For the longest time, PokerStars was the world’s biggest poker site, and it remains one of the leaders in the online poker industry to this day. Although PokerStars has changed in many ways over the years, the PokerStars rake and rakeback structure remains as competitive as ever.
In this guide, we are going to take a look at the rake structure across different games on PokerStars, the rakeback deals you can expect to get, and the PokerStars rewards and other promotions that you can benefit from while playing at one of the world’s leading poker sites.
This page will help you understand exactly what you are paying for when you play at PokerStars, how much it’s going to cost you, and what you can expect to get back from the operator through various rakeback and promotional deals. Let’s start by looking at the rake structure across the different games.
PokerStars Rake Structure Explained
Like every poker room in the world, PokerStars charges cash game rake and tournament fees from all real-money games on the site. In fact, even PokerStars play money rake exists, as the play money tables look to mimic the real money games in every way.
The rake at PokerStars is reasonable compared to other sites. In most games, you will pay 5% of the pot, with varying rake caps in place, while some low- and micro-stakes games charge as low as 3.3%, allowing players to build up their bankrolls at a faster pace and giving beginners a better chance to succeed early in their careers.
The exact rake depends on the game type, stakes, and the number of players dealt into the hand. PokerStars does not charge rake when a hand ends on the first betting round. Let’s break it all down step by step:
PokerStars No Limit Hold’em Rake
No Limit Texas Hold’em is by far the most popular game at PokerStars, with games running non-stop. At NLH tables, you can expect to pay rake according to the following table:
| Stakes | Rake % | 2 Player Cap | 3-4 Players Cap | 5+ Players Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.01/$0.02 | 5% | $1 | $1 | $1 |
| $0.02/$0.05 | 5% | $1 | $1 | $1 |
| $0.05/$0.10 | 5% | $1 | $1 | $1 |
| $0.10/$0.25 | 4.5% | $0.50 | $1 | $2 |
| $0.25/$0.50 | 5% | $0.75 | $0.75 | $2 |
| $0.50/$1 | 5% | $1 | $1 | $2.50 |
| $1/$2 | 5% | $1.25 | $1.25 | $2.75 |
| $2/$4 | 5% | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3 |
| $2.50/$5 | 5% | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3 |
| $3/$6 | 5% | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3.50 |
| $5/$10 | 4.5% | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3 |
This rake structure is highly competitive, and the rake cap across the stakes is particularly favorable compared to many other poker sites. Players at $0.10/$0.25, which is a level at which many players struggle, can benefit from a slightly lower rake and a better opportunity to move up.
PokerStars Pot Limit Omaha Rake
Pot Limit Omaha is another game that many players enjoy playing at PokerStars, and the operator has prepared a special rake structure that benefits the players at low stakes in particular. While rake is similar to NLH at higher stakes, the micro-stakes players get preferential treatment:
| Stakes | Rake % | 2 Player Cap | 3-4 Players Cap | 5+ Players Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.01/$0.02 | 3.30% | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 |
| $0.02/$0.05 | 3.90% | $0.50 | $0.50 | $1 |
| $0.05/$0.10 | 4.25% | $0.50 | $1 | $1.50 |
| $0.10/$0.25 | 4.25% | $0.50 | $1 | $2 |
| $0.25/$0.50 | 5% | $0.75 | $0.75 | $2 |
| $0.50/$1 | 5% | $1 | $1 | $2.50 |
| $1/$2 | 5% | $1.25 | $1.25 | $2.75 |
| $2/$4 | 5% | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3 |
| $2.50/$5 | 5% | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3 |
| $3/$6 | 5% | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3.50 |
| $5/$10 | 4.5% | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3 |
PokerStars Zoom Games Rake
Back in the day, PokerStars was one of the first sites to introduce fast-fold poker, known as Zoom. Zoom games still exist on the platform and draw in quite a few players who prefer to play a new hand as soon as they’ve folded their cards. PokerStars applies the standard ring-game rake structure to Zoom as well. The exception is micro-stakes NLHE Zoom at $0.01/$0.02, $0.02/$0.05, and $0.05/$0.10, which uses separate rake percentages and caps:
| Stakes | Rake % | Rake Cap (5+Players) |
|---|---|---|
| $0.01/$0.02 | 3.50% | $0.30 |
| $0.02/$0.05 | 4.15% | $1 |
| $0.05/$0.10 | 4.50% | $1.50 |
PokerStars Mixed Games Rake
PokerStars is one of the few major poker sites that offer mixed games and fixed limit games, including Limit Hold’em, Seven Card Stud, Omaha Hi/Lo, and more. Here is how the rake structure looks at fixed-limit games on PokerStars:
| Stakes | 2 Player Rake % and Cap | 3-4 Player Rake % and Cap | 5+ Rake % and Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.02/$0.04 | 4.5%/$0.01 | 4.5%/$0.01 | 4.5%/$0.01 |
| $0.04/$0.08 to $0.05/$0.10 | 4.5%/$0.04 | 4.5%/$0.04 | 4.5%/$0.04 |
| $0.10/$0.20 | 4.5%/$0.10 | 4.5%/$0.10 | 4.5%/$0.10 |
| $0.25/$0.50 | 4.5%/$0.16 | 4.5%/$0.16 | 4.5%/$0.16 |
| $0.50/$1 | 4.5%/$0.40 | 4.5%/$0.40 | 4.5%/$0.40 |
| $1/$2 | 2%/$0.50 | 3%/$0.70 | 4%/$0.80 |
| $2/$4 | 2%/$0.50 | 3%/$0.70 | 3%/$1.25 |
| $2.50/$5 to $5/$10 | 2%/$0.50 | 3%/$2 | 3%/$3 |
Tournament and Spin & Go Rake at PokerStars
Finally, it’s worth taking a quick look at the tournament fees players pay in PokerStars tournaments. When it comes to multi table tournaments (MTTs), the rake ranges around 10% of the overall buy-in price, which is in line with the standard for online poker.
Spin & Go tournaments, which have gained much popularity at PokerStars for their jackpot potential, charge tournament fees based on the buy-in, with each level charging a different percentage as a fee, and higher-stakes games typically charging less, as follows:
- $0.50, $1, $2, and $5 Hold’em — 8%
- $5 Omaha and $10 — 7%
- $25 and $50 — 6%
- $100, $250, $500, and $1,000 — 5%
PokerStars Rakeback Structure Broken Down
Now that you know what the rake is in PokerStars, it’s time to look at the operator’s rakeback structure and learn what you can expect to get back for each dollar of rake you pay across cash game and tournament tables.
All rakeback at PokerStars is paid through the PokerStars Rewards scheme, which rewards players based on their VIP status. In order to progress through PokerStars Rewards, you must earn Reward Points, which let you reach higher levels. At each level, you earn chests, which contain cash rewards and effectively your rakeback.
The six standard PokerStars Rewards levels offer an effective return of 15% to 40% through Rewards Chests. High-volume players can instead qualify for PokerStars Select or Select+, which replace the standard Rewards levels with direct cash rakeback of up to 60%.
A total of 100 Reward Points are awarded for every $1 paid in rake and tournament fees under the standard Rewards program. The regular Rewards levels are structured as follows:
| Chest Level | Reward Points Needed | Number of Chests to Level Up | Chest Value | Effective Rakeback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 2,000 | 5 | $3 | 15% |
| Bronze | 6,000 | 5 | $10.50 | 17.50% |
| Silver | 20,000 | 5 | $40 | 20% |
| Gold | 50,000 | 5 | $125 | 25% |
| Diamond | 120,000 | 5 | $360 | 30% |
| Black | 250,000 | N/A | $1,000 | 40% |
PokerStars Select and Select+
PokerStars Select and Select+ are separate high-volume tiers that pay rakeback directly as cash instead of using Reward Points and Chests.
| Tier | Qualification | Rakeback | Requirements to Keep the Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select | $50,000 in rake or tournament fees within a rolling 12-month period | 50% on all poker games | $10,000 over a rolling 3 months or $50,000 over a rolling 12 months |
| Select+ | $100,000 in rake or tournament fees within a rolling 12-month period | 60% on Spin & Go and Zoom; 50% on all other poker games | $20,000 over a rolling 3 months or $100,000 over a rolling 12 months |
Players are automatically moved to Select or Select+ once they meet the qualification requirements. The rakeback is credited directly as cash, rather than being paid through Rewards Chests.
PokerStars Bonuses and Promotions
The PokerStars Rewards program is not the only way to get extra value at PokerStars, as players can also benefit greatly from the PokerStars welcome bonus, worth 100% of their first deposit, up to $600, and a variety of other limited-time promotional offers.
PokerStars is well-known for issuing reload bonuses to players around its major tournament series, such as WCOOP and SCOOP, offering a great incentive to return to the tables during these key events. The bonuses clear at a rate of 33% to 50% in extra rakeback, making them some of the best value offers on the market.
Other Poker Sites with Top Rakeback Deals
PokerStars is hardly the only option you have to get a good rakeback deal for online poker. In fact, quite a few other sites offer more in terms of rakeback, as well as amazing welcome bonuses and promotions, such as:
- CoinPoker: CoinRewards distributes more than $7 million per month through several reward mechanics. 3-Bet Club members receive a 10% weekly Base Reward on eligible games, with Action Multipliers that can increase the rate to 12.5% or 15%.
- Americas Cardroom: Elite Benefits program offers up to 65% in rakeback depending on your VIP status.
- GGPoker: The new Ocean Rewards program rewards players with up to 80% rakeback depending on their gameplay volume and total rake over time.
Play Poker with the Lowest Rake
At GipsyTeam, we are dedicated to helping our players grow their poker careers at the best possible pace, from learning the basic poker rules and mastering different poker variants to finding the sites with the lowest rake and best rakeback deals to play at.
If you are not sure where you should play for the best value, we highly recommend reaching out to our customer support agents, who will help you pick a site with the best rake structure and the highest returns possible. Our team is here to help with all your poker questions, no matter how big or small they might seem.
