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A poker room doesn’t play against you: it provides the table, the software and payments, and earns money from a fee. That fee is called rake. For a beginner it’s one of those things you don’t see while playing but which affects the final result.
How rake works
In cash games the room takes a slice of every pot that reaches the flop or beyond. Most often it’s a small percentage of the pot with a cap per hand. You don’t see the fee as a separate line: it’s simply subtracted from the pot before the winner receives it.
An illustrative example (made-up numbers, not TON Poker): a $10 pot with 5% rake. The room takes $0.50 and the winner gets $9.50.
In tournaments the fee is visible up front. The entry is written as “$10 + $1”: $10 goes to the prize pool and $1 stays with the room. So the real cost of entry is $11.
Why it matters for a player
Rake is a constant “tax” on every hand. The more you play and the smaller the stakes, the more it weighs on your results. At small stakes rake is especially noticeable, because a percentage of a small pot is a large share of your winnings. A player who is merely break-even against opponents ends up losing the amount of the rake.
That’s why experienced players compare rooms not only by traffic and convenience but by rake: the lower it is, the more stays in your pocket.
What is rakeback
Some rooms return part of the rake you paid back to players: this is called rakeback. It comes as a percentage or as activity bonuses. Whether a given room offers it and on what terms is something to check in its rules.
How much TON Poker takes
The room’s official help page doesn’t state the rake size. Poker-site reviews put it at about 5% of the pot, with a cap that depends on the table. That’s unofficial data, so check the exact figure in the bot or with support. For what we know about the room, see our review what is TON Poker, and if you’re just learning the game, start with poker for beginners.
FAQ
What is rake in poker?
It’s the fee a poker room takes for running the game. In cash games it’s taken from the pot; in tournaments it’s part of the entry cost.
How is rake calculated in cash games?
Usually the room takes a percentage of the pot, often with a cap per hand. Each room has its own numbers.
How does rake work in tournaments?
The entry cost is split into a prize pool part and the room’s fee. For example, a “$10 + $1” tournament means $10 goes to the prize pool and $1 is the fee.
What is rakeback?
It’s a refund of part of the rake you paid. Terms depend on the room, and not every room offers it.
How much rake does TON Poker take?
The official help page doesn’t state it; reviews put it at about 5% of the pot. That’s unofficial, so check in the bot or ask support.
