I recently saw a guy talk about how he plays on Absolute Poker because of their rakeback, despite them having “ridiculously high rake.” It made me wonder what sense that made. You’re knowingly paying a higher fee, so you can get some of it back?

I recently decided to stop playing at FullTilt specifically because of their rake. They have a huge bonus ($600) but I simply realized that clearing it was actually costing me money; the bonus barely makes up for the extra rake. And here comes my question to you, dear reader: Have you compared rake at the site you’re playing with other sites? In a game where profit is measured in relatively small amounts per 100 hands over the long run, the rake can make a significant impact on your earnings. Don’t ignore it just because you can’t “see” it.

Bonuses seem nicer than they are, because we feel like we “get” money, when in reality, we’re just getting a portion of our own money handed back to us. A bonus or rakeback can sometimes make up for a high rake, but don’t blindly assume it does. Have a look around, and look at possible savings.