Rakeback

The iPoker network is probably the most popular in the industry, but unfortunately it has begun to crack down on its users for “rakeback violations.”
While Playtech provides the best online poker software out there, you won’t find rakeback on their websites, which is most unfortunate. Rakeback is becoming very popular in the industry, and its many sites’ way of paying for their jackpots and tourneys.
Why is rakeback so important?
Since sites take the rake automatically many people don’t even know they are being charged. What most players don’t realize is how much of an effect the rake has on their play. Not only must you beat the other players at the table, you must beat the rake as well. A player who would win money if there were no rake ends up being a losing player after factoring in the house fee. The truth is about 50% of all poker players fit into this category!
What IS rakeback?
You must first understand what the rake is. The rake is how online poker sites make their money. When playing a cash game the house takes a percentage of each hand for itself, this is how they make their money. It varies from site to site, but it is usually around 5% of the pot.
The poker sites track how much each player pays per month, and if the player signed up through an affiliate (someone who advertises the site) that affiliate is paid a percentage for brining the player to the site.
These affiliates, looking to gain an edge on their competition, came up with the idea to give a large percentage of that money back to players. That is called rakeback. This encourages players to sign up and play through the affiliate instead of going directly to the site or another affiliate.