Definition
Rake is the fee charged by a casino or online poker room for hosting poker games. Unlike other casino games where the house has an inherent mathematical edge against players, in poker the house earns money by taking a percentage of each pot (rake) rather than playing against participants.
In cash games, rake is typically 5% of the pot up to a maximum cap (e.g., $5 maximum rake per hand). In tournaments, rake is charged as part of the buy-in — a $100+$10 tournament costs $110 total, with $100 going to the prize pool and $10 going to the house.
Rake has a significant impact on win rates, particularly for regular players. A player who "beats the rake" — wins enough to overcome the house fee — is considered a winning player. Rakeback deals, loyalty programs, and volume bonuses are offered by online rooms to help regular players recoup some of what they pay in rake.
Example
In a $1/$2 cash game with a 5% rake capped at $5: a $80 pot results in $4 rake, a $100+ pot results in the maximum $5 rake. If you play 25 hands per hour averaging $3 rake, you pay $75/hour in rake alone — a significant hurdle to overcome.