterparts, they have to find ways to make money off of their customers. Charging them rake is the logical way to do so.
Seneca Poker Room Rake Parts
Final Thoughts
Now that you are armed with all the information you need about rake, you can make an intelligent decision on both where and how to play in order to further maximize your win-rate.
In case your interested in a poker system that minimizes the rake that you pay, my short and mid-stack poker strategy will help you do just that. In fact, you can sign up for my newsletter to be sent a free basic short stacking strategy. Thanks for reading!
Related Questions
Is underground poker illegal? There is a reason it is called “underground poker”. If it were legal, it would not need to operate in the underground. However, playing in an unsanctioned poker game is generally not illegal, or at least the laws are not
Why is taking rake illegal in home games? In almost all legal jurisdictions, it is illegal to charge rake in a poker game without having a license to do so by the local gaming commission. This includes home games or local leagues.
Seneca Gaming & Entertainment
1. Seneca Gaming and Entertainment will conduct all games in a manner that meets the highest standards of fairness to its patrons. It is with this in mind that that Seneca Gaming and Entertainment has incorporated certain rules for poker games that are offered to the public.
2. Management and floor persons reserve the right to make decisions that are in the best interest of the game, even though technical interpretation of the rules would dictate a contrary decision.
3. Seneca Gaming and Entertainment provides house poker dealers for all games, but does not participate in actual play of the game and has no interest in the outcome of play.
4. Seneca Gaming and Entertainment is not responsible for the conduct of any player, but retains the right to refuse the use of the facilities to any player.
5. A waiting list will be kept for all poker games. Players may reserve a seat by having their names placed on the list for the game of their choice. Players will be paged when a seat becomes available. An immediate response is expected. Once in a poker game a player may request a table change from a floor person.
6. By taking a seat in a poker game players agree that management has the final word on who may play and the manner in which play is conducted.
7. When players are seated in a poker game they must ante or post blinds as per type of game being played. If a player is dealt in by dealer error then the hand will be declared dead and play continues, otherwise the player must fulfill their obligation for the amount owed.
8. New players arriving in “rake” games below $10-$20 may receive a hand without posting any blinds unless they are in a blind position and want to receive a hand on that deal. New players arriving in $10-$20 games and above are required to post the blinds or they may wait for the big blind. In all “time” Hold’em games they are required to post or wait for the big blind.
9. All poker games are table stakes and all players entering a poker game must make at least the minimum buy-in.
a. The minimum buy-in is generally ten (10) times the minimum bet for that game.
b. Players may take their cheques with them when leaving the poker room; however, they must verify the amount prior to leaving with the dealer and replace the same amount upon their return.
c. If a player runs out of cheques during the course of a hand that player is eligible to play all-in for the portion of the pot in which he/she has an interest in.
d. Players may not add to their table stakes once a hand has begun.
e. Players are allowed one short buy-in (50% or more of original buy-in) for each full buy-in (adding less than the full buy-in amount is considered a short buy-in).
10. Cards must be kept on or above the table surface in plain view. Cards may not be removed from the edge of the table surface.
11. It is each player’s responsibility to protect his/her own hand and right to action.
12. Once a card touches the muck that hand will be declared foul.
13. All losing hands will be mucked before the pot is awarded.
14. The winning hand will remain face up until after the pot has been awarded.
15. A misdeal may be ruled for circumstances not covered here. The following will be ruled misdeals:
a. The deal is out of position and it is discovered prior to the flop being turned.
b. The first card is boxed or exposed.
c. If two or more down cards are exposed due to dealer error.
d. If two or more boxed cards appear when the starting hands are dealt. (If it is discovered that there are boxed cards in the stub after the completion of the deal, the action continues.)
e. Wrong number of cards on the deal in Stud games.
f. Exposed card on the button or 1st card on one of the blinds is a misdeal.
g. An exposed card in the flop is treated as a scrap piece of paper, unless it is the second boxed card, in which case it would be declared a misdeal.
16. Once a new hand has begun no decision can be rendered in regard to the previous hand.
17. No one may play other player’s cheques.
18. Play-overs will be allowed at management’s discretion.
19. No “rabbit hunting”. Players and dealers are not allowed to look through the discard pile.
20. Cards speak. Winning hand must show all cards face up on the table. The player instituting the last action (checking or betting) must turn their hand over first. The house dealer will assist to the best of their ability in the reading of hands although it is each player’s responsibility to protect their own hand at all times.
21. A player miscalling a hand with the intent to cause another player to act on their hand risks forfeiture of the pot and/or expulsion from the poker room.
22. At the request of other players at the table, non-players may be asked not to stand or sit at the table.
23. No beverage containers, food, books, etc., allowed on the poker table.
24. The splitting of pots among players is not allowed, all hands must be played to completion.
25. Show one show all. If any player shows his/her cards to another player at the table all other players at the table then has the right to see them upon request.
26. If a player shows one of his/her cards in an uncalled hand, that player is not required to show other card.
27. A bet and three raises are allowed unless it is “heads up” before the “cap” (third raise) then players may make an unlimited number of raises.
Seneca Poker Room Rake Attachment
28. All raises must be at least equal to the size of the last bet, except in “all-in” situations.
29. Players must act in turn. A knock on the table constitutes a pass. To eliminate the possibility of forfeiture a player must call “time”, failure to stop the play prior to substantial action occurring may result in the right to act.
Seneca Poker Room Rakes
30. Players who place a single chip into the betting perimeter that is larger than the bet to them are considered to be calling the bet unless they announce “raise.”
31. String raises are not allowed. A player must either put out the full amount of the bet and raise at once or announce “raise.”
32. Verbal statements in turn are binding; verbal statements out of turn may also be binding.
33. If a player acts out of turn and their bet or raise influences action, that bet or raise must stay in the pot.
34. A card found face up in the deck (boxed card) is treated as a scrap of paper. A card being treated as a scrap of paper is replaced by the next card below it in the deck.
35. If an irregular card or cards (cards of the same rank, cards of a different back color, etc.) appear during the course of a hand, all hands are dead and all action is void. If an irregular card(s) is discovered in the stub, all action for that hand and previous hands stand.
36. All-in wagers are considered action only if the all-in amount is less than 50% of the betting structure. If the all-in amount is 50% or more of the betting structure it is considered a wager and may be called, completed or raised.
37. In no-limit play, even in an all in situation, unless there is a full raise (100%), the betting is not re-opened to a player that has already acted.
38. Players may request a table change from a floor person. However, they must enter the new table with a full buy-in, unless they are coming from a broken game of the same or higher limit.
39. If a player requests a table change that player must move immediately when the seat becomes available. When moving to a different limit the player may play until their big blind. In must-move games, if a player has played the big blind they may play through the button.
40. In multiple-blind games, players must meet the total amount of their blind obligations every round, or they will receive a missed blind button.
Seneca Poker Room
41. In any all-in situation a partial blind constitutes a full blind.
42. In “time collection” games, if a player is away from their seat, the dealer will collect “time” from their stack. If a player is playing in a tournament they are still responsible for paying “time”.
43. In case of theft or natural disaster, Seneca Gaming and Entertainment is not responsible for any money or cheques left on the table.
44. Only English will be permitted while a hand is in play.
45. Cell phone use is prohibited at the poker table.
46. Any changes or modifications to these rules will be conspicuously posted.
47. Managements’ decisions are final.