The RAKE -- comparisons

Here is what I have seen of the Rake (and other $ taken off the table) in recent casino poker.

Rake is usually 10% of the pot up to a specified maximum - usually $4. Many cardrooms also have a bad beat jackpot (or other promotions) drop of another $1 because their players are stupid. Also the dealer tip (usually $1 at players discretion) might be pooled with other dealers or kept by the individual dealer.


St Louis - 3 casinos. Rake is 4, bbj is 1, tips are pooled.

Kansas City - 3 casinos. Rake is 4, bbj is 1, tips are pooled.

Joliet IL. Rake is 5, bbj is 1, tips are pooled.

Northern Indiana - 3 casinos. Rake is 5, bbj is 1, tips are pooled.

New Buffalo Michigan. Rake is 3, bbj is 1. Tips are 0 - no dealers, tables all electronic.

Wisconsin - 2 casinos. Rake is 4, NO bbj, tips are individual.

Tunica. Rake is 4, bbj is 1, tips are individual.


Las Vegas.

Excellent Poker Rooms like Mirage, Wynn, Bellagio; Rake is 4, NO bbj, tips are individual.

Crummy poker rooms. Rake is 4, bbj is 1, tips are individual.

Harrahs poker rooms. Rake is 5, bbj is 1 , tips are individual.

Station poker rooms. In flux. They raised the rake from $4 to $5 at Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch, and lost lots of their players (good!)


So, just from my sample this year --- you can have anywhere from $4 to $7 coming off the table EACH hand. At 30 hands per hour, thats between $120 and $210 every table hour.



Obviously its in the players best interest to have a low rake, NO bbj drop, and have the dealers keep individual tips.

The rake however should allow the room to make some money, keep the room nice, and fund some promotions, comps, etc. El Cortez still has a $2.50 rake if you want to play there.

A Bad Beat Jackpot just takes $ off the table and usually takes it OUT of the poker economy. It also leads to predictable abuses by those in charge.

Dealer tips that are pooled just lead to lazy dealers. There's no reason for them to be competant and skilled.