Belgium 
Canada 
China 
Germany 
Denmark 
Spain 
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Romania 
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Sweden 
Thailand 
United States 
Vietnam 
PokerStars, one of the leading online poker platforms, has recently revealed plans to implement a series of rake increases on its global dot-com market starting April 2nd.
The adjustments will be implemented in the No-Limit and Pot-Limit cash games, except Omaha and Zoom. They will also apply to Kick-off and single-table sit-and-go tournaments, mainly impacting low stakes games.
PokerStars will maintain multi-table tournaments (MTTs), multi-table sit and gos, and Spin & Gos without any alterations. However, only specific game variants will experience an impact.
Reasons Behind the Rake Increases
The move was announced "following a comprehensive review" and is the first significant rake increase in eight years. According to PokerStars, there will be a 6% drop in overall poker Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) and a 25% drop in daily active users due to these adjustments.
According to PokerStars, their prices are still "competitive in the industry" despite this hike.
Chris Straghalis, the Director of Online Poker Experience for PokerStars, said they made changes to the rake structure after a thorough evaluation.
As per Straghalis, PokerStars made this decision because they are dedicated to preserving a balanced poker community and ensuring the company's long-term success.
Affected Markets and Games
The Global dot-com market, which spans countries like the UK, Romania, Greece, Estonia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and the Czech Republic, is facing notable changes.
A few months ago, PokerStars revamped its loyalty program, increasing prizes for most players and providing hefty incentives to high-volume players. Now, the rake is going up for everyone.
Colossal Increase at Low-Stakes Tables
Expect the most pronounced rake hike in low-stakes NLHE and PLO cash games, particularly in stakes such as $0.01/$0.02, $0.02/$0.05, and $0.05/$0.10, where rake surge percentages to 5%. It represents a significant jump from the former 3.5% seen at NL2, reflecting a substantial 42% increase. Previously, the rake amounted to 4.15% for 5nl stakes and 4.5% for 10nl stakes.
Moreover, PokerStars has decided to raise the rake cap for these stakes whenever two or more players are involved in a hand. Rake caps ensure that the total sum of rake collected on any individual hand is limited.
In the past, the maximum limit for 2NL was 30 cents, but it will now be set to $1. Omaha and Zoom tables remain unaffected by the changes.
PokerStars' previous rake structure in No Limit Hold'em
PokerStars' previous rake structure in No Limit Hold'em
| Stake | Current Rake % | 2 Player Cap | 3-4 Player Cap | 5+ Player Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2NL | 3.50% | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 |
| 5NL | 4.15% | $0.50 | $0.50 | $1.00 |
| 10NL | 4.50% | $0.50 | $1.00 | $1.50 |
PokerStars' Current No Limit Hold'em rake
| Stake | Current Rake % | 2 Player Cap | 3-4 Player Cap | 5+ Player Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2NL | 5.00% | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| 5NL | 5.00% | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| 10NL | 5.00% | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 |
Rake Changes in Other Formats
There will be an increase in the rake for Kick Off tournaments, going from 10% to 12%. This increase is also observed in the Southern European markets of France and Spain, where they have a shared player pool. Fortunately, players who enjoy Multi-Table Sit & Go's and Heads-Up Sit & Go's can sigh relief as these formats will not be impacted by the upcoming changes.
PokerStars plans to boost rake in single-table sit & go games across different levels, impacting micro to medium stakes. The rake hike is most pronounced in 9-handed regular micro SNGs, jumping from 14% to 17%.
Expect the rake tables to be updated with the new rates starting Tuesday, April 2nd.
| Max Players | Game Type/Speed | Game Size | Old Rake % | New Rake % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Regular/Regular | Micro | 11-14 | 16-17 |
| 9 | Regular/Regular | Low | 9 | 14-16 |
| 9 | Regular/Regular | Medium | 8.64 | 8.64-10 |
| 9 | Regular/Turbo | Micro | 9-12 | 12-17 |
| 9 | Regular/Turbo | Low | 8 | 10-12 |
| 9 | Regular/Turbo | Medium | 7.4 | 7.4-9 |
| 9 | Knockout | Micro | 9.2-12 | 11-15 |
| 9 | Knockout | Low | 7.8 | 9-11 |
| 9 | Knockout | Medium | 7.44 | 7.44-9 |
| 8 | Fifty50 | Micro | 5-7.5 | 8-10 |
| 8 | Fifty50 | Low | 4.6 | 7-9 |
| 8 | Fifty50 | Medium | 3.92 | 3.92-6 |
| 6 | Regular/Turbo | Micro | 8.8-12 | 15-17 |
| 6 | Regular/Turbo | Low | 7.4 | 12-14 |
| 6 | Regular/Turbo | Medium | 7.2 | 7.2-10 |
| 6 | Regular/Hyper | Micro | 5-6.5 | 9-11 |
| 6 | Regular/Hyper | Low | 4.1 | 8-10 |
| 6 | Regular/Hyper | Medium | 3.92 | 3.92-6 |
| 6 | Knockout | Micro | 4.8-8 | 9-11 |
| 6 | Knockout | Low | 4.2 | 8-10 |
| 6 | Knockout | Medium | 3.92 | 3.92-6 |
Changes to the rake are frequent. PokerStars made their latest rake modification in August of last year. Nevertheless, these adjustments were relatively insignificant.
Conclusion
Players have often had a strong negative reaction to rake increases like this. In previous instances, there have been boycotts and protests where players chose to sit out. Sometimes, these instances have convinced operators like PokerStars and GGPoker to reevaluate their rakes.
