Casino Gaming Charges: Commission, Vigorish, and Rake

Casinos invest significant funds to ensure the smooth operation of their gaming services. And to remain competitive, recovering operating costs is crucial. To achieve this objective, the house offers games with built-in house edges and charges wagering fees, known as commissions, vig, or rake. As a player, understanding when and how these fees are deducted is crucial for effective bankroll management.

In this article, we will explain the various house fees casinos charge (commissions, vig, and rake) on table games.

Casinos Commission Definition

Commission is the fee casinos charge for placing or winning a specified bet. It is a fixed percentage cut typically found in table games such as craps, baccarat, poker, and pai gow poker. However, in craps and poker, the term "commission" is referred to as "vigorish" and "rake," respectively.

The Baccarat Commission

In baccarat, there are three bet options: Player, Banker, or Tie bet. Of these three wagers, players often place a banker bet because it has slightly better odds: a 45.9% chance of winning. However, the house charges a 5% commission on banker wins. In their defense, it is to keep wagers fair and establish a balance between the player's bet and the banker's bet. But is that all there is? No, from a business perspective, the 5% commission is a way the house maintains its edge without affecting players' chances of winning.

The banker bet pays even money (1:1). So if you wager $50 and win, you will receive a $50 payout immediately. The dealer records the house charges by placing markers or chips in the "commission box" section corresponding to your seat. Following our example, the commission fee on your $50 win is $2.50, payable during gameplay, deducted from winnings immediately, or at the end of the session when you are ready to leave.

Fun Fact: In EZ Baccarat, a 5% commission isn't collected.

Craps Buy and Lay bets Vig

A fixed 5% commission, called vigorish, is charged on buy and lay bets in craps, and it is deducted regardless of either wager's outcome. These special bets do not have a built-in house advantage like place bets. They offer true odds. Therefore, the house does not profit from them if a vig isn't charged.

A buy bet is a wager on the prediction that a specific point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) will be rolled before 7. A wager on 4 or 10 offers a 2:1 payout, 5 or 9 offers 3:2, and 6 or 8 offers 6:5. The house vigorish on a $20 buy bet is $1, however, some casinos will allow you to pay $1 for a $25 buy bet.

In contrast, a lay bet is a wager that 7 will be rolled before a point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). However, unlike buy bets, the 5% commission is calculated based on the potential win, not the wager. A bet on 4 or 10 offers a 1:2 payout. For example, to win $20, a $40 lay bet must be placed. In this case, the projected win amount is $20; therefore, a 5% vig ($1) applies.

Furthermore, depending on the casino's rules, commission on buy or lay bets may be deducted when the bet is won, or upfront. When and how the commission is deducted affects the house edge. For example, if the commission is paid only when the buy bet wins, the house advantage for wager on 4 or 10 is reduced from 5% to 1.67%, 2% for 5 or 9, and 2.3% for 6 or 8. Casinos in Mississippi and Nevada often request an upfront vigorish payment for the player to receive the full payout.

Pai Gow Poker Winning Commission

In Pai Gow Poker, a 5% commission is paid on winning wagers. The dealer deducts the 5% house commission before the winnings are paid out. For example, if you place a $30 bet, you will receive $28.5 in winnings. However, players can also pay the required commission using chips.

Note: Face Up Pai Gow Poker does not require payments of commission on winning bets.

Poker Rake

In poker, cash games to be specific, casinos charge a 5-10% commission, known as the rake. Poker requires all participants to place bets before play begins. The accumulated wagers form a pot prize from which some casinos charge a capped 5% rake. If a table has a $50 pot, the house charges a $2.5 rake fee. However, for a large pot of $500 to $1000, the house charges no more than $3 to $5 in rake.

In poker tournaments, the rake is removed from the total buy-in. And the higher the buy-in, the lower the commission.

Casinos Commission Chart

5% is the average set casino commission, also known as "vigorish" or "rake." The chart below shows the house deductions based on the amount wagered.

Wager	Commission
$1 - $5	$0.25
$6 - $10	$0.50
$11 - $15	$0.75
$16 - $20	$1
$21 - $25	$1.25
$26 - $30	$1.50
$31 - $35	$1.75
$36 - $40	$2
$41 - $45	$2.25
$46 - $50	$2.50
$51 - $55	$2.75
$56 - $60	$3
$61 - $65	$3.25
$66 - $70	$3.50
$71 - $75	$3.75
$76 - $80	$4
$81 - $85	$4.25
$86 - $90	$4.50
$91 - $95	$4.75
$96 - $100	$5
$500	$25
$1,000	$50
$2,000	$100

Final Thoughts

Casino commissions, also termed "vigorish" or "rake," are all legal charges that the house can deduct before a wager is placed or after it is won. In baccarat, a 5% commission is charged on banker wins, and 5% vigorish is charged on banker bets in mini baccarat. In Pai Gow Poker, a 5% commission is charged on winning wagers, and in poker, a capped 5-10% commission, known as the rake, is deducted from the pot. Take note of these charges as you play casino table games.