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GGPoker Rakeback and Rake Explained: What You Really Get in 2026
GGPoker rakeback runs through Ocean Rewards and ranges from about 16% at the Fish level to about 80% at Shark. GG publishes only the top figure; the per-level rates are estimates based on the Gems each level earns and the Gems Store exchange rates. Your Player Value Index (PVI) cuts them further, and one regular on 2+2 reported a total return of about 21%. In this guide, you will find out what each level returns at different PVI values, how much GGPoker rakes per pot, and what you get on top of Ocean Rewards when you sign up with WPD.
GGPoker rakeback: how it works
GGPoker pays rakeback through Ocean Rewards, one loyalty program shared by GGPoker and the other GG Network skins. It has eight levels, from Fish to Shark, and each level up returns a bigger share of your rake. You climb them with Tide Points: officially 100 TP per $1 of rake, but your PVI sets the rate you actually get, and it differs from player to player. Gems, a second currency earned alongside them, are swapped for cash bonuses in the Gems Store.
GGPoker doesn't allow affiliates to offer fixed rakeback deals, so no site, ours included, can add a percentage on top of Ocean Rewards. What you get alongside it is the welcome bonus and GG's freerolls and promotions.
Rake is 5% in cash games. At regular tables the cap depends on how many players are in the hand; Rush & Cash has a flat 3BB cap. For software, traffic and the rest of the site, see our full GGPoker review.
How Ocean Rewards pays you: levels, Tide Points and Gems
Ocean Rewards levels and cashback
Ocean Rewards has eight levels, each unlocked by a Tide Point threshold. The rake column assumes the base rate of 100 TP per $1.
| Level | Tide Points Required | Rake | Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish | 0 | $0 | ~16% |
| Shrimp | 10,000 TP | ~$100 | ~25% |
| Crab | 50,000 TP | ~$500 | ~30% |
| Turtle | 200,000 TP | ~$2,000 | ~40% |
| Octopus | 750,000 TP | ~$7,500 | ~50% |
| Dolphin | 2,000,000 TP | ~$20,000 | ~60% |
| Whale | 5,000,000 TP | ~$50,000 | ~70% |
| Shark | 10,000,000 TP | ~$100,000 | ~80% |
GGPoker doesn't publish per-level percentages; officially it promises only "up to 80%". We calculated the column ourselves: the Gems a level earns per $1 of rake, divided by the Gems Store price of $1 in bonus, at the base 100 TP per $1.
Fish earns 150 Gems per $1 of rake; at 920–1,000 Gems per bonus dollar, that's about 15–16%. Shark's ~80% assumes the best exchange rate: 500 Gems per $1 of rake, cashed at 620 Gems per bonus dollar (the $100,000 package), gives 80.6%. At 900 Gems per bonus dollar, the same earn rate returns about 56%.
How you earn Tide Points
The official base rate is 100 TP per $1 of poker rake; the rate you see depends on PVI. Casino play earns Tide Points too: about 4 TP per $1 wagered on slots and about 4 TP per $3 on table games, according to GGPoker's Ocean Rewards page.
Tide Points reset on January 1 at 00:00 UTC. A level you reach holds until the end of the following calendar year, and GG checks for downgrades once a year.
Gems and the Gems Store
Gems are a second currency on top of Tide Points. They don't move you up the levels: you swap them for cash bonuses in the Gems Store, and the exchange rate improves with bigger redemptions. How many Gems you earn depends on your level:
| Level | Gems for $1 rake |
|---|---|
| Fish | 150 |
| Shrimp | 200 |
| Crab | 250 |
| Turtle | 300 |
| Octopus | 350 |
| Dolphin | 400 |
| Whale | 450 |
| Shark | 500 |
The Gems Store rates, from the GGPoker client:
| Gems | Bonus | Gems per $1 |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 | $5 | 1,000 |
| 9,500 | $10 | 950 |
| 23,000 | $25 | 920 |
| 45,500 | $50 | 910 |
| 90,000 | $100 | 900 |
| 220,000 | $250 | 880 |
| 420,000 | $500 | 840 |
| 800,000 | $1,000 | 800 |
| 1,950,000 | $2,500 | 780 |
| 3,800,000 | $5,000 | 760 |
| 7,500,000 | $10,000 | 750 |
| 18,000,000 | $25,000 | 720 |
| 33,000,000 | $50,000 | 660 |
| 62,000,000 | $100,000 | 620 |
One risk sits outside the table. Under GGPoker's T&C, Gems are promotional credits: they have no fixed value until you exchange them, and GG can change the terms without notice.
Ocean Rewards vs Fish Buffet: what changed
Fish Buffet closed on January 30, 2026, the day Ocean Rewards launched and replaced it across GG Network. The ceiling went up and the currency changed:
| Parameter | Fish Buffet | Ocean Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum cashback | up to 60% | up to 80% |
| Level validity | temporary | fixed for a year |
| Program currency | Fish Points | Tide Points + Gems |
| Risk of level downgrade | high | only once a year |
| Suitable for occasional play | low | much better |
The main difference is the abandonment of the monthly race for status and the transition to a stable annual system.
PVI: why your real rakeback is below 80%
PVI decides how many Tide Points you actually get per dollar of rake. At a PVI of 0.3, Shark's advertised ~80% works out to ~24%.
PVI applies to Ocean Rewards in practice, through the Tide Points credited to your account. Pokerfuse's guide describes the mechanism, YourPokerDream publishes its team's average PVI at 0.4, and regulars on 2+2 report 0.2–0.3. In one 2+2 case, 100 TP cost about $3.70 of rake instead of $1.
The number of points awarded depends on:
- Play volume and regularity
- Playing style
- Deposit and withdrawal history
- Overall player profile
Profitable regulars and active grinders typically earn fewer points than recreational players. However, anyone can reach high levels—it's just a matter of how much rake they need.
PVI hits twice. It cuts the return at your level, and it slows the climb, because the rake column in the level table assumes 100 TP per $1. At a PVI of 0.3, Turtle's 200,000 TP take about $6,670 of rake rather than $2,000, and Shark's 10,000,000 TP about $333,000 rather than $100,000.
To estimate your own PVI, divide the Tide Points credited over a period by the rake you paid in it, then by 100: 100 TP per $1 is a PVI of 1.0, 30 TP is 0.3. Pick a period without casino play, which earns Tide Points without rake.
The spread between players is wide and follows each player's results and style, so an "average PVI" tells you little about your own. We don't publish one. Instead, the table runs every level at three PVI values: these are scenarios, not averages.
| Level | PVI 1.0 | PVI 0.5 | PVI 0.3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish | ~16% | ~8% | ~4.8% |
| Shrimp | ~25% | ~12.5% | ~7.5% |
| Crab | ~30% | ~15% | ~9% |
| Turtle | ~40% | ~20% | ~12% |
| Octopus | ~50% | ~25% | ~15% |
| Dolphin | ~60% | ~30% | ~18% |
| Whale | ~70% | ~35% | ~21% |
| Shark | ~80% | ~40% | ~24% |
How PVI itself is calculated is covered in our full breakdown of PVI.
GGPoker rake structure: what you pay per pot
GGPoker rakes cash-game pots at 5%. At regular tables the cap depends on how many players are in the hand; Rush & Cash has a flat 3BB cap, and in big-blind terms the caps are heaviest at the micros.
Cash game rake caps by game and stakes
We took the caps below from the GGPoker client. Low and middle stakes are capped in dollars, high stakes in big blinds; the four cap columns are for 2, 3, 4 and 5 or more players in the hand.
Converted to big blinds, the caps shrink as stakes rise. At NL2 6-max a multiway pot pays up to $0.20, or 10BB. At $0.25/$0.50 the cap runs $1–$4, which is 2–8BB; at $5/$10 it's 0.25–1BB, and at $10/$20 0.188–0.75BB. PLO follows the same pattern at the top: 0.375–1.5BB at $2/$5 and $5/$10, 0.313–1.25BB at $10/$20.
| Stakes | Blinds | Cap: 2 players | 3 players | 4 players | 5+ players |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | $0.01/$0.02 | $0.05 | $0.10 | $0.15 | $0.20 |
| Low | $0.02/$0.05 | $0.13 | $0.25 | $0.38 | $0.50 |
| Low | $0.05/$0.10 | $0.25 | $0.50 | $0.75 | $1 |
| Low | $0.10/$0.25 | $0.50 | $1 | $1.50 | $2 |
| Middle | $0.25/$0.50 | $1 | $2 | $3 | $4 |
| Middle | $0.50/$1 | $1.25 | $2.50 | $3.75 | $5 |
| Middle | $1/$2 | $1.50 | $3 | $4.50 | $6 |
| High | $2/$5 | 0.4BB | 0.8BB | 1.2BB | 1.6BB |
| High | $5/$10 | 0.25BB | 0.5BB | 0.75BB | 1BB |
| High | $10/$20 | 0.188BB | 0.375BB | 0.563BB | 0.75BB |
| Stakes | Blinds (ante) | Cap: 2 players | 3 players | 4 players | 5+ players |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | $0.01/$0.02 ($0.01) | $0.08 | $0.15 | $0.23 | $0.30 |
| Low | $0.02/$0.05 ($0.01) | $0.19 | $0.38 | $0.56 | $0.75 |
| Low | $0.05/$0.10 ($0.02) | $0.38 | $0.75 | $1.13 | $1.50 |
| Low | $0.10/$0.25 ($0.05) | $0.63 | $1.25 | $1.88 | $2.50 |
| Middle | $0.25/$0.50 ($0.10) | $1 | $2 | $3 | $4 |
| Middle | $0.50/$1 ($0.20) | $1.25 | $2.50 | $3.75 | $5 |
| Middle | $1/$2 ($0.40) | $1.50 | $3 | $4.50 | $6 |
| High | $2/$5 ($1) | 0.4BB | 0.8BB | 1.2BB | 1.6BB |
| High | $5/$10 ($2) | 0.25BB | 0.5BB | 0.75BB | 1BB |
| Stakes | Blinds | Cap: 2 players | 3 players | 4 players | 5+ players |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | $0.01/$0.02 | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.05 | $0.06 |
| Low | $0.02/$0.05 | $0.04 | $0.08 | $0.11 | $0.15 |
| Low | $0.05/$0.10 | $0.08 | $0.15 | $0.23 | $0.30 |
| Low | $0.10/$0.25 | $0.19 | $0.38 | $0.56 | $0.75 |
| Middle | $0.25/$0.50 | $0.25 | $0.50 | $0.75 | $1 |
| Middle | $0.50/$1 | $0.50 | $1 | $1.50 | $2 |
| Middle | $1/$2 | $1 | $2 | $3 | $4 |
| High | $2/$5 | 0.375BB | 0.75BB | 1.125BB | 1.5BB |
| High | $5/$10 | 0.375BB | 0.75BB | 1.125BB | 1.5BB |
| High | $10/$20 | 0.313BB | 0.625BB | 0.938BB | 1.25BB |
| Stakes | Ante | Cap: 2 players | 3 players | 4 players | 5+ players |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | $0.02 | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.05 | $0.06 |
| Low | $0.05 | $0.04 | $0.08 | $0.11 | $0.15 |
| Low | $0.10 | $0.08 | $0.15 | $0.23 | $0.30 |
| Middle | $0.25 | $0.13 | $0.25 | $0.38 | $0.50 |
| Middle | $0.50 | $0.25 | $0.50 | $0.75 | $1 |
| Middle | $1 | $0.50 | $1 | $1.50 | $2 |
| High | $2 | 0.38BB | 0.75BB | 1.13BB | 1.5BB |
| High | $5 | 0.38BB | 0.75BB | 1.13BB | 1.5BB |
| High | $10 | 0.38BB | 0.75BB | 1.13BB | 1.5BB |
Rush & Cash is the one format with a flat cap: 5% up to 3BB whatever the number of players in the hand, in both Hold'em and PLO.
| Stakes | Blinds | Games | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | $0.01/$0.02 | Hold'em, PLO | 3BB |
| Low | $0.02/$0.05 | Hold'em, PLO | 3BB |
| Low | $0.05/$0.10 | Hold'em, PLO | 3BB |
| Middle | $0.10/$0.25 | Hold'em, PLO | 3BB |
| Middle | $0.25/$0.50 | Hold'em, PLO | 3BB |
| Middle | $0.50/$1 | Hold'em, PLO | 3BB |
| Middle | $1/$2 | Hold'em, PLO | 3BB |
Does GGPoker take rake preflop?
Yes: pots larger than 2.5BB that end before the flop are raked. GGPoker doesn't publish this rule; this is how it works in practice. That sets GG apart from no-flop-no-drop sites.
Spin & Gold and tournament fees
Spin & Gold and All-in or Fold Sit & Go carry a fee of about 7% of the buy-in; MTT fees run about 10%.
How GGPoker rake compares to other sites
PrimeDope's March 2026 benchmark puts GGPoker at $4.50 per 100 hands at NL50, against $3.70 at PokerStars; GG's effective rake there is 4.44%. GG also doesn't follow no-flop-no-drop.
Rakeback closes that gap only if your PVI leaves enough of your level's percentage: check your row in the scenario table. To compare deals at other sites, see our rakeback deals.
Can you get a fixed GGPoker rakeback deal?
No. GGPoker prohibits fixed rakeback deals through affiliates, so any site promising a fixed percentage on top of Ocean Rewards is offering something GG doesn't allow.
Signing up through Worldpokerdeals gets you exactly this, nothing more:
- Welcome bonus: 100% up to $600, or $100 in tickets, your choice.
- Honeymoon for Newcomers: 30 days of missions with up to $350 in prizes.
- Ocean Rewards: ~16–80% by level before PVI, the standard program open to every player.
- Weekly $100K Freeroll.
- Daily GGCare Flipout freeroll.
- Monthly Cash Game Giveaway: daily leaderboards for every poker variant, about $7.5M in prizes (as of September 2026).
- From WPD: help from our support team and our own GGPoker freerolls.
The welcome bonus and Honeymoon missions are one-off; Ocean Rewards and the freerolls keep running as long as you play. Enter code WPDDEALS when you register to get access to our support team and WPD freerolls.
How to squeeze more from GGPoker rakeback
Players who actually collect GGPoker rakeback do the math on levels, casino points and Gems timing, not on the 80% banner. This is what we advise our players:
- Finish a level when 10–15% of the rake is left. Crab takes about $500 of rake; at $450 in, topping up moves you from ~25% to ~30%. Count the gap at your actual TP rate, not at 100 TP per $1: at a PVI of 0.3, Crab's 50,000 TP take about $1,670 of rake.
- Use casino TP to top up, not to farm. At the slot rate, 10,000 TP take $2,500 of turnover, against about $100 of poker rake. Closing a small gap works; building a level from zero doesn't. The $100 assumes the base 100 TP per $1, so at your PVI the poker side may cost more.
- Save Gems for bigger exchanges. The smallest package costs 1,000 Gems per $1, the largest 620, so small exchanges burn the rate. The longer you save, though, the longer you hold promotional credits GG can revalue: the rate is already 10% better at the $100 package (900) and 20% better at $1,000 (800); save to one of those, not to the maximum.
- Treat a level as a yearly investment, not a monthly challenge. If you're close to Turtle (200,000 TP, ~40%), estimate your yearly volume at your actual TP rate and reach the level in normal play.
Pros
- High ceiling: ~80% at Shark (our calculation, at the best Gems exchange rate).
- Your level holds until the end of the following year: no monthly race.
- Gems exchange rate improves with size: from 1,000 to 620 Gems per $1.
- Casino play counts toward your poker level.
Cons
- PVI is opaque and cuts the return for winning regulars.
- Rake is higher than PokerStars' ($4.50 vs $3.70 per 100 hands at NL50), plus rake on preflop pots over 2.5BB.
- Gems are promotional credits with no guaranteed value.
- Top-heavy: Fish starts at ~16% against ~80% at Shark.
Final thoughts
GGPoker rakes preflop pots over 2.5BB, and its caps weigh most at the micros, where a multiway NL2 pot pays up to 10BB. Ocean Rewards returns part of that, but how much depends on your level and your PVI, and GG publishes neither the per-level rates nor your PVI. Before you count on GGPoker rakeback, work out your own rate: your level's percentage multiplied by your PVI. At a PVI of 0.3, even Shark's ~80% comes down to about 24%.
If the numbers work for your volume, sign up with code WPDDEALS. For software, traffic and the rest of the site, read our full GGPoker review.
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