🎯 The Current System at a Glance: Real Player Value (RPV)
As of 2025, iPoker’s entire rake distribution and rewards structure is built around the Real Player Value (RPV) model.
RPV is a hybrid system that blends two concepts:
- Weighted-Contributed Rake: Rewards you for the pots you actively play in.
- Source-Based Rake (SBR): Tracks where deposited money originates, even after it changes hands, rewarding the original depositor’s skin.
iPoker uses 50% of each for RPV calculation. This value is the basis for how much revenue a skin receives from the network for a player—and therefore what kind of rakeback or VIP rewards that player can get.
In other words, RPV is the single most important metric defining the real value of a player to the iPoker network.
💰 What Is “Rake” in Online Poker?
Before diving deeper, let’s clarify what rake is.
Rake is the fee taken by the poker room from each cash-game pot as its main source of revenue. On iPoker, this is typically:
- 5% of the pot, with a maximum cap (around €0.5–€4 depending on stakes and table size).
- No flop, no drop: If there’s no flop, there’s no rake.
This collected rake funds software development, customer service, game security, and player liquidity.
📜 Historical Evolution of iPoker’s Rake Attribution Models
1️⃣ Weighted-Contributed Rake (Before 2015)
In its early years, iPoker used a Weighted-Contributed system, standard in online poker:
- Rake from each pot was attributed among players proportional to their contribution.
- If you put 60% of the money in the pot, you were “credited” for 60% of the rake.
Outcome:
✅ Very transparent and fair for grinders
⚠️ But networks and skins had trouble monetizing depositing, recreational players, who often lost quickly and didn’t return.
2️⃣ Source-Based Rake (SBR) Introduced in 2015
To solve these issues, iPoker introduced Source-Based Rake (SBR):
- Half of rake attribution remained Weighted-Contributed.
- The other half credited the source of the deposited funds used in the pot.
This innovation tracked the origins of money, even after multiple transfers:
-
If Player A deposited, lost to Player B, who lost to Player C, the rake generated from that money continued to credit Player A’s skin.
Reason:
✅ Incentivize skins to recruit and retain depositors
✅ Stabilize the ecosystem by valuing recreational liquidity
⚠️ Reduced rake attribution for grinders who primarily withdrew
3️⃣ Real Player Value (RPV): Today’s System
The network realized the best approach was to combine both methods formally in a single metric.
✅ RPV was introduced as the unified standard.
It formalized:
RPV = 50% Weighted-Contributed + 50% Source-Based Rake
This model remains the basis for all revenue distribution and rewards in iPoker today.
⚙️ Why iPoker Adopted the RPV System
iPoker's shift wasn’t just technical—it was strategic. The goals were:
- Promote ecosystem health: Reward depositing players, not just winning grinders.
- Balance revenue sharing: Skins that brought in fresh money got paid fairly.
- Stop predatory play imbalances: Grinders couldn’t drain the pool without depositing and still expect full rewards.
By mixing contribution and source-tracking equally, iPoker aligns incentives for both:
✅ Grinders can still earn—but not at the expense of network health.
✅ Recreational depositors are now a valuable, rewarded segment.
🔎 The RPV Model in Detail
Let’s break down exactly how iPoker calculates and uses RPV today:
✔️ Weighted-Contributed Portion (50%)
- For each raked hand, half of the rake is attributed based on pot contribution.
- Rewards active play and volume.
- Example: If you put €6 into a €10 pot, you’re credited for 60% of this portion.
✔️ Source-Based Portion (50%)
- The other half is based on the source of funds in the pot.
- Money is virtually tagged to the original depositor.
- That “tag” persists as money moves between players.
Even if a grinder wins and continues playing with someone else’s deposited money, the source-based portion still credits the original depositor’s skin.
📈 How RPV Affects Rewards
Skins’ revenue share from iPoker is based on each player’s RPV.
This means:
- Skins are incentivized to recruit depositors, who generate long-term RPV even after they lose.
- Affiliates often tailor rakeback deals around estimated RPV, not just raw rake paid.
- Grinders see reduced effective rakeback compared to old systems—but still get significant rewards from the Weighted-Contributed half.
📌 Summary Table
System | Attribution Basis | Effect on Grinders | Effect on Depositors |
---|---|---|---|
Weighted-Contributed | Player’s share of pot | High rakeback, fully rewarded | Undervalued |
Source-Based | Original deposited funds | Reduced rake attribution | Strongly rewarded |
RPV (Current Model) | 50% Weighted + 50% Source-Based | Balanced but reduced vs. past | Consistently rewarded |
✅ Conclusion
The Real Player Value (RPV) model is the foundation of iPoker’s modern rake system:
A fair, hybrid approach that values both active play and the liquidity depositors bring.
For players, understanding RPV is crucial when evaluating:
- Expected rakeback percentages
- VIP programs and promotions
- Affiliate deals
Ultimately, RPV reflects iPoker’s commitment to a healthy, sustainable ecosystem—rewarding both grinders and casual players in a balanced way.
🔥 Exclusive Rakeback Deal at RedStar Poker – Only at RakeRace.com
RedStar Poker is the flagship room on the iPoker network — and RakeRace.com players get access to an exclusive rakeback deal:
- 10–15% extra rakeback through our private promotion
- $10 payout after just 100 points
- Up to $3,000 in rake chase rewards
Plus: Players generating over $500 in rake qualify for ongoing reload bonuses.
If you’re looking for a private deal, contact us!
💰 Boost Your Rakeback to 45–50%
- RedStar VIP Program: 20–35% standard rakeback
- RakeRace.com extras: Push your total rakeback to 45–50%
- Already have a RedStar account? Contact us – we can arrange a similar deal via Champion Poker or Betfair Poker.
🎯 Sign up now and get the most out of your play with RakeRace.com!
0 comments