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Reason #2 why the Wizard likes Bovada:
No-hassle practice games
Most online casinos spend more effort trying to separate you from your money than they do trying to give you a good experience. They have all kinds of popup windows, they usually make you download their software, and if they do offer play-in-browser games then you have to register an account before you can play. And if you register they start sending you emails trying to get you to deposit real money.
But Bovada is different. They have no popup windows at all, and their practice games play right in your browser, with no download, and no registration required. You don’t even have to give up your email address. It couldn’t be simpler: just one click and you’re playing the game.
I wish all online casinos showed this much respect for their players. Other casinos practically ask for your first born child to play for free. Meanwhile Bovada is patient and does not twist anybody’s arm to play for real money. You can play as long as you like for free with no obligation. The real-money games are available if that’s your preference, but if not, you can play the free practice games for as long as you like without hassle.
Internet Poker Rake Survey
Last Update: Jun 05, 2005
The following is a survey of the rake structures at six major Internet poker rooms. For all the work that went into this the bottom line is that the rakes are more or less than same among every site surveyed except Pacific Poker, which has moderately higher rakes.
Party Poker
| Party Poker | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Limits | Number Players | Rake Formula | Max Rake |
| $0.15 / $0.30 | Any | $0.05 every $1 | $1 |
| $0.25 / $0.50 | Any | $0.05 every $1 | $1 |
| $0.50 / $1.00 | Any | $0.50 @ $5, $0.75 @ $12, $1.00 @ $20 | $1 |
| $1.00 / $2.00 | Any | $0.50 @ $5, $0.75 @ $12, $1.00 @ $20 | $1 |
| $2 / $4 to $10 / $20 | 2 - 3 | $1.00 @ $20 | $1 |
| $2 / $4 to $10 / $20 | 4 - 5 | $1.00 @ $20, $1.50 @ $30, $2.00 @ $40 | $2 |
| $2 / $4 to $10 / $20 | 6 - 10 | $1.00 @ $20, $1.50 @ $30, $2.00 @ $40, $2.50 @ $50, $3.00 @ $60 | $3 |
| $15 / $30 to $30 / $60 | 2 - 3 | $1.00 @ $40 | $1 |
| $15 / $30 to $30 / $60 | 4 - 5 | $1.00 @ $40, $1.50 @ $55, $2.00 @ $70 | $2 |
| $15 / $30 to $30 / $60 | 6 - 10 | $1.00 @ $40, $1.50 @ $55, $2.00 @ $70, $2.50 @ $85, $3.00 @ $100 | $3 |
| $50 / $100 and above | 2 - 3 | $1.00 @ $100, then $0.50 for every extra $50 | $2 |
| $50 / $100 and above | 4 - 10 | $1.00 @ $100, then $0.50 for every extra $50 | $5 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | Any | $0.05 per $1 | $3 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 2 - 3 | $0.05 per $1 | $1 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 4 - 5 | $0.05 per $1 | $2 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 6 - 10 | $0.05 per $1 | $3 |
Note: At Party Poker the maximum rake is $3 for pot limit and no limit with buy ins of less than $25, regardless of the number of players.
Poker Stars
| Poker Stars | |||
| Limits | Number Players | Rake Formula | Max Rake |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.02 / $0.04 to $0.05 / $0.10 | Any | None | $0 |
| $0.10 / $0.20 to $0.25 / $0.50 | Any | $0.05 every $1 | $1 |
| $0.50 / $1.00 to $1.00 / $2.00 | Any | $0.25 every $5 | $1 |
| $2 / $4 and above | 2 - 3 | $0.50 @ $20, $1.00 @ $40 | $1 |
| $2 / $4 and above | 4 - 5 | $1.00 @ $20, $2.00 @ $40 | $2 |
| $2 / $4 and above | 2 - 3 | $0.05 per $1 | $1 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 4 - 5 | $0.05 per $1 | $2 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 6 - 9 | $0.05 per $1 | $3 |
Paradise Poker
| Paradise Poker | |||
| Limits | Number Players | Rake Formula | Max Rake |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.02 / $0.04 to $0.05 / $0.10 | Any | None | $0 |
| $0.10 / $0.20 to $0.25 / $0.50 | Any | $0.05 every $1 | $1 |
| $0.50 / $1.00 to $1.00 / $2.00 | Any | $0.25 every $5 | $1 |
| $2 / $4 to $10 / $20 | 2 - 3 | $1.00 @ $20 | $1 |
| $2 / $4 to $10 / $20 | 4 - 5 | $1.00 @ $20, $2.00 @ $40 | $2 |
| $2 / $4 to $10 / $20 | 6 - 10 | $1.00 @ $20, $2.00 @ $40, $3.00 @ $60 | $3 |
| $15 / $30 and above | 2 - 3 | $1.00 @ $40 | $1 |
| $15 / $30 and above | 4 - 5 | $1.00 @ $40, $2.00 @ $70 | $2 |
| $15 / $30 and above | 6 - 10 | $1.00 @ $40, $2.00 @ $70, $3.00 @ $100 | $3 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 2 - 3 | $0.05 per $1 | $1 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 4 - 5 | $0.05 per $1 | $2 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 6 - 10 | $0.05 per $1 | $3 |
Full Tilt Poker
| Full Tilt Poker | |||
| Limits | Number Players | Rake Formula | Max Rake |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.25 / $0.50 | 2 | $0.05 every $1 | $0.25 |
| $0.25 / $0.50 | 3 - 9 | $0.05 every $1 | $0.5 |
| $0.50 / $1.00 to $1.00 / $2.00 | 2 | $0.25 every $5 | $0.5 |
| $0.50 / $1.00 to $1.00 / $2.00 | 3 - 9 | $0.25 every $5 | $1 |
| $2 / $4 and above | 2 | $0.50 @ $10 | $0.5 |
| $2 / $4 and above | 3 | $0.50 @ $10, $1.00 @ $20 | $1 |
| $2 / $4 and above | 4 - 5 | $1.00 @ $20, $2.00 @ $40 | $2 |
| $2 / $4 and above | 6 - 9 | $1.00 @ $20, $2.00 @ $40, $3.00 @ $60 | $3 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 2 | $0.05 per $1 | $0.5 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 3 | $0.05 per $1 | $1 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 4 - 5 | $0.05 per $1 | $2 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 6 - 9 | $0.05 per $1 | $3 |
Pacific Poker
| Pacific Poker | |||
| Limits | Number Players | Rake Formula | Max Rake |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.05 / $0.10 | Any | $0.03 @ $0.25 plus $0.01 each extra $0.25 | $0.06 |
| $0.25 / $0.50 | Any | $0.10 @ $1.00 plus $0.05 each extra $1.00 | $0.3 |
| $0.50 / $1.00 to $1.00 / $2.00 | Any | $0.30 @ $3.00 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $1.25 |
| $2 / $4 | 2 - 3 | $1.00 @ $20 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $1.5 |
| $2 / $4 | 4 - 10 | $1.00 @ $20 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $3.5 |
| $3 / $6 to $10 / $20 | 2 - 3 | $1.00 @ $20 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $1.5 |
| $3 / $6 to $10 / $20 | 4 - 10 | $1.00 @ $20 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $4 |
| $15 / $30 | 2 - 3 | $1.00 @ $40 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $1.5 |
| $15 / $30 | 4 - 10 | $1.00 @ $40 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $4 |
| $30 / $60 | 2 - 3 | $1.00 @ $40 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $1.5 |
| $30 / $60 | 4 - 5 | $1.00 @ $40 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $2.5 |
| $30 / $60 | 6 - 10 | $1.00 @ $40 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $4 |
| $50 / $100 | 2 - 3 | $2.00 @ $50 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $2.5 |
| $50 / $100 | 4 - 5 | $2.00 @ $50 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $3.5 |
| $50 / $100 | 6 - 10 | $2.00 @ $50 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $5 |
| $75 / $150 | 2 - 3 | $2.00 @ $100 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $3 |
| $75 / $150 | 4 - 10 | $2.00 @ $100 plus $0.01 each extra $0.20 | $6 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | Any | $0.05 per $1 | $4 |
Ultimate Bet
| Ultimate Bet | |||
| Limits | Number Players | Rake Formula | Max Rake |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.01 / $0.02 | Any | None | $0 |
| $0.05 / $0.10 | 2 - 3 | $0.01 every $0.20 | $0.02 |
| $0.05 / $0.10 | 4 - 5 | $0.01 every $0.20 | $0.05 |
| $0.05 / $0.10 | 6 - 10 | $0.01 every $0.20 | $0.1 |
| $0.25 / $0.50 | 2 - 3 | $0.05 every $1.00 | $0.1 |
| $0.25 / $0.50 | 4 - 5 | $0.05 every $1.00 | $0.25 |
| $0.25 / $0.50 | 6 - 10 | $0.05 every $1.00 | $0.5 |
| $0.50 / $1.00 | 2 - 3 | $0.10 every $2.00 | $0.2 |
| $0.50 / $1.00 | 4 - 5 | $0.10 every $2.00 | $0.5 |
| $0.50 / $1.00 | 6 - 10 | $0.10 every $2.00 | $1 |
| $1 / $2 | 2 - 3 | $0.25 every $5.00 | $0.25 |
| $1 / $2 | 4 - 5 | $0.25 every $5.00 | $1 |
| $1 / $2 | 6 - 10 | $0.25 every $5.00 | $1 |
| $2 / $4 | 2 - 3 | $0.25 every $5.00 | $0.5 |
| $2 / $4 | 4 - 5 | $0.25 every $5.00 | $1.5 |
| $2 / $4 | 6 - 10 | $0.25 every $5.00 | $3 |
| $3 / $6 | 2 - 3 | $0.25 every $10.00 | $0.5 |
| $3 / $6 | 4 - 5 | $0.50 every $10.00 | $1.5 |
| $3 / $6 | 6 - 10 | $0.50 every $10.00 | $3 |
| $4 / $8 | 2 - 3 | $0.25 every $10.00 | $0.5 |
| $4 / $8 | 4 - 5 | $0.50 every $10.00 | $2 |
| $4 / $8 | 6 - 10 | $0.50 every $10.00 | $3 |
| $5 / $10 to $8 / $16 | 2 - 3 | $0.50 every $20.00 | $0.5 |
| $5 / $10 to $8 / $16 | 4 - 5 | $1.00 every $20.00 | $2 |
| $5 / $10 to $8 / $16 | 6 - 10 | $1.00 every $20.00 | $3 |
| $10 / $20 | 2 - 3 | $0.50 every $40.00 | $0.5 |
| $10 / $20 | 4 - 5 | $1.00 every $20.00 | $2 |
| $10 / $20 | 6 - 10 | $1.00 every $20.00 | $3 |
| $20 / $40 | 2 - 3 | $0.50 every $40.00 | $0.5 |
| $20 / $40 | 4 - 5 | $1.00 every $40.00 | $2 |
| $20 / $40 | 6 - 10 | $1.00 every $40.00 | $3 |
| $30 / $60 and above | 2 | $0.50 every Big Bet | $0.5 |
| $30 / $60 and above | 3 | $1.00 every Big Bet | $1 |
| $30 / $60 and above | 4 | $1.00 every Big Bet | $2 |
| $30 / $60 and above | 5 - 10 | $1.00 every Big Bet | $3 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 2 | $0.05 per $1 | $0.5 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 3 | $0.05 per $1 | $1 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 4 - 5 | $0.05 per $1 | $2 |
| Pot Limit/No Limit | 6 - 10 | $0.05 per $1 | $3 |
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Scott at Online Poker Room Reviews for doing all the research for this survey.
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