Poker is a casino game based on luck and skill and the more a player acquires the skill, the better the chances of winning. The game is played with cards and the peak of the game is to win. Here, you keep score using money or something equivalent. A Player win money from another player by holding the best-ranking hand or by bluffing (pretending to hold the best-ranking hand) where other players are forced to surrender their right to the money that everyone has bet referred to as the “pot”. Poker is a game of possibilities where players play against each other and not against the casino. That said, the casino need also to make money, hence they do this by a “rake”. The house collects by rake where a certain percentage of every pot, usually capped at a certain amount, is taken. However, there is a rule that prevents the house from taking any rake if the game is decided very early. In most cases, a rake is usually assessed by the casino in low stakes, but the house charges a fee referred to as “time” in mid and higher-stakes poker games every player time the dealer changes (approximately every half hour).
Why is taking a rake in poker illegal?
You may ask why it is taking a rake in a poker game illegal? Yet it is a way for the casinos to generate revenue. Casinos collect a commission on the winnings from the players. On the other hand, it is a way in which players pay a fee to participate in the money game by paying a small amount of money they have won at the end of the game. Then casinos can use the rake to cover operating costs and overheads. However, taking a rake in poker is illegal since most poker casinos operate illegally. Meaning it is an underground game without a proper gaming license. This is the main concern, the fact that if the gambling establishment is not properly licensed then the hosts can easily scam the players. It is therefore completely illegal to generate revenue in a gaming establishment that is not properly licensed and regulated by the approved authorities. That is why is taking a rake in poker is illegal. Nevertheless, taking a rake is perfectly legal if it is collected in a gambling establishment that is properly licensed and complies with gambling laws. The laws are enacted to protect poker players from scams.
Why is a rake a thing of concern in Poker?
Those who lose in poker might not care about the rake, however, the rake is something all poker players need to consider at the table. Some casinos may charge as high as 15% of the tournament fee or in a cash poker game, a pot can be charged 5% to 10% of the amount. Rake can have a huge impact on the player’s return on investment. For example, if a player wins approximately $250 and pays $25 the player might think it is a small deal but in the real sense, over a large sample of hands, the profits can be significantly small. Hence an unlicensed establishment can scam poker players even more which is why is illegal to take a rake in poker.