The poker room always wins when it comes to poker because they take their money up front. They collect a small percentage of every pot from the cash games (called a “rake”), and usually levy an up-front charge for any tournament they host. It doesn’t matter to the house who wins the games or tourneys; as long as the game keeps running, the house keeps raking.

The higher the stakes you play the higher the rake will be. Most poker rooms will have a cap on the size of the rake so players aren’t bled dry at higher stakes. That’s how frequent players are rewarded in poker. The higher you get raked, the more comps you can get from the house.

Many online sites offer cash returns called “rake backs” as rewards. So don’t worry about the online sites being rigged to cheat you; they’re getting paid regardless of the table play.