One of the questions we get the most from our readers is how to make money playing poker and if online poker is still profitable in 2025.
Although the game is undeniably much more complex than it was 10 years ago, the answer is a resounding YES. It’s still possible to earn money, and many people make a fantastic living from playing poker, both online and live.
In this article, we’ll look at how professional players earn money playing poker today, highlight the crucial shifts in the industry, and give you a better understanding of what it takes to be profitable in 2025.
How do You Make Money Playing Poker in 2025?
Contrary to what many people think, poker has no formula or single right way to make money. There are many paths to earn a living from this beautiful game, but they all have one thing in common: hard work and relentless study.
Whoever tells you winning money from poker is easy is lying, as it requires dedication and a constant desire to improve your skills. Also, don’t fall for the narrative that online poker is dead or that it is impossible to profit from in 2025. That’s simply not true.
Online poker is, by far, the most popular format in 2025 with many poker sites operating nowadays. For that reason, below we’ll focus mainly on the two intertwined pillars of making money in online poker today: Net Win Rate and Rakeback.
As the degree of skill between players narrows, it is more and more important to keep up to speed on the latest poker strategy tips, and also make use of poker tools and calculators.
5 Crucial Points to Be a Profitable Poker Player in 2025
The games are tougher, but the resources are better. The difference between a break-even player and a profitable grinder in 2025 is driven by these non-game factors:
- GTO Integration is Mandatory: Understanding modern Game Theory Optimal (GTO) play is the new baseline, not a competitive edge.
- Specialization is Crucial: The days of a player crushing every format (NLHE, PLO, MTTs, SNGs) at every stake are largely gone. Profitable players today specialize in a specific format (e.g., PLO Cash, Progressive Knockout Tournaments, Fast-Fold Poker) to build a deep, high-level edge.
- Use of Advanced Study Tools: Success today requires using Poker Solvers (e.g., PioSOLVER, GTO Wizard), Advanced Head-Up Displays (HUDs) where permitted, and detailed Datamining/Database Analysis to study population tendencies and construct an exploitative game plan.
- Bankroll and Mental Game Discipline: Variance is higher in tougher games. Strict bankroll management and a robust mental game (avoiding tilt, consistent decision-making) are non-negotiable foundations.
- Traffic and Softness (Game Selection): The number one strategy is Game Selection. The most profitable players are not always the “best” players, but those who find and sit in the softest games.
Maximizing Your Value with Rakeback (Still Crucial in 2026)
Rake is the percentage the poker room takes from players per pot, which is usually 5% to 6%, though this will depend on the room and the games you’re playing. However, players can get a part of this percentage back through rakeback.
In simple terms, rakeback is a refund of the rake the room takes that is given back to the player, usually through an affiliate like VIP-Grinders.
Most poker sites have a standard deal, but you can get much better rakeback deals by doing it through a professional third-party affiliate like ourselves. The percentage will change according to the room and the deal you get, but by doing it through us, you can get up to 60% rakeback in some cases.
This means that even if you end the month breakeven or lose a small amount of money in your direct win/loss, you might be significantly profitable overall with the rakeback you’re earning.
| Stake | Tables | Table Size | Hours Per Day | Monthly Rakeback (Example) |
| $0.02 / $0.05 | 6 | 6-max | 4 | $305 |
| $0.25 / $0.50 | 4 | 6-max | 2 | $1,296 |
| $1 / $2 | 8 | 6-max | 4 | $20,736 |
Rake Contribution Snapshot: Top Online Poker Sites
This table summarizes the standard cash game rake structure. Note that rakeback earnings are a separate component (as detailed in previous analyses) and are not included in the “Typical Rake” column.
| Site | Stakes (Example) | Typical Rake % & Cap (5+ players) | Key Notes / Contribution Factors |
| CoinPoker | $0.05/$0.10 to $1/$2 NLH | 5% Rake; Caps are very low (e.g., ~$0.75 at NL10; $3.00 at NL200) | Lowest Caps in the Industry: Rake is called “Community Contribution.” This structure leads to the lowest overall rake paid at micro/low stakes. |
| ACR (Americas Cardroom) | $0.01/$0.02 to $5/$10+ NLH | 5% Rake; Caps increase by stake (e.g., $3.00 at NL200; $3.00 at $5/$10+) | Weighted Contributed Rake: Rake is only collected on hands that reach the flop (“No Flop, No Drop”). Used for The Beast leaderboard. |
| WPT Global | $0.05/$0.10 to $1/$2 NLH | 4% Rake (lower than competitors); Caps increase by stake (e.g., $0.60 at NL10) | Low Percentage: Typically uses a slightly lower rake percentage (4%) than the industry standard (5%), making the raw fee competitive. |
| GGPoker | $0.01/$0.02 to $1/$2 NLH | 5% Rake; Caps are generally higher than competitors (e.g., $2.50 at NL200) | Pre-Flop Rake & Jackpots: Rake is often charged on pre-flop 3-bet pots. An additional Jackpot Fee (e.g., 0.5BB) is often taken on large pots. |
As you can see, the amounts you can earn with rakeback are quite significant, regardless of your stakes. Of course, these amounts apply to cash games, where you generate the most rake. If you are a tournament player, you will still benefit from rakeback on your buy-ins, but the overall sum will be lower as you also get charged less rake on your playing volume.
Most of our team started their poker adventure as cash game grinders looking to get the most rakeback possible, and although this was many years ago, it remains, for us, the most essential factor to make money playing online poker in 2025.
To get a better understanding of how important this concept is, we have developed a complete rakeback calculator for cash games.
For example, if you take our GGPoker deal, which gives up to 60% rakeback, you would earn monthly the following according to different scenarios:
| Stakes | Tables | Table Size | Hours Per Day | Monthly Rakeback |
| $0.02 / $0.05 | 6 | 6-max | 4 | $305 |
| $0.25 / $0.50 | 4 | 6-max | 2 | $1,296 |
| $1 / $2 | 8 | 6-max | 4 | $20,736 |
As you can see, the amounts you can earn with rakeback are quite significant, regardless of your stakes. Of course, these amounts apply to cash games, where you generate the most rake.
If you are a tournament player, you will still benefit from rakeback on your buy-ins, but the overall sum will be much lower as you also get charged less rake on your playing.
Most of our team started their poker adventure as cash game grinders looking to get the most rakeback possible and although this was many years ago, it’s still, for us, the best way to make money in online poker in 2025.
Measuring Profitability (Win Rate & ROI)
The simple way to define if someone is winning money at the poker tables in cash games is through the “win rate”, which can be applied to a specific period or number of hands. The two most common ways to calculate the win rate in cash games are:
- The amount won per hour
- The amount won per 100 hands (BB/100)
For example, if you are playing $0.50/$1 limits and making a profit of $4 per hour, this means that you are winning an average of 4 big blinds per hour. If your profit is $2 per 100 hands for the same limits, then your average profit per 100 hands is 2 big blinds.
If you have a negative win rate over a large sample of hands or time, you are losing money in the long term. Crucially, a winning player today must know their hourly win rate and their BB/100 before the deduction of rakeback/bonuses to accurately assess their edge.
Tournaments ROI
You’ve seen players winning huge amounts in poker tournaments but does that mean they are profitable? Not necessarily. When analyzing a player’s performance in tournaments, the most important metric is the ROI, also known as Return on Investment. As crucial as understanding poker tournament strategy, ROI means how much money you are getting back for your investment.
For example, if you pay $1,000 in buy-ins and only get $900 in prizes, you lose $100 and your ROI is -10%. All that matters is your overall performance across a large number of events. It’s all about knowing your strengths, where you have the best ROI (e.g., deep stack, turbo, bounty), and maximizing that format.
Then and Now: Keeping Abreast of Poker Changes
Poker’s evolution means that yesterday’s winning strategy is today’s break-even approach. Understanding why a concept is outdated is key to staying ahead.
| Concept | The Era Before 2015 (“Then”) | The 2025 Reality (“Now”) |
| Rakeback | “The Gold Mine.” Rakeback was the primary source of profit for grinders. Sites offered generous, non-tiered, flat rakeback deals (e.g., 40%+). A high-volume breakeven player was highly profitable. | “The Crucial Supplement.” Sites have shifted to tiered, often confusing “reward systems” which reduce flat rakeback. Affiliate deals (like VIP-Grinders) are more important than ever to secure a high, fixed percentage to ensure profitability. |
| Game Theory Optimal (GTO) | “A Niche Concept.” Only the top elite players, usually in high-stakes games, rigorously studied GTO with basic solvers. Most players relied on “exploit-focused” or “feel-based” strategy. | “The Mandatory Baseline.” GTO knowledge (even if not perfect) is widespread. Free pre-flop charts and budget solvers are common. The edge now comes from exploiting opponents’ deviations from GTO. |
| Study Method | “Forum & Hand History Review.” Players learned mostly from forums, watching old training videos, and basic hand history analysis. | “Solver-Driven Study.” Learning is dominated by running post-flop solutions in solvers, using GTO training tools, and analyzing population tendencies via large databases (HUDs/Datamining). Off-the-table study volume now often equals or exceeds playing volume. |
How Much Money Do Poker Players Win?
When looking at official data from Comparably, a US site for salary comparisons, the average yearly salary of a professional poker player in 2025 is $114,916.
Of course, this is just an average and the range of salaries among players who make a living from poker will change massively.
This will also change significantly when looking just at online poker players, as they can generate the most volume. On top of this, many play from countries with minimum or no tax on their winnings, making their profits even higher.
In a video shared by German poker legend, Fedor Holz, he gives his thoughts on whether poker is still profitable and if online poker is dead, as many of us have heard.
He separates the players into three categories, explaining that the challenges and potential to earn money are very different for each of them.
- Winning up to $3,000 monthly, around $10,000 to 40,000 per year, is quite achievable as low stakes poker hasn’t changed much
- Poker earnings between $50,000 and $200,000 yearly will require hard work but players still make many mistakes at this level
- Earning $500,000 or more with poker is a very tough jump to do, as players are incredibly good, barely make mistakes and know how to exploit every opportunity
So, what is the secret of taking your game to the next level? The simple answer is hard work and continuous study to improve your game.
If you’re looking for a solid partner to help that happen, we recommend Upswing Poker, an elite poker training course made by top poker pros such as Doug Polk.
Is Online Poker Dead?
There is no doubt that poker is much tougher today than it was at any other point in its history. However, poker is far from dead and still profitable in 2025.
As Fedor Holz mentioned in his video, players still make many mistakes and earning up to $200,000 yearly is possible for those willing to put in the work.
This means, for example, understanding modern game theory optimal play (GTO) and how to exploit it as well.
However, many players follow the mistake of playing GTO in every spot, which can help you in low stakes but won’t take you to the next level.
We also recommend having a clear understanding of the poker strategy for each of the formats, so you know in which you’re more profitable.
Finally, make sure to maximize your value by grabbing the best poker bonus codes, rakeback deals and other ways to boost your bankroll.
At VIP-Grinders, for example, we have many poker promotions with massive value that can help you make money with online poker in 2025.
From our experience, the most profitable players are not always the best ones, but those who find the most profitable opportunities such as our rakeback deals and promotions.
FAQs
Below you will find answers to the most frequent questions we get from players regarding making money from poker in 2025.
Do people actually make money from online poker?
Yes, it’s possible to be a profitable poker player and make money from it. You need to have a good understanding of strategy and get the best rakeback deals to maximize your value at the tables.
Is poker playing profitable?
It can be, depending on your skills and how serious you take it. Many players make a living from it as they take the game as a normal job and get consistent earnings from poker.
Is online poker profitable in 2024?
Yes, online poker is profitable and many players earn money from it. Even though the game got tougher in recent years, it’s still possible to profit from it.
Can you still make a living playing poker?
Absolutely, many players have poker as their full-time job, whether is cash games or tournaments, it’s still possible to make a living from it.
Is online poker just luck?
Even though the element of luck can have some impact on the short run, it has no meaning in the long run, where skill makes all the difference.
