What is Online Poker Rakeback?
Online poker rakeback is a cash rebate you get back from the rake (the small fee taken by the poker site from each pot or tournament entry). Think of it as the house giving you a loyalty discount: the more you play, the more you get back. For Canadians, this can mean anywhere from 10% to 60% of your rake returned, depending on the site and promotion.
How Rakeback Works
When you sit down at an online poker table, the site collects rake from each hand or tournament entry. Instead of that money disappearing into the abyss of the poker room’s vaults, rakeback deals ensure a percentage of it comes back to you:
- Flat Percentage Rakeback – You always get a fixed percentage (say, 25%) of your rake back paid weekly or monthly.
- Tiered Rewards Programs – Play more, unlock higher rakeback percentages.
- Cashback Points Systems – Earn loyalty points that can be converted into real money, tournament tickets, or bonuses.
Why Rakeback Matters
For grinders and recreational players alike, rakeback softens the blow of variance. Whether you’re crushing tournaments or just battling it out in micro-stakes cash games, rakeback turns volume into profit even if you’re just breaking even at the tables. Over time, this can be the difference between a losing player and a winning one.
How Canadians Can Get Rake Back
Not every site openly advertises rakeback in Canada, but the good ones have it tucked into their reward systems:
1) Coin Poker – Offers every player at signup 33% rakeback automatically.
2) GGPoker Canada – Offers a Fish Buffet loyalty program that can return up to ~60% rakeback depending on volume.
3) WPT Global – Features rakeback with simple flat percentage of 40%.
4) America’s Card Room – A long-time favourite with player rewards and 27% rakeback through third party affiliates.
Steps to Get Started
In addition to each online poker site’s rewards program and in-house rakeback deals, you can sign up with third party affiliates who offers rakeback deals via their platform.
1) Sign up with a trusted online poker site that serves Canadian players. If using a third party affiliate, make sure to sign up using their unique link.
2) If applicable, opt-in to the rewards program (sometimes it’s automatic, other times you need to click a box).
3) Play regularly – the more you play, the more rakeback you earn.
4) Track your rakeback – most sites provide dashboards showing your rebates.
Final Thoughts
Rakeback is essentially free money for doing what you’re already doing — playing poker. If you’re serious about the game, ignoring rakeback is like ignoring pocket aces pre-flop: it just doesn’t make sense.
Cheers,
Mackeral
