Gambling terms, explained straight

Online Gambling & Industry

Rakeback bonus

A rakeback bonus is a reward that returns part of the poker rake a player has paid, typically as cashback or loyalty credit.

Applies to
Online poker, especially peer-to-peer games where the operator charges rake12
Regulatory treatment (UK)
Not counted toward gross gambling yield; treated as a loyalty scheme13

Key points

  • The operator charges rake on poker play and then credits the player with value back through a loyalty or cashback scheme tied to that rake.12
  • The Gambling Commission treats rakeback and VIP cashback as loyalty schemes, not as part of gross gambling yield calculations.1

Where this term is used

Online Rakeback The broader term for any rake-linked rebate, of which a rakeback bonus is one implementation. Online Rakeback poker Rakeback specifically in the context of online poker games. Online Rakeback slots A cashback offer on slot play, sometimes misleadingly called rakeback. Online Rakeback bc game Rakeback offers on the BC.Game crypto casino platform. Online Wagering bonus meaning A bonus that must be wagered a number of times before withdrawal. Online Crypto casino An online casino that accepts cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals.

Sources

  1. Definitions of terms gamblingcommission.gov.uk Defines rakeback and VIP cashback as loyalty schemes and explains their regulatory treatment.
  2. Regulatory returns guidance - Financial information - General gamblingcommission.gov.uk Distinguishes total rake from rakeback and confirms rakeback applies to peer-to-peer poker.
  3. Codes of practice - 5 - Marketing gamblingcommission.gov.uk Covers the marketing and incentive rules that rakeback promotions must comply with.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.