Time Collection And Rake

TIME AND RAKE GENERALLY

The amount which establishments charge players is not an appropriate subject for rules. Notwithstanding this, uniformity of methodology serves the best interest of the game. The two basic methods of generating revenue from poker games are collection of time--akin to seat rental, with the services of dealer, chips, etc. provided--and rake, or a percentage taken from each pot up to a maximum. Some governmental regulations favor one over the other, prohibit one and not the other (IE in California the house is prohibited from having any interest in the outcome of the pot, so rake is prohibited.) Each establishment must devise its own procedures in accordance with its own local laws and best business judgment.

TIME COLLECTION

Time collections are paid by each player to the dealer when due, usually when the dealer enters the box. Time collections are always paid in advance. A typical time charge might be $5 per half hour at one limit, $7 per half hour at a higher limit. When time collection is due, each player shall post the amount of the collection in front of him, and the dealer shall collect it starting with the player immediately to the dealer's left. In some stud games time is taken from the antes. The dealer will make the collection immediately after pulling the antes into the pot area. The dealer shall take collection from the stack of any player not at the table. A player who enters a game within five minutes after time is collected (when paid in half hour increments) shall be required to pay time. A player entering more than five minutes after time is collected shall not be required to pay time. Time shall be not be pro-rated. If a game breaks within fifteen minutes after collection, the last time collected shall be refunded to the players.

TIME POTS

Collection is sometimes taken from the first pot after time is due, rather than from each player, so that the winner of the first pot pays all the time. Because they inhibit action, time pots shall not be permitted. (Alternate Rule. When all players agree, time for all active players present at the table shall be collected from the first pot after time is due which exceeds the total amount necessary to pay the time. When time pots are used, the dealer shall take collection from the stacks of players not present at the table, and reduce the amount taken from the time pot accordingly. Whenever time collection is being taken from the pot the dealer will announce "time pot" upon completion of dealing the first round of cards and prior to taking the collection. The reason this is the alternate rule is that time pots kill action.) The house may elect to permit an alternative to time pots where a portion of the collection is taken from each pot until the total has been collected. This method creates problems relative to players who are at the table for some of the pots and not for others, and is advised against.

TAKING RAKE

The most common procedure for generating revenue at Nevada casinos and in many other jurisdictions is the rake. A typical rake is five percent or ten percent of the pot up to a maximum of three dollars. In some locales the maximum is five or even ten dollars. Rake is taken based on the amount of the pot as a whole, regardless of whether there are side pots involved. Where there are side pots, regardless of size, the rake is always taken from the main pot. Once a pot has been awarded no additional rake may be taken from it, regardless of whether the dealer failed to take the full rake. If too much rake is taken and the pot is awarded and before it is intermingled with the winner's other chips and before the next hand has been dealt, then the pot shall be corrected and the player shall be refunded the overage from the dealer's tray.

BUTTON COLLECTION

In a few jurisdictions in board and draw games the player who has the button posts an amount of money that is collected in lieu of time charge or rake. In low limit games, the amount posted on the button is live. In higher limit games the amount posted on the button is dead. This is usually characterized as a fee for services rendered, for legalistic reasons. In places where button collection is used, in stud games collection is taken from the antes. If there is no flop in button games or no fourth street card dealt in stud games, no collection is taken. If a player is away from his seat when it is his turn to post collection on the button, the dealer shall take the amount of the collection from the player's stack, and place it in the pot, where it shall be deemed dead money.