Experienced players check two numbers before choosing a room: rake and rakeback. GGPoker takes 5% at cash tables with caps that depend on stake and players dealt in, a flat 3 big blinds at Rush & Cash, and it rakes pre-flop once the pot passes 2.5 big blinds. On the rakeback side, Ocean Rewards replaced Fish Buffet on 30 January 2026 with a headline 80%, but what you receive is set by an undisclosed PVI multiplier. This page works through both.
Rake structure: cash games, Rush & Cash, tournaments
| Format | Rake | Cap | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hold'em cash (6-max) | 5% | By stake and players dealt in, roughly 0.5–2 BB; about $3 in dollar terms at popular stakes | Raked pre-flop once the pot exceeds 2.5 BB, including 3-bet pots |
| PLO cash | 5% | Same structure as hold'em | Larger pots mean more rake in practice |
| Short Deck | 5% | By stake | — |
| Rush & Cash | 5% | 3 BB flat at every stake and player count | High hand volume, high hourly rake |
| MTT | Fee inside the buy-in | About 10% at low buy-ins, 5–8% mid to high | Fees count toward bonus release and Tide Points |
| Spin & Gold | Inside the multiplier spread | Average return about 90–95% | No listed fee |
Rake data compiled from PokerListings, PrimeDope and other 2026 reviews. Exact caps per stake are shown in the table info inside the client.
Pre-flop rake is GGPoker's most overlooked cost. Most rooms do not rake pots that end before the flop. GGPoker rakes once the pot passes 2.5 BB, so a 3-bet that takes it down pre-flop still pays. Aggressive pre-flop styles pay more here than elsewhere.
At NL10 ($0.05/$0.10) 6-max a regular pays roughly $6 to $9 per 100 hands; at Rush & Cash the hourly figure can reach $12 to $18. These numbers are the basis for valuing rakeback and for the welcome bonus release.
Rakeback: how Ocean Rewards works
Rakeback returns part of the rake. GGPoker's system is Ocean Rewards, which replaced Fish Buffet on 30 January 2026. Below are the tiers, the points rules and the PVI explanation that matters most.
Eight tiers and weekly cashback
| Tier | Weekly cashback (headline) | GEM multiplier | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish | 24% | 1.5× | Starting tier |
| Goldfish | Not confirmed from a source we can cite | — | |
| Crab | Same | — | |
| Octopus | Same | — | |
| Whale | Same | — | |
| (other intermediate tiers) | Same | — | Eight tiers in total |
| Shark | 80% | 5× | Top tier |
We could not read the official page directly and third-party sources disagree on the intermediate percentages and thresholds, so we do not list unconfirmed figures. Your tier and thresholds are shown in the Ocean Rewards tab of the client.
Each tier's Tide Point threshold is shown in the client. At 100 points per $1 of rake you can convert any threshold straight into the rake required.
Tide Points and settlement rules
- $1 in rake or fees = 100 Tide Points. Cash games, Rush & Cash, tournaments and Spin & Gold all count.
- Weekly automatic settlement. Cashback goes straight to your balance; no claiming and no Fish Buffet spin wheel.
- Annual tier lock. The highest tier reached in a year holds until year end, then resets.
- GEMs accrue in parallel with a 1.5x to 5x multiplier by tier, redeemable for tickets in the store.
PVI: the hidden multiplier that decides what you get
This is the most important section on the page. GGPoker computes a Player Value Index (PVI) for every account, between 0.1 and 1.0, and multiplies your headline cashback by it. The formula is undisclosed, but the direction is clear: players who are "valuable" to the pool (losers, recreational players) get high values; consistent winners, high-volume grinders and players who only show up at soft hours get low ones.
Real-world effect: several reviews and forum reports put the received amount for regulars 30% to 60% below the headline tier. A Shark at 80% with a PVI of 0.4 receives 32%. Recreational players tend to land near the headline.
So Ocean Rewards means two different things. For recreational players it is a genuine reduction in cost. For regulars who live on rakeback it is a variable they cannot forecast. If you are in the second group, spend a month measuring your actual PVI before making GGPoker your main site.
Compared with Fish Buffet
| Item | Fish Buffet (old) | Ocean Rewards (from 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum | 60% (GGPlatinum) | 80% (Shark) |
| Settlement | Daily / weekly / monthly by tier, decided by a spin | Weekly, automatic |
| Tier retention | Demoted if the threshold was missed | Annual lock |
| Points | Fish Buffet Points, 100 per $1 rake | Tide Points, 100 per $1 rake |
| Extra currency | None | GEMs, 1.5× to 5× |
| PVI applied | Yes | Yes |
Who actually benefits
Recreational players
PVI is usually close to 1.0, so the headline rate is roughly what you get. Weekly payouts are a real cost reduction.
MTT players
All fees count toward Tide Points. Tiers climb fast during big series, and the annual lock protects you in quiet months.
Cash-game regulars
The PVI discount bites hardest here. Treat Ocean Rewards as an uncertain bonus, not as part of your income model.
Want to see your own tier and PVI?
After registering, the Ocean Rewards tab in the client shows your tier and weekly cashback history.
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Responsible play
Cashback does not make you a winner; it only lowers the cost of rake. Do not add unplanned volume to chase a tier. Taiwan has no local regulator; under-18s may not play. Taiwan's 1925 helpline is free and open 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How does Ocean Rewards differ from Fish Buffet?
Ocean Rewards launched on 30 January 2026 and replaced Fish Buffet. It has eight tiers from Fish to Shark, raises the maximum from 60% to 80%, pays automatically every week, and adds an annual tier lock and the GEM currency.
How do I earn Tide Points?
100 Tide Points for every $1 in rake or tournament fees across all poker formats. Points determine your tier.
How is cashback paid?
Automatically every week into your balance, at the rate of your current tier, from 24% (Fish) to 80% (Shark).
What is PVI?
Player Value Index, a multiplier between 0.1 and 1.0 that GGPoker applies to each player's cashback. The formula is not published. Consistent winners and high-volume players get lower values, and most regulars report receiving 30% to 60% less than the headline rate.
Can my tier drop?
Ocean Rewards uses an annual lock: the highest tier reached in a year is kept until year end. That is an improvement over Fish Buffet.
What are GEMs?
A second currency earned alongside Tide Points, spendable in the in-client store for tickets and rewards. The GEM multiplier scales from 1.5x at Fish to 5x at Shark.
