Why 3% Rake Matters

Rake is the fee a poker room takes from each pot. It's how private clubs and casinos make money. Most players ignore it — but it's quietly the biggest factor in whether you're profitable.

A good player might win at 4 big blinds per 100 hands (4bb/100). But if the rake is eating 3bb/100 of that, your actual profit is just 1bb/100. Change the rake to 5bb/100, and you're barely breaking even.

Rake doesn't just reduce your winnings — for many players, it turns a winning strategy into a losing one.

Most ClubGG clubs charge 5% rake with a $3 cap. Agent-run clubs often charge 5-8% with $3-5 caps — and the agent takes a cut on top.

Weekly Rake Comparison (30 hours/week at $0.50/$1)

The Compounding Effect

In poker, your win rate is measured in big blinds per 100 hands (bb/100). Here's how different rake structures affect a player who wins at 5bb/100 before rake:

At The Aquarium, a solid winning player stays solid. At a high-rake club, the same player becomes a loser.

Why Clubs Charge High Rake

The Agent Problem

Most private poker clubs use agents — middlemen who recruit players and take a percentage of the rake. The club charges 5-8%, the agent takes 30-50% of that, and the player pays for both.

The Aquarium doesn't use agents. There are no middlemen. Your 3% rake goes directly to maintaining the club — software, admin time, and community support.

How to Calculate Your Own Savings

Quick estimate: If you play 20 hours/week at $0.50/$1 and your current club charges 5% with a $3 cap, your estimated weekly savings at The Aquarium: ~$70-90.

Conclusion

Rake is the silent killer of poker bankrolls. A 2-3% difference in rake is the difference between being a winning player and a losing one over time.

The Aquarium offers 3% rake capped at $1. No agents. No hidden fees. Just fair poker.