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Reason #5 why the Wizard likes Bovada:
Intelligent Bonuses
Many online casinos offer huge signup bonuses, but there’s a catch. Buried in the fine print is that play on the most popular games doesn’t count towards earning the bonus. It’s common for play on blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, and video poker to be excluded. In many cases, only slots count.
And that’s if you can even find the terms and conditions. Many casinos put their 100% bonus in big flaming letters but make you hunt all over their site to find the rules.
Bovada allows play on all games to count towards the wagering requirement. It’s that simple. Just no opposite betting. All casinos ought to be as easy as Bovada about this. The bonus offer itself is simple too: on your first deposit, they’ll give you an extra 10%. If you deposit $100, you’ll wind up with $110 in chips or tokens.
Finally, in the unlikely event that Bovada feels you’ve been abusing their bonuses they won’t seize your winnings like most other casinos will. In the worst case scenario they will politely tell you that they will not be offering you any future bonuses, but you are welcome to keep playing and keep everything you have made already.
Internet Poker Rake Survey
Last Update: June 5, 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.