Rake is the commission that the poker room takes from every cash game pot. It's money taken directly from the pot on every hand played. Over a 1,000-hand session, the difference between a high-rake and low-rake room can represent dozens of big blinds.
Yet most players don't know exactly how much their room charges. They look at traffic, welcome bonuses, the software — but not the rake. That's a mistake. In the long run, rake is the single biggest cost of playing poker.
In this guide, we compare the rake of all major rooms — French (ANJ) sites and international rooms — with up-to-date 2026 data.
Find Your Best Room
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Unibet — 4,5%, cap 2,00 € en NL10
Cout effectif : 0.8 BB/pot | Indépendant
| # | Room | Rake | Cap | Cout/pot | Reseau |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unibet | 4,5% | 2,00 € | 0.8 BB | Indépendant |
| 2 | PokerStars.fr | 5% | 1,50 € | 0.9 BB | Indépendant |
| 3 | Winamax | 5,75% | 1,44 € | 1.0 BB | Indépendant |
| 4 | Betclic* | 6,49% | 1,00 € | 1.2 BB | Propriétaire |
| 5 | PMU Poker | 6,67% | 2,00 € | 1.2 BB | iPoker |
| 6 | Parions Sport | 6,67% | 2,00 € | 1.2 BB | iPoker |
| 7 | Bwin* | 6,67% | 2,00 € | 1.2 BB | GVC/Party |
What Is Poker Rake?
Rake is a percentage of the pot taken by the poker room on every hand. In cash games, it works like this:
- Players play the hand normally.
- When the pot is awarded to the winner, the room retains a percentage (typically 5 to 6.67%).
- This deduction is capped — a maximum amount per pot, which varies by limit.
For example, on a NL50 table with 5% rake and a $2 cap: if the final pot is $80, the rake would be $4 (5% of $80), but it's capped at $2. The room takes $2, the winner receives $78.
No Flop No Drop (NFND)
"No Flop No Drop" means no rake is taken if the hand ends before the flop. If everyone folds to a preflop raise and no one sees the flop, the room takes nothing.
In 2026, all major rooms apply NFND except one: GGPoker (and GG Network skins like Natural8 and KKPoker). On GGPoker, rake is triggered when there's a flop or a 3-bet preflop. In practice, if you 3-bet and your opponent folds, GGPoker still takes rake — other rooms don't.
Here's the full breakdown:
| Room | NFND | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Winamax | Yes | No rake preflop |
| PokerStars / PokerStars.fr | Yes | Strict NFND on all markets |
| Betclic | Yes | No rake preflop + no rake if pot < 3x BB |
| PMU Poker / Parions Sport | Yes | iPoker network — NFND on all skins |
| Unibet | Yes | NFND confirmed |
| 888poker | Yes | NFND on all cash tables |
| WPT Global | Yes | Strict NFND |
| CoinPoker | Yes | Standard NFND |
| ACR Poker | Yes | NFND on entire WPN network |
| PartyPoker / Bwin | Yes | NFND on GVC/Party network |
| BetOnline | Yes | NFND on Chico network |
| GGPoker / Natural8 / KKPoker | No | Rake on 3-bet pots even without a flop |
How NFND Affects Your Strategy
The lack of NFND on GGPoker has a direct impact on your preflop strategy:
- On NFND rooms: light 3-bets and squeezes are "free" in terms of rake. If your opponent folds, you pocket the pot with zero deduction. This is a strong argument for aggressive preflop play.
- On GGPoker: every 3-bet pot is raked, even if your opponent folds immediately. This means your light 3-bets and squeezes cost more than elsewhere. You should adjust your 3-bet ranges accordingly — fewer preflop bluffs, more value.
In practice, a player who 3-bets frequently (15-20% of spots) will pay significantly more rake on GGPoker than on an NFND room. GGPoker compensates with high traffic and reputedly "soft" games, but it's a cost you need to factor into your profitability analysis.
Why the Cap Matters More Than the Percentage
The raw percentage (5%, 6.5%) gets attention, but it's the cap that determines how much you actually pay. A 5.75% rake with a low cap can cost less than a 5% rake with a high cap, because most pots exceed the threshold where the cap kicks in.
In practice: at low stakes (NL2-NL10), rake represents a huge portion of pots. At higher stakes (NL100+), the cap limits the impact. That's why beating microstakes is so hard — rake is proportionally much higher.
Rake directly impacts your Expected Value (EV). Every dollar taken is a dollar less in your potential winrate.
Comparison: French Sites (ANJ)
ANJ-licensed sites are the only legal sites in France. All apply No Flop No Drop. Caps in euros. French limits are NL2, NL5, NL10, NL20, NL50, NL100, NL200, NL400, and NL1000.
| Room | Rake % | Cap NL2 | Cap NL5 | Cap NL10 | Cap NL20 | Cap NL50 | Cap NL100 | Cap NL200 | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winamax | 5.75% | 0.40 | 0.98 | 1.44 | 2.44 | 2.88 | 2.88 | 2.88 | Independent |
| PokerStars.fr | 5% (4.5% NL20/NL1000) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.50 | 2.75 | Independent |
| Betclic | 6.49% (5% NL20+) | 0.50* | 0.50* | 1.00* | 1.50* | 2.00* | 3.00* | 3.00* | Proprietary |
| PMU Poker | 6.67% (5% NL20+) | 0.50 | 0.50 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | iPoker |
| Parions Sport | 6.67% (5% NL20+) | 0.50 | 0.50 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | iPoker |
| Unibet | 4.5% (5.5% NL50, 6% NL100+) | N/A | N/A | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | Independent |
| Bwin | 6.67% (5% NL20+) | 0.50* | 0.50* | 2.00* | 2.00* | 3.00* | 4.00* | 4.00* | GVC/Party |
* Estimated or extrapolated data.
French Sites Analysis
Best rake at microstakes: Winamax. At 5.75% (not 6.5% as often incorrectly cited), Winamax has the lowest caps on the French market at NL2 (0.40) and NL5 (0.98). That's a huge advantage at microstakes where the cap is reached very frequently.
Best raw rate: PokerStars.fr. At 5% (and 4.5% at NL20 and NL1000), PokerStars has the lowest percentage among French rooms. Its caps are reasonable, especially at mid-stakes (NL20-NL100).
Betclic: competitive at NL20+. Betclic drops to 5% from NL20 onwards with reasonable caps (1.50 at NL20, 2.00 at NL50). At microstakes, however, its 6.49% rate is high.
Most expensive: iPoker network (PMU, Parions Sport, Bwin). With rake up to 6.67% at microstakes and some of the highest caps (up to 4.00 at NL100+), the iPoker network is the costliest.
Comparison: International Sites
International rooms (.com) generally have lower rake and more traffic. Caps in dollars. All apply No Flop No Drop, except GGPoker which takes rake on 3-bet pots even preflop.
| Room | Rake % | Cap NL2 | Cap NL5 | Cap NL10 | Cap NL25 | Cap NL50 | Cap NL100 | Cap NL200 | Cap NL500 | Cap NL1000 | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PokerStars | 5% (4.5% NL25/NL1000) | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.50 | $2.00 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $2.75 | $3.00 | $3.00 | Independent |
| GGPoker | 5% | $0.50 | $0.50 | $1.00 | $2.00 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $6.00 | $8.00 | $10.00 | GG Network |
| 888poker | 5% | $2.00 | $2.00 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $4.00 | $4.00 | $4.00 | $4.00 | $4.00 | Independent |
| WPT Global | 4% | $0.40 | $0.60 | $0.60 | $1.20 | $2.00 | $4.00 | $8.00 | $8.00 | $10.00* | Independent |
| CoinPoker | 5% | $0.70 | $0.70 | $0.70 | $1.50 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $3.00 | $3.50* | $4.00* | Crypto |
| iPoker (network) | 6.67% (5% NL25+) | €0.50 | €0.50 | €2.00 | €2.00 | €3.00 | €4.00 | €4.00 | €4.00 | €4.00 | Playtech |
| PartyPoker | 6.67% (5% NL25+) | $0.50* | $0.50* | $2.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $4.00 | $4.00 | $4.00 | $4.00 | GVC/Party |
| Unibet | 4.5% (5.5% NL50, 6% NL100+) | N/A | N/A | €2.00 | €2.00 | €2.00 | €3.00 | €3.00 | €3.00 | €3.00 | Independent |
| ACR Poker | 5% | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | WPN |
| KKPoker | 5% | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.60 | $0.60 | $1.50 | $3.00 | $6.00 | $6.00 | $6.00 | GG Network |
| BetOnline | 5% (5.56% NL500+) | $1.50 | $1.50 | $1.50 | $2.50 | $3.00 | $3.50 | $3.50 | $3.50* | $3.50* | Chico |
* Estimated or extrapolated data. GGPoker: no NFND (rake taken on 3-bet pots preflop).
International Sites Analysis
Best raw rate: WPT Global at 4%. The lowest rake on the market. Particularly advantageous at small and mid-stakes where the cap isn't often reached. Beware: caps climb sharply at NL200+ ($8).
Best caps at high stakes: PokerStars (.com). With some of the lowest caps at all limits ($2.00 at NL50, $2.75 at NL200, $3.00 at NL500-NL1000), PokerStars remains the most advantageous room for mid and high volume grinders.
Best value: CoinPoker. Very competitive caps at all limits ($0.70 at NL10, $2.50 at NL100, $3.00 at NL200). If you're comfortable with cryptocurrency, CoinPoker offers one of the best rakes available.
KKPoker: lowest caps at microstakes. At $0.30 for NL2-NL5 and $0.60 for NL10-NL25, KKPoker is unbeatable at microstakes. Caps rise at NL200+ ($6), however.
Most expensive at high stakes: GGPoker. Standard 5% rake, but caps explode at NL200+ ($6-$10). Additionally, GGPoker doesn't apply NFND on 3-bet pots. However, GGPoker compensates with high traffic and reputedly "soft" games.
The ACR case. Flat $3 cap at all limits. Bad deal at NL10-NL25, but excellent at NL200-NL1000. ACR rewards high-stakes players.
Rake Impact on Your Winrate
A NL50 player grinding 50,000 hands per month on a room with a $2 cap pays roughly 5 bb/100 in rake.
That means if your "real" winrate (before rake) is 8 bb/100, your net winrate after rake is only 3 bb/100. Rake eats more than half your profits.
On a room with a $4 cap instead of $2, that same player would pay ~8-9 bb/100. Their winrate would go from +8 bb/100 (before rake) to -1 bb/100. Same player, same strategy — but losing instead of winning, purely because of rake.
That's why room choice isn't a detail. It's a decision that can turn a winning player into a losing one.
To understand how rake affects your per-hand decisions, check our guide on Pot Odds. Rake effectively increases the cost of every call.
How to Minimize Rake Impact
1. Choose the right room for your limit
The tables above are your guide. If you play NL2-NL10 in France, Winamax is most advantageous thanks to its low caps. If you play NL100+ on .com sites, PokerStars and CoinPoker offer the best caps.
2. Maximize rakeback
Rakeback is the partial refund of rake through loyalty programs. Some rooms offer up to 30-40% rakeback for active players. Calculate your effective rakeback and factor it into your profitability analysis.
3. Play tight-aggressive
The more hands you play, the more rake you pay. A tight-aggressive style (fewer hands played, but played aggressively) reduces your rake exposure while maximizing your profits on the hands you do play.
4. Avoid unnecessary multiway pots
Rake is taken from the total pot. More players in the pot means a bigger pot, which means more rake. Avoid entering multiway pots with marginal hands.
5. Win pots preflop when possible
Thanks to No Flop No Drop, pots won preflop aren't raked. When you raise and everyone folds, you pocket the pot with zero deduction. It's another argument for preflop aggression.
Preflop aggression is directly tied to Fold Equity. The more your opponents fold to your raises, the less rake you pay.
6. Analyze your hands to maximize winrate
Every bb/100 of winrate gained through better strategy directly offsets the cost of rake. Use GrindLab to analyze your hands after every session: check your equity against villain's range, identify spots where you're losing value, and fix your leaks.
Calculate hand equity, pot odds, and compare ranges with GrindLab's free equity engine
Try it free →Tournament (MTT) and Sit & Go Rake
In tournaments, rake works differently: it's built into the buy-in as "entry fees".
| Format | Typical Rake |
|---|---|
| MTT buy-in > $50 | 8-10% |
| MTT buy-in $10-50 | 10-12% |
| MTT buy-in < $10 | 12-15% |
| Classic Sit & Go | 7-10% |
| Expresso / Spin & Go | 7-8% |
Tournament rake is less "invisible" than cash game rake since it's clearly displayed in the buy-in. But it's equally impactful on your profitability — especially at small buy-ins where it can reach 15%.
In tournaments, rake interacts with ICM: every dollar of rake increases entry cost and reduces your expected ROI.
Conclusion
Rake isn't a detail — it's a structural cost that directly impacts your profitability. A player generating 5 bb/100 winrate on a low-rake room can be a loser on a high-rake room, without changing a single strategic decision.
Use the tables in this article to choose the most advantageous room for your limit. Maximize your rakeback. And above all, improve your game — every bb/100 of winrate gained through better strategy directly offsets the cost of rake.
To analyze your hands and identify the leaks costing you the most bb/100, try GrindLab — free during open beta, no download, right from your browser.
Data updated March 2026. Information compiled from official room sources and community-verified data. Values marked with an asterisk (*) are estimated or extrapolated.