BetOnlineCasino Reviews & Player Reports

BetOnline poker room rake structure changed - 5% cap increased to 6%

Just noticed BetOnline quietly bumped their poker rake cap from 5% to 6% across all cash game tables. Been playing $1/$2 NL there for months and the rake was capped at $3 per hand (5% of $60 pot). Now seeing $3.60 taken from $60+ pots.

No email notification, no announcement in their poker client. Found out when I was reviewing my session stats and the numbers didn't add up. Called support and they confirmed the change went live November 15th.

Anyone else catch this? That extra 1% really adds up over volume. Considering moving my action elsewhere if other sites have better structures.

5 replies

2
MDMark D.Regular✔ verified50 minutes ago
Damn, that's sneaky as hell. I've been grinding their $0.50/$1 tables and didn't notice since the rake cap there is still $2.50. But you're right about volume - that extra 1% probably costs serious players hundreds per month.

Ignition still runs 5% capped at $3 for $1/$2. Their player pool is softer too, though the anonymous tables take some getting used to. Might be worth the switch if you're putting in decent hours.
21
MRMike R.Member✔ verified40 minutes ago
This is exactly why I stick to tournaments instead of cash games. Rake structures keep getting worse across all the US-facing sites. Remember when BetOnline was 4.5% just two years ago?

Their tournament fees are still reasonable - $22 buy-in tourneys with $2 fee (9.1%). But yeah, if you're grinding cash, that silent rake increase is pretty shady. At least send an email to regular players.
22
JKJen K.Leader✔ verifiedAccepted answer30 minutes ago
Confirmed the change on my end too. Been tracking my BetOnline sessions in a spreadsheet since August and definitely seeing the higher rake starting mid-November.

For what it's worth, their Bitcoin withdrawals are still solid (24-48 hours) which keeps me playing there despite the rake bump. But if you're volume grinding, Ignition or even some of the smaller sites might be better value now.

Wish these operators would be more transparent about policy changes that directly impact player profitability.
6
JPJess P.Regular20 minutes ago
That's frustrating but not surprising. BetOnline has been tightening up across the board - their casino bonuses got stricter playthrough requirements earlier this year too.

Have you looked at Wild Casino's poker room? Smaller player pool but they're still at 5% rake cap. Plus their welcome bonus for poker is pretty decent if you're planning to deposit fresh money somewhere new.
2
ATAnna T.Regular10 minutes ago
Thanks for confirming Jen. Yeah, their payout speed is definitely a plus. Just ran some quick math and the extra 1% would cost me roughly $180/month based on my current volume.

Might split my time between BetOnline and Ignition going forward. The anonymous tables at Ignition actually help against some of the regulars who have detailed stats on everyone at BetOnline.

Play smart. Play responsibly.