Poker has a language of its own, and one term that matters both at the table and in the law is “rake”. You will hear it in poker rooms, casinos, and sometimes in home games.
If you are planning a casual game or simply want to understand how poker rooms make money, it helps to know what a rake is and when taking one is allowed. The basics are straightforward once you see how different game types handle it.
What Is a Rake In Poker?
A rake is a fee taken by the organiser of a poker game as payment for providing the game. In cash games like Texas Hold’em or Omaha, it is usually a small slice of each pot. The fee is often a few percent of the pot with a maximum cap, or it can be a fixed amount per hand. For example, from a £100 pot, a poker room might remove £3 or £4 before awarding the rest to the winner.
In tournaments, the fee is built into the buy-in rather than taken from each pot. You might see a price quoted as £20+£2, where £20 goes to the prize pool and £2 is kept by the organiser for running the event.
The rake does not change the rules of poker, but it does affect how much money remains for prizes over time. Players who understand the fee structure can better judge the overall cost of playing. With that in mind, the obvious next question is when taking a rake is allowed away from a licensed venue.
Why Is Taking a Rake Illegal?
In the UK, collecting a rake without the appropriate licence is classed as running a gambling business under the Gambling Act 2005. Only licensed operators are permitted to profit from organising poker. That means taking a cut from pots, keeping an entry fee, or otherwise charging participants in a way that generates profit is not allowed in private or public games unless the organiser holds the correct licence.
Home games are only lawful when truly private and non-commercial. All stakes and prizes must be returned to the players, and no one may take a rake or a participation charge that benefits the organiser. The same principle applies to games in pubs and clubs. These venues can offer equal-chance gaming within strict limits on stakes and prizes, but they cannot take a rake from pots, and any permitted fees are tightly controlled by law.
The purpose of these rules is to keep games fair and to ensure money flows through accountable, regulated operators. If you are unsure about a specific setup, check the latest guidance or speak to your local authority before hosting anything that involves real money. So how do licensed venues collect a rake in practice?
How Do Casinos Take a Rake?
Casinos take a rake as the standard payment for running games, and they publish their methods so players know what to expect.
In cash games, the most common approach is a percentage “drop” from each pot up to a stated cap. If the cap is £5, the casino will not take more than £5 from any single hand, no matter how large the pot becomes. Many rooms also apply simple house rules such as “no flop, no drop”, meaning no rake is taken if the hand ends before community cards are dealt.
Some games use a time charge instead. Rather than paying per pot, each player pays a set fee every 30 or 60 minutes for their seat. This is more common at higher limits where pots are larger and a per-hand rake would be disproportionately high.
For tournaments, the fee is included in the buy-in and shown separately from the prize contribution, for example £50+£5. This makes it clear how much goes into the prize pool and how much the venue keeps. Online poker rooms follow the same principles. Their rake caps, percentage rates, and tournament fees are listed in the lobby or rules page so you can compare tables before you sit down. If you are weighing up options, the final piece to consider is what counts as a fair rate.
What Is a Good Rake In Poker?
A “good” rake is one that feels reasonable for the stakes, the service, and the format you are playing. For cash games, many UK rooms charge a small percentage of each pot with a cap. A typical structure might be 4% or 
5% with a cap around a few pounds, though the exact figures vary by venue and table limit. The cap matters because it limits how much can be taken from any single hand, which can make higher-stakes play relatively more cost efficient than very low stakes.
In tournaments, value is easier to see because the fee is shown next to the buy-in. A £20+£2 event means 10% of your payment is kept as the fee. Lower fees mean more of the entry money reaches the prize pool, which many players prefer, but a slightly higher fee might be acceptable if the structure, organisation, or guarantees suit you.
Small differences add up over time. Comparing rake caps, percentage rates, and whether a table uses a time charge can help you find a setup that matches your preferences. There is no single best rate for everyone, because it depends on how long you play, how fast the table is, and whether you prefer cash games or tournaments.
Poker involves an element of chance and no strategy or rake structure can guarantee profit. If you choose to play, consider setting spend limits and taking breaks so the experience stays enjoyable and within your means. Understanding how rake works and when it can be taken keeps you on the right side of the rules and helps you make informed choices at the table.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.