Whenever a new online poker room launches, it is common to see plenty of hype. Poker media outlets and affiliates often highlight the positives, even if those claims don’t always hold up under scrutiny.
BetRivers Poker is different. The platform is not riding on buzz or hype; in fact, it has flown under the radar since launch (now available in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware and West Virginia). Yet, it genuinely offers standout features that make it one of the strongest options in the US online poker market. The product speaks for itself.
In our previous article, we highlighted four key ways BetRivers Poker sets itself apart. In this follow-up, we will take a closer look at its rake structure, which is the lowest in the market.
Like any online poker room, BetRivers takes a small percentage of each cash game pot known as rake, which helps run the site’s operations. The exact rake amount depends on factors such as game type, stakes, and the number of players dealt into a hand.
Importantly, if no flop is dealt, the operator doesn’t charge any rake, following the “No Flop, No Drop” policy adopted by some, but not all, operators. For pots that do go to a flop, rake is calculated as a percentage of the pot, up to a maximum limit known as the cap.
- The best online poker software in the US with the lowest cash game rake.
- Generous 100% deposit match bonus up to $1000 ($250 in Delaware)
- Now live for players in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware & West Virginia!
At most stakes, BetRivers Poker charges 5.25% per pot, with the rate dropping at higher stakes, for example, just 3% at the highest levels available on the platform. The majority of traffic, however, comes from games with buy-ins of $100 and below, where the rake is set at 5.25%. Each stake level also has its own cap. For instance, at the $2 buy-in level ($0.01/$0.02 blinds), the maximum rake is capped at $0.30. At $10 buy-in games, the cap is $1.50; at $20, it’s $2; at $50, it’s $2.50, and so on.
So how does this compare with other major US operators? Simply put, BetRivers Poker is the most inexpensive in the market. Competing sites like WSOP, PokerStars, and BetMGM all charge 5.50% rake at most stakes and apply much higher caps, often up to $5 per hand. Even at higher stakes, their rake percentages remain steeper: both PokerStars and BetMGM charge 5%, compared to BetRivers’ 3%.
US Online Poker Rooms Rake Comparison
| Operator | State | Rake % | Rake Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetRivers | PA, MI, DE & WV | 1% – 5.25% | $0.30 – $3 |
| WSOP | NV, NJ, MI & PA | 3% – 5.50% | $0.30 – $5 |
| PokerStars | NJ, MI & PA | 5% – 5.50% | $0.50 – $4.50 |
| BetMGM | NJ, MI & PA | 5.50% | $0.50 – $5 |
The bottom line is clear: the lower the rake, the lower the cost of playing. Among all the established US online poker rooms, BetRivers Poker offers players the best deal.
Tables below show rake percentages across different stakes for NLHE and PLO.
BetRivers Poker US No Limit Hold’em Rake
| Buy-in | Percentage | Cap (2 Players) | Cap (3 Players) | Cap (4 Players) | Cap (5 – 6 Players) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2 | 5.25% | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 |
| $10 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $1 | $1 | $1.50 |
| $20 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $1 | $1 | $2 |
| $50 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $1.50 | $1.50 | $2.50 |
| $100 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3 |
| $200 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $2 | $2 | $3 |
| $500 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $2 | $2 | $3 |
| $1,000 | 3% | $0.50 | $2 | $2 | $3 |
| $2,000 | 3% | $0.50 | $2 | $2 | $3 |
| $5,000+ | 1% | $0.50 | $2 | $2 | $3 |
BetRivers Poker US PLO Rake
| Buy-in | Percentage | Cap (2 Players) | Cap (3 Players) | Cap (4 Players) | Cap (5 – 6 Players) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $1 | $1 | $1.50 |
| $20 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $1 | $1 | $2 |
| $50 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $1.50 | $1.50 | $2.50 |
| $100 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3 |
| $200 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $2 | $2 | $3 |
| $500 | 5.25% | $0.50 | $2 | $2 | $3 |
| $1,000 | 4.75% | $0.50 | $2 | $2 | $3 |
| $2,000+ | 4.75% | $0.50 | $2 | $2 | $3 |
Its pricing for tournaments and lottery sit and gos is also highly competitive, ranking among the lowest in the market.
Sensible Rake Lives On
In fact, this commitment to fairness is the very reason the site exists. Back in 2016, Phil Galfond announced his vision for a new online poker room, Run It Once Poker.
“A poker site should believe in fairness,” Galfond said at the time. “Not fairness for the sake of public image and profits, but fairness for fairness’s sake.”
His announcement came during a period when many players were frustrated with the direction of the industry. Major poker operators were becoming less transparent, cutting rewards, and making the dream of playing poker professionally feel increasingly out of reach.
Run It Once Poker was Galfond’s answer, a platform designed around fairness and player-first innovation. After years of development, it went live in late 2018 with a full launch in early 2019. The site quickly drew attention by introducing fresh ideas like Dynamic Avatars, Splash the Pot, the StreamR rewards program, and even a built-in HUD.
On paper, Run It Once Poker had everything it needed to succeed globally. But despite its innovations, the site struggled to gain traction. With a limited marketing budget, it could not build enough visibility or player liquidity to compete with established operators. By early 2022, it shut down.
That could have been the end of the story until Rush Street Interactive (RSI) stepped in. RSI acquired Run It Once Poker, along with its team and software, and gave the project the marketing muscle it had always lacked. The result is BetRivers Poker, a direct continuation of Galfond’s original vision. Now operating in the US-regulated market, the site carries forward the same philosophy under a fitting tagline: Fun. Fair. Rewarding.
And today, BetRivers Poker lives up to that promise. It remains the lowest-cost poker room in the US. Even after raising rake slightly after expanding into multiple states, it is still the most inexpensive option on the market, delivering on the vision of fairness that inspired its creation.
