If you’re looking for a truly “stiff” rakeback deal, you may not even know it yet, but you are in fact looking for a poker prop deal. A prop deal is basically a rakeback deal on steroids, as even the weakest prop deal offers players a 70% rakeback. Some prop deals offer as much as 100% or even more: I’ve seen and offered one deal which gave a 135% rake return.

So what’s the deal with these prop setups? Can any poker room offer more than 100% rakeback and if so why? If there are such great rakeback deals out there, how come regular (30% or so deals) are still being offered?

To answer these questions one at a time: prop deals are usually offered by new start-up online poker operations which still have difficulties securing a basic “player liquidity”. This means they’re unable to fill up some of their tables on all limits, all the time. A poker room without action on all limits, all the time is a non-viable operation, it cannot survive. New players, signing-up in the usual way, will not be getting the service they require.

This is why poker rooms need prop players. Prop players are paid to play, and in return they bring “player liquidity” to the site. This is why it’s possible to earn such an incredible rakeback.

Can the room afford to offer such deals? Well those which can’t, won’t be around for too long. It is something they have to invest money into, it is one of the most efficient ways to get the “player liquidity”.

How come there are still much smaller percentage rakeback deals offered? Simple: a prop deal – though rather enticing at first sight – might not be the right kind of setup for everyone. Being a successful prop means that you have to be successful under difficult circumstances. A poker prop may not be allowed to play on any limit he/she desires.

Several prop players will be forbidden from playing at the same table, they won’t be allowed to wait in queue at full tables either. They will usually be required to sign in with a prop manager before they start propping, and they will have to obey a bunch of other restrictions depending on the policies of the site that hires them.

In short, being a prop can be a pain in the neck, and if you’re not a good player who can handle pressure, you will probably not appreciate the atmosphere in which you’ll have to play. Regardless of its drawbacks though, a prop deal is an excellent way to turn otherwise losing players into long term winners.

If you reckon you have what it takes, you’ll see that you’ll find it much easier to walk away with a profit at the end of the month when propping.