Poker at most casinos be it land-based or online is classified as a card game. However, poker is quite distinct from other card games. Most notably, standard card games are played between the player and the house (casino) via a dealer/croupier/host. Because of this, there is what is called house edge, a percentage that the casino will theoretically (over a long period) gain from all players playing card games.
Things are much more different when it comes to poker. Poker is played by the player against the house, rather, it’s player vs player. Because of this, the concept of house edge doesn’t apply to poker. The question now arises, how does the casino make money from poker? The answer is simple, it’s through raking. The next question is what is ranking in poker?
Raking is the act in which the dealer takes a commission from a game of poker between two or more players. In general, the dealer does this by taking chips from the pot and putting them aside. The chips placed aside are referred to as the rake.
Who is Charged for the Rake?
Different casinos have different rules when it comes to the rake. Below is a lowdown of the two main scenarios in which casinos take their rake.
- From all Competing Players: Some casinos charge the rake for all players competing in a game. A percentage of the bets that players place is taken as the rake. The rake is used by the casino for organizing poker games, coordinating activities in the poker rooms, and any other necessary expenses.
- From the Winner: Some casinos prefer to take the rake only from the winner. This, therefore, means players at the start play without paying anything to the casino. Only when a winner has emerged will the casino take the rake from the winner.
Standard Rake Charged by Casinos
The charges for the rake differ from casino to casino. The standard rake however charged by most casinos both lands based and online is 5%. The standard range of the rake is 2.5% to 10%. Rarely do players find casinos that offer a rake charge below 2.5% or above 10%?
The legality of Poker Rakes
The legality of raking is dependent upon one major factor that is, the legality of the casino charging the rake. All regulated and licensed casinos are deemed profit-making entities hence it’s legal for them to accept poker rakes as that’s the only way for them to benefit from games of poker.
However, things are different when it comes to unlicensed gambling establishments. All gambling platforms which aren’t regulated and licensed are prohibited from accepting rakes – and operating in the first instance. Players, therefore, need to check the authenticity of the casino they are playing at first before they pay rakes.
It’s important for players to also note that poker games played in private spaces such as at home or workplaces aren’t deemed as profit-making but rather recreational hence rakes shouldn’t be charged. Once charged, the game becomes illegal as it’s played in an unlicensed establishment for profit-making purposes.