General questions about rakeback and best poker rooms

Hi all,

I have read some of the articles here about rakeback. I am now very confused

I understand the concept of rakeback and the benefit of getting it directly from the poker room as opposed to from 3rd party. However, most mainstream or popular poker rooms do not need to offer any rakeback program to attract players whereas those that do usually have limited actions. This is totally understandable.

Here are my questions:

1. First of all, I only play at most 10 hours of low-stake (up to $200 NL cash game and $50 SNGs/tourneys) online poker per week, is it worthwhile to consider a rakeback program?

2. If so, may I have some suggestions of the poker room? I have read articles on Sun Poker. The main thing that worries me is the lack of players there. It may take a long time to earn those bonuses.

3. I have also read lots of people get their rakeback through 3rd party company but I understand some mainstream poker rooms do not allow such arrnagement. So I need some guidiance here if okay.

Ideally I want to play at poker room that offers great first-time deposit bonus, lots of active tables, and obviously a competative rakeback prgram (if it is worthwhile). I know I am asking for a lot

Just want to be sure I make the best use of my next deposit before joining a poker room. I look foward to your advice.

Thank you very much.

Kind regards,

Mike

Important question: Are you a US player or no?

bonuses are nice, but they usually come with time limits. and at low stakes, they are VERY slow to clear off.

rakeback, however, never goes away...provided your affiliate (3rd party site) doesnt F you over. and, it earns you more than any bonus ever could if you play high enough levels.

so, you need to think...

do i plan to move up as i build my bankroll? if yes, its something to consider as a "long term investment."

try to clear some bonuses at sites that dont offer rb first. then, save the bigger bonuses for either a deposit that can max it out, or forego the bonus for the rakeback at the bigger sites...when you have accumulated the roll to play higher levels.

ps...if you like limit, and are good at it, you can get by playing levels that are higher (in relation to blind amounts), and accumulate more in rake.

for instance, you can make more with rb at a 3/6 limit table than you can at a 50NL table, and you br is about the same to play either...1800 for 3/6 or 2000 for 50NL. granted a 3/6 limit table is tougher competition, relatively, than a 50NL table.

Originally Posted by srekop

Ideally I want to play at poker room that offers great first-time deposit Bonus, lots of active tables, and obviously a competative Rakeback prgram (if it is worthwhile).

FullTilt

Pretty simple checklist:

1. Are you US or not. this determines whether you want bonuses or can only really get rakeback.

2. Are you playing enough 100nl+ to really be wanting rakeback rather than bonuses?

3. There are enough members on this site who are members of reputable 3rd party's that offer rakeback, so dont worry about getting raped etc. The critical questions are baove and then a simple question of which poker rooms.

After all that, we can provide enough info for you to make an informed decision on whats best for you.

Thank you all for the helpful advice so far.

No, I am not a US player.

After reading more thread, I feel rakeback is better than bonus since I like to play at a familiar site long after clearing any bonuses instead of jumping sites to maximise return from the bonuses.

If we decide to go for the rakeback which 3rd party will one recommend?

I mainly plya at Fulltilt. Since I am a member already I believe I will not be able to sign up to any rakeback program that links to my current account, am I correct? I like Fulltilt, is there a way to get around this?

Thanks again for you guidance.

Kind regards,

Mike

AP has rakeback and bonuses, and bonus isnt deducted from RB. The only thing bad about them is the BBJ tables.

I wanted to ask the same questions about Bonus / Rakeback because I'm moving from PokerStars to OnGame and iPoker Network.

1. I'm in the UK.
2. My BR is only $500. I'm Playing NL25 6-Max.

a. Should I be worried about Rakeback? I noticed there are very little rakeback offered for OnGame and iPoker site.
b. Do I have to register with Web Money / FirePay / Click and Money / Moneybookers / Ukash / Citadel etc. if I want to bonus whore?
If yes, which one is the best? I have Neteller account but I registered it in pound sterling so Neteller is charging a lot when I switch site.

Thanks in advance.

Re Ongame. Eurobet offers 30% rakeback but Tower Gaming has never ending bonuses which are better than 30% rakeback. I do not want to spam this thread but if you want a rakeback provider for most popular rooms PM me and I can send you the link. They are good and have been around for ages. No problems at all infact Pokerrooms give them free dollars to organise freerolls for their rakeback members.

Not being a US player helps you greatly!

First try to get you neteller account converted to $$s

Then deposit at Party and clear their super fast bonus. (5-6 hours for $100). Then deposit at Empire (party skin) for the same quick bonus.

After that, the choice is up to you. Stay off the american sites and get rakeback for somewhere new. I just got 30% at betfair, but sites like raketherake.com offer it for many big sites.

You really should do those bonuses at party and empire though, it's like free money!

Fulltilt are perhaps the only site who actuvly look for multiaccount members, so rb may not be possible.
otherwise looooooads of sites do rb for full tilt, we can recomend loads o 3rd party's

In response to Ongame. The rb deals are out there, but mostly you will have to look at small rb sites who have managed to strike deals...HOWEVER
playing <100nl means bonues>rakeback easily.
If you are UK based you should wet yourself at the oppertunities that are available.

As a word, ask neteller if you can convert to $$$$$ if they say no just empty your account, close it and open a $$$$$ one so you dont get raped on conversion.
I would use the others they suck for a europlayer

btw, where in sheffield, im from doncaster

im a dutch guy with a euro moneybookers account. It feels like partypoker is raping me with their weird conversion rates from dollar to euro. Does it really matter if moneybookers convert dollars to euro's to my bank account or that party convert them to euro's when going to my moneybookers account.?

Neteller did the same to me. It hurts more when poker rooms convert USD to euros/gbp when going to your neteller/moneybookers account.

Try changing your moneybookers base currency to USD.