Rakeback vs VIP Programs

There are two types of offers on RakeTracker. The first type of offer, which is what made RakeTracker famous, is rakeback. Rakeback is where a player receives a flat amount of rake paid automatically to them, regardless of the amount of rake that they pay in a week, month, or year. The other type of offer is a VIP offer. VIP offers are typically tiered. This means that the percent of rake a player gets paid back depends on the amount that they rake during a certain time period. That time period is usually a month or year.

When rakeback first started there was such a thing as tiered rakeback. High raking players would receive a higher percent at some poker rooms compared to lower volume players. This all changed when rakeback started getting paid automatically by poker rooms. When this happened, rakeback caps were set. This meant that the poker rooms and affiliates paid the same percent of rakeback to all players. Affiliates could not give one player a higher rakeback percent than another player.

Some poker rooms and networks are not fond of rakeback. Several online poker networks have a strict ban on rakeback. The poker rooms on those networks, as well as a few standalone poker rooms, offer a VIP program. Sometimes a VIP program will be displayed as a rakeback offer or a percent on RakeTracker. These offers will typically be marked with a percent followed by a "VIP". The percent that you see is typically the highest tier that you can receive in the VIP program taking advantage of all promotions. These percents will include cashback programs and points to cash. They do not include possible places in promotions such as rake races and rake chases. As you move up in tiers you will not make the top percent but will earn a good return as you climb through the VIP ladder.

As the online poker industry matures, many poker rooms and networks have stopped allowing rakeback and have moved to VIP programs. When this happens, players that have already signed up for rakeback usually get to keep their rakeback. The new policy usually applies only to rakeback players. The latest example of this is Merge Gaming. Merge Gaming stopped allowing rakeback for new players on June 1, 2011. Players that already received rakeback were allowed to keep it. There is usually an announcement when something like this happens.

Be sure to check the RakeTracker news feed to make sure that you do not miss out on an opportunity to sign up for a poker room that is discontinuing rakeback for new players. All you have to do is sign up for the poker room when this happens to preserve your ability to get rakeback. A deposit is not required at that time. You can deposit later if you decide to try out the poker room. At least then you know you will get paid rakeback. If the VIP program turns out to be better the poker room may allow you to switch to it.

When signing up for a VIP offer, make sure to read the RakeTracker review for the poker room. The review will tell you exactly how to gain the highest return shown. There are usually actions required by a player to get the most out of an online poker room's VIP program.