THE RAKE

RAKE IS THE STANDARD SCALED COMMISSION FEE TAKEN BY A CARDROOM OPERATING A POKER GAME. IT IS GENERALLY A PERCENTAGE OF THE POT IN EACH POKER HAND, HOWEVER THE RAKE CAN ALSO BE A PREDETERMINED MAXIMUM AMOUNT, IN THE CASE OF A TOURNAMENT WITH A FIXED BUY-IN AND NUMBER OF PLAYERS.

IT IS PRIMARILY LEVIED BY AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT SUPPLIES THE NECESSARY SERVICES FOR THE GAME TO TAKE PLACE. IN ONLINE POKER IT COVERS THE VARIOUS COSTS OF OPERATION SUCH AS SUPPORT, SOFTWARE, AND PERSONNEL.

IN TRADITIONAL BRICK AND MORTAR CASINOS IT IS ALSO USED TO COVER THE COSTS INVOLVED WITH PROVIDING A DEALER (THOUGH IN MANY PLACES TIPS PROVIDE THE BULK OF A DEALER'S INCOME) FOR THE GAME, SUPPORT STAFF (FROM SERVERS TO SUPERVISORS), USE OF GAMING EQUIPMENT, AND THE PHYSICAL BUILDING IN WHICH THE GAME TAKES PLACE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS FOR THE RAKE TO BE TAKEN. MOST RAKE IS A FIXED PERCENTAGE OF THE POT, TAKEN ON A SLIDING SCALE, WITH A CAPPED MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE POT REGARDLESS OF POT SIZE. LESS FREQUENTLY, THE RAKE IS A FIXED AMOUNT NO MATTER WHAT THE SIZE OF THE POT.

IN A LIVE CASINO, THE DEALER MANUALLY REMOVES CHIPS FROM THE POT WHILE THE HAND IS BEING PLAYED. 

WHEN PLAYING ONLINE, THE RAKE IS TAKEN AUTOMATICALLY BY THE GAME SOFTWARE.