What's the Catch?
Ok, so you have decided to start playing poker online and
have choosen the poker gaming room you wish to download
and start playing in. However, one thing is bugging you
- whats the catch?
With advertising, banners, strategy guides and winning
hints hitting you from all directions, it seems like a good
idea to try out your new found poker skills online. The
poker rooms on this page are a good place to start. The
trouble is, whats in it for them? Playing against other
players is a great way of testing your skills and you could
do with the money if you win a game or two, but whats in
it for the poker rooms if your playing with other players?
The truth is that the poker room owners make money from
you every time you play a game for real money, whether you
win lose or draw. It's called the Table Rake.
The table rake is a commission charged to the players by
the providers of the poker room. By taking a small slice
of the pot for themselves, they get paid while the players
still enjoy the action as the amount taken from each pot
is hardly noticeable. The table rake represents the only
source of revenue for the house, since all of the winnings
go to the players around the table.
The rake amount in most poker rooms is set to a maximum
of between $3 and $5 and a fairly normal commission would
be 5% up to this value. It is also determined by the number
of players at the table, and the amount in the total pot.
Online poker rooms do vary and the amounts and calculations
of the table rake value vary from room to room. On top of
this, most online poker rooms don't take any rake if the
flop isn't dealt.
This is a great way of the paying for your poker games
due to the table rake being a small capped percentage and
as the money is being taken from the pot, you don't feel
if you are loosing any money.
Thats all there is to it really, there is, "no
catch." The poker rooms are upfront about the table
rake and the players still enjoy playing, winning and scooping
the pot when they win, so go on, enjoy yourself and remember,
always play to win.
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