All poker rooms, irrespective of the fact that they are online or land based make their money through a percentage they receive from the money wagered in every pot. The players’ contribution to the pot also results in the money made by the poker room. This percent is called the ‘rake’ and is typically 5% in online casinos and 10% in land based casinos. Thus, online poker provides the serious poker player a better deal. However, if every player was equally skilled, every player would be a loser because of the rake given to the house. And for the perfectly skilled poker player, rake becomes the only defect in the game.

To counter this, online casinos came up with rake back programs that would be an added benefit for the serious poker player. No only does the serious poker player understand that he is giving away 5% in rake, he is dedicated and devotes hours playing and spends several hundreds or thousands of dollars every month, thereby accumulating enough rake. This way the serious poker player is able to ask for his rake back for being a loyal customer.

A major aspect of online rake back programs is that the rake back is typically managed by a 3rd party. A player signs up to an online poker room through a 3rd party, that 3rd party monitors the rake the player is making, and then pays the player a portion of the rake back. The main problem here is what happens if the 3rd party folds over. The player will stop receiving his rake from this online poker room. It is not uncommon to see websites disappearing as fast as they appear. Another problem of a rake back program through a 3rd party is that they may be involved in shoddy dealings. This would lead to risking their business as well as the player’s rake back agreement.

For example, there are several websites trying to advertise rake back programs for Party Poker or a skin of Party Poker (Empire Poker, MultiPoker, Eurobet, InterTops Poker). However, Party Poker and their skins clearly state that a rake back program is a violation of their agreements - both of the 3rd party and of the player. This is part of Party Poker’s affiliate (3rd party) agreement: All such marketing activities must be professional, proper and lawful under applicable rules, regulations or laws (including any laws relation to the content and nature of any advertising or marketing) and otherwise comply with the terms of this Agreement. You shall not and shall not authorize, assist or encourage any third party to…Offer any so-called “rake-back” schemes or similar which offers or allows a proportion of the player’s rake to be returned to the player in any form;

This is not an empty threat - Party Poker is actively pursuing these offenders.

This announcement comes directly from Party Poker: As a result of feedback from many affiliates and commitment towards controlling rake back, we are taking strict actions to control rake back. You may not be able to see tracker wise revenue for some trackers while checking your stats. However, the total MGR will be visible as before. This is because some trackers might be under investigation, and the stats should be available once these trackers are cleared.

It is widely known that PokerNow, once a skin of Party Poker, actually lost its license to use Party Poker’s software and network. Party Poker took control and ownership of the skin due to PokerNow’s participation with rake back programs.

With a better understanding of the rake back programs and the current issues with rake back programs, the efforts made by FlopTurnRiver.com can be better appreciated. FTR has conducted a thorough research into the rake back programs and also studied the reasons why so many web sites offer it and then withdraw the offer. You are safe with FTR because even if FTR folds you are ensured of your rake back every month as you do not rely on FTR directly. All the rake back programs listed here at FTR are unique in that they do not act as a 3rd party nor pay the rake back.

What FTR has done is that instead of designing a program of being a third party, they have worked in concurrence with the online poker rooms to set up an all inclusive rake back program for the players. This way the players get the rake back rebates directly from the online poker room without any reliance on FTR for any calculations and payments.