What is Poker staking?
Poker staking is a financial arrangement in which one person (the “backer”) provides funds for another person (the “player”) to play poker. The backer receives a percentage of the player’s winnings or a portion of their stake in the game in exchange of the financial support.
The backer and player will often negotiate the terms of the staking arrangement. Which can include the percentage of winnings that the backer will receive and the stakes at which the player will be allowed to play the game. The player is typically responsible for their own gameplay and decision-making. But may also consult with the backer for advice or guidance.
Poker staking is a common practice in the poker community. It allows players with limited financial resources to participate in higher stakes games. Also in game that they may not be able to afford on their own. It can be a way to invest in profitable poker players and earn a return on their investment for the backer.
How does Poker Staking works?
Poker staking deals involve two parties. The player (also known as the “horse”) and the investor (also known as the “backer”). The player get a bankroll from the backer. With which they can start playing cash games.
The investor and the horse share every profit the player makes. Although a 50/50 profit split is common in staking agreements. However, any number that both parties can agree upon can be used for the player’s share.
The backing agreement becomes profitable for both the investor and the horse if a staked player regularly wins.
Take the case where a bet is placed on a player for $5/$10. No-Limit Hold’em cash games and the player is given a $100,000 bankroll to play with. The parties settle on a 50/50 split.
The investor would take $15,000 and the player would keep $15,000. If the player grinds out a $30,000 profit over time. The investor also keeps the first $100,000 bankroll since the player turned a profit.
It’s important to keep in mind that. Despite the fact that the player in this case begins with $100,000. They never truly own any of that sum. The player is responsible for giving the backer a complete $100,000 refund at the end of the stake agreement. This feature of staking agreements leads to our following observation:
What happen if the player losses?
Consider a case where a player begins playing in multi-table game with a $100,000 stake. The player loses $30,000 in game buy-ins but later succeeds in a $20k event.
The player is now still $10,000 in the hole. Before any sort of profit share takes effect. The $10,000 debt, known to as “makeup,” must be repaid to the investor.
The player pays the backer the full $20,000 win instead of splitting it with them. The most of the win is used to repay the makeup. Though the investor may allow the horse to retain a small portion of it for living expenses.
Deal-making can be risky for both parties when it comes to makeup. Investor loses $10,000 if a player who has $10,000 in makeup decides to quit playing.
On the other hand, if a player stakes $30,000 right away in a staking agreement. That horse is aware that they are far from earning any kind of profit.
What is “The Makeup” Poker Staking?
In poker staking, the makeup refers to the amount of money a player owes to their backer after losing in a game.
When a player is staked. They receive a certain amount of money from the backer to enter into poker game. If the player is successful and wins. They share a portion of their winnings with the backer. However, if the player loses. They may end up owing money to the backer, which is referred to as makeup.
Makeup can be either net or gross. Gross makeup is the total amount a player owes their backer after losing. While net makeup takes into account any winnings the player may have earned during the staking period. For example, if a player is staked for $10,000 and they lose $5,000. But also win $2,000 in other game during the staking period. Their net makeup would be $3,000
Makeup can be a complex issue in poker staking. And it’s important for both the player and the backer to have a clear agreement in place on how makeup will be calculated and paid off.