» Spotlight on RakeTheRake

The key to a successful poker game is the exploitation of every edge.  One of the most profitable - and easiest - edges to exploit is rakeback.  Every player has to pay in rake to play online poker, so why not explore your options to receive some of that rake back.  This week we take a closer look at one of the industry's most reputable rakeback sites, RakeTheRake.

Karim Wilkins, Chief Executive Officer, is the site's founder.  He's responsible for the day-to day management of RakeTheRake.  Alan Bristow, Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for the day-to-day management of Mr. Wilkins.  Doubtlessly, a full-time job.

Poker Curious was fortunate to get a few minutes alone with Karim Wilkins, who shared his thoughts about building and growing an estimable site in today's evolving marketplace.

"Like any successful business," offers Wilkins, "it’s been a combination of hard work and dedication by the management and all the staff involved."

The hard work began like so much hard work begins... with one man and a need. "Playing poker one day, I was offered rakeback in a chat room on a poker site by a guy who it turned out didn’t have a website," Wilkins remembers. "I thought, 'I could do that,' so I did. I built a website and spent the first couple of years working 18 hours days and giving away most of the profit in promotions."

Now considered the number one rakeback site in the industry, the work load has diminished somewhat. "Now, it’s only 17 hours a day," admits Wilkins.  To be honest, there were few, if any, major obstacles encountered in building the brand.  Concedes Wilkins, "We were one of the original Big 4 rakeback sites and so we were in from the start."

A typical workday at RakeThe Rake is far from typical.

At 8 a.m., the staff begins a three-mile run.

At 8:02 a.m., the staff abandons the three-mile run and heads for Starbucks.

At 8:50 a.m., the staff abandons Starbucks and heads to the office.

At 9 a.m., all are at their desks, heads down, hard at work.

“Lunch is for gimps,” Wilkins says.

The company headquarters, aka RakeTheRake Tower, has a decidedly relaxed atmosphere. The musical background is never ending, while the team is admittedly easily distracted from the tasks at hand. Often the reason for the distraction arises from some random e-mail. (Check out their proposed new tower at right)

Recalls Wilkins: "This one guy completely mixed up the bonuses at William Hill and InterPoker. After many e-mails calling us cheats and liars and a few other unpleasant names accompanied by four-letter words, he promised to take a brick, put our name and address on it and throw it through a William Hill shop window. If we didn’t get him his imaginary sign-up bonus, he threatened to drive to ten shops the next day and 45 the day after that and continue to break windows. He had even taken the time to cost out the price of the bricks and was happy to do time in jail just to prove a point."  They worked very hard to resolve the perceived problem and with the client now calmed, no bricks were launched.

The biggest problem for all at RakeTheRake is balancing work and the rest of life.  "We have a simple office policy for all," says Wilkins. "Play hard, work hard. If you go out and party hard, that’s fine...just be at your desk 9 a.m. the next day.

Wilkins typically begins his day earlier, at 8.  He often goes until 1 a.m. the next day.  For every one else, Wilkins suggests they are standard nine-to-fivers.  "They are all slackers," he says with a laugh.  Because he is just joking here.  Again.  Any conversation you have with this CEO is proof a good sense of humor never hurt an internet entrepreneur.

A sense of humor might be the best start-up capital. "When you run your own business," explains Wilkins, "you’re lucky if you ever switch off."  Is that your Blackberry or one of your cellphones ringing?

You work that hard because you love the work. "The best part of it all is the affiliate managers, conferences and 'work' trips to Vegas and Amsterdam," Wilkins explains. "Worst part is the hangovers after drinking with affiliate managers at conferences at 'work' in Vegas and Amsterdam."

RakeTheRake may be the industry leader in rakeback, but Wilkins is unwilling to lose his edge. "You are always looking over your shoulder at your competitors," he says.  But he knows the right play to make. "Quite simply, we offer better customer service and promotions. And our CS team are way better looking than those other numpties."

What advice would Wilkins give to anyone thinking of starting a poker related business?  "Try to piggy-back a big affiliate like us through a skin. And get out there and meet your affiliate managers!"

Work and play seem to blur.  Asked about his future plans, Wilkins offered, "Cricket at Lords and then Vegas for Phil H's and Doyle’s parties.

But what about actually playing the game?  What about poker itself?  "Of course, we play.  Not as much as we'd like, but we play." Wilkins says.  "And we are absolutely terrible. If you ever meet any member of the RTR team you should get the cards out as soon as possible. We are shockingly bad." In reality, there is very little time to play when all your time is taken up helping others maintain their edge.

   
Another edge is often a solid foundation of philosophical underpinnings.  Asked to share a thought or two here, Wilkins said a thing or two which will stick with us.  And should. "I am not worthy enough to impart my own," Wilkins offered humbly, "but there is one bit of advice I have always felt made a great deal of sense.  Mark Twain said it: 'Don't go around saying the world owes you a living.  The world owes you nothing.  It was here first'."

So there you are, sitting in front of your computer, investing both precious time and money playing online poker. Let's face it maybe you're not that good. Or maybe you are the next poker god. Either way, it is good to know your time and money are going to a better place, and that you are being appreciated by your online casino. For this reason, it is good to get something back, and this is possible only through a good rakeback deal. When you play online poker, you will inevitably get raked in most of your hands. If you have a good rakeback deal working for you, you will get a portion of that money back.

 

So how do you ensure you are getting a good deal? Rake back deals are like free advice - Everyone's got one. People knock at your door, send you millions of emails, barge right into your offices and offer you a rakeback deal. There are a few ways you can ensure you get a good deal. You can either ask your online casino or alternatively a great and very safe method is to check with websites which only deal with rakeback like RTR. Either way, make sure you are enrolled in rake back programs as this is the only way you earn when you lose, and make sure your cash is working extra hard for you.