Alberta Poker Rake Calculator

About This Calculator

This calculator provides estimated rake comparisons based on typical pot sizes and standard rake structures across Alberta's six regulated poker rooms. Actual rake depends on pot size, player count at the table, and specific room rules (such as preflop rake policies on 3-bet pots).

All Alberta regulated rooms use a percentage-based rake with caps that vary by stakes. The estimates here assume standard 6-max play with average pot sizes for each stake level.

How Rake Works in Alberta

Rake is the fee the poker room takes from each pot in cash games, or from the buy-in in tournaments. In Alberta's regulated market, rake structures follow industry standards: typically 5% of the pot up to a cap that varies by stakes and room.

For micro stakes (C$0.01/0.02 through C$0.10/0.25), caps are usually C$0.50 to C$1.00. At low and mid stakes (C$0.25/0.50 through C$1/2), caps range from C$2.50 to C$5.00. Higher stakes have higher caps but represent a smaller percentage of the average pot.

Tournament rake is built into the buy-in. A C$10+$1 tournament means C$10 goes to the prize pool and C$1 is the rake. Most Alberta rooms charge between 7% and 12% tournament rake depending on the buy-in level.

Rake by Room

GGPoker uses a standard 5% rake with caps that are competitive at every level. At micro stakes, GGPoker's caps are among the lowest in the Alberta market. Their Fish Buffet rewards program returns a portion of rake paid.

888poker runs a similar 5% structure. Caps at low stakes are slightly higher than GGPoker but the Made to Play rewards program offsets some of the cost for active players.

PokerStars Alberta charges 5% with caps in line with the market. Their Stars Rewards program returns value based on play volume, though the return rate varies by player level.

BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, and Bwin share the same network and rake structure. The Grind Rewards (BRP) program on BetMGM provides the most transparent rakeback among the three skins.

Why Rake Matters for Your Win Rate

Rake directly reduces your effective win rate. A player winning 5 big blinds per 100 hands before rake might only be winning 2 big blinds per 100 after rake at micro stakes. At higher stakes where the rake cap represents a smaller portion of the average pot, the impact is less severe.

This is why comparing rake structures matters, especially for grinders who play high volume. A difference of C$0.50 in the rake cap per pot adds up over thousands of hands. Use the calculator above to see how much rake you'd pay monthly at your usual stakes and volume.

Rakeback and Rewards

Every Alberta room offers some form of rakeback through rewards programs. The effective return varies from roughly 10% to 30% depending on the room, your volume, and your player tier. See our Rakeback and Rewards Guide for a full breakdown of each room's program and how to maximize your return.

For players focused on keeping costs low, see also our Best Tournaments Under $50 guide, where lower buy-ins mean lower absolute rake.