When it comes to live tournament poker, players have learned to expect asterisks and fine print—hidden deductions from the prize pool are everywhere. But the PartyPoker Tour is rewriting the script ahead of its Birmingham stop, delivering a new era of clarity as the only major series with zero prize pool deductions.
Why Transparency Matters: Understanding Rake
For years, major live operators listed buy-ins and tournament fees, only to quietly skim extra percentages from the advertised prize pool. That means the “total rake” a player pays is often far higher than the entry fee alone, impacting both recreational players and pros who chase value.
The “hidden fee” concept began in the United States where at first it was deemed to be a pre-tip. Now, it has become a worldwide phenomena featuring different labels for the fees, usually in fine print if at all. This doesn’t take into account newer concepts such as early bird flights which typically punish every player in future flights as they are contributing a larger share to the prize pool unless the operator chooses to foot the difference between the normal buy-in and the early bird buy-in to the prize pool.
PartyPoker’s new model is different—at every buy-in level, what’s advertised is exactly what’s paid. No more hidden percentages cut from the main prize pool. With PartyPoker, the numbers are in plain view, and the tour’s fees are consistently lower than those of competing operators. The hidden rake makes a difference, proving the tremendous value that both the PartyPoker Tour Birmingham £1,000 High Roller and the PartyPoker Tour Birmingham £500 Main Event have, thanks to no additional rake taken.
Here’s a direct comparison using real tournament data:
| Operator | Event | Total Buy-In | Advertised Rake | Hidden Rake | Total Rake | Total Rake % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PartyPoker | PartyPoker High Roller | £1,000 | £100 | £0.00 | £100 | 10.00% |
| PartyPoker | PartyPoker Main Event | £500 | £55 | £0.00 | £55 | 11.00% |
| Pokerstars | UKIPT Main Event | £1,100 | £100 | £40.00 | £140 | 12.70% |
| Vamos | VPT Main Event | £350 | £30 | £15.00 | £45 | 12.90% |
| 888poker | 888 UKPL Main Event | £560 | £60 | £17.00 | £77 | 13.80% |
| PartyPoker | PartyPoker PLO Masters ME / Sides | £250 | £35 | £0.00 | £35 | 14.00% |
| 888poker | 888poker LIVE Main Event | £888 | £88 | £40.00 | £128 | 14.40% |
| Pokerstars | Pokerstars Open Second Chance Manchester | £550 | £50 | £30.00 | £80 | 14.60% |
| The Festival | The Festival Main Event | €550 | €82.50 | €0.00 | €82.50 | 15.00% |
| PartyPoker | PartyPoker Side Events | £200 | £30 | £0.00 | £30 | 15.00% |
| PartyPoker | PartyPoker Side Events | £100 | £15 | £0.00 | £15 | 15.00% |
| Pokerstars | Irish Open Main Event | £1,150 | £150 | £25.00 | £175 | 15.20% |
| Grosvenor | GUKPT Midi Main Event | £560 | £60 | £25.00 | £85 | 15.20% |
| The Festival | Hendon Mob Championship | €150 | €24 | €0.00 | €24 | 16.00% |
| BoM | Battle of Malta Main Event | €600 | €70 | €26.50 | €96.50 | 16.10% |
| Unibet / MPF | MPF Grand Event | €450 | €50 | €20.00 | €70 | 16.10% |
| Vamos | VPT Warm Up | £175 | £20 | £8.25 | £28.25 | 16.10% |
| Grosvenor | GUKPT Mini Main Event | £250 | £30 | £8.00 | £38 | 16.40% |
| PartyPoker | PartyPoker Mini Main Event | £150 | £25 | £0.00 | £25 | 16.70% |
| PartyPoker | PartyPoker Side Events | £60 | £10 | £0.00 | £10 | 16.70% |
| Grosvenor | GUKPT Main Event | £1,150 | £150 | £50.00 | £200 | 17.40% |
| BPS | BPS200 | £235 | £35 | £8.00 | £43 | 18.40% |
| BPS | BPS Weekender | £150 | £25 | £3.75 | £28.75 | 19.20% |
| APAT | APAT Championship Event | £140 | £20 | £7.35 | £27.35 | 19.50% |
| DTD | DTD 125 | £150 | £25 | £5.80 | £30.8 | 20.20% |
Rick Wild on the Player-First Philosophy
PartyPoker’s Senior Poker Room Manager, Rick Wild, reflected to poker.pro on what this policy shift means for players and the integrity of the game:
“When I transitioned from online to live poker, it baffled me to see hidden prize pool percentages quietly deducted on top of the clearly stated entry fees. It just didn’t sit right—if you need more fee, be upfront, don’t double-rake us in the small print. Years later, my view hasn’t changed. That’s why I’m genuinely proud PartyPoker is leading the change. Our rake is not only among the lowest around, it’s now free of the stealth deductions that players have come to expect from every major tour. This isn’t just good for business—it’s better for players and for poker itself.”
Founder at VibeLive Antonio Sapio, who helped bring the PartyPoker Tour to life, is also a strong proponent for transparency and we can only hope that other follow the example led by PartyPoker for player transparency.
poker.pro Live Reporting: PartyPoker Tour Birmingham October 11-19
The upcoming PartyPoker Tour Birmingham stop runs October 11-19, 2025 at the iconic Resorts World Genting Casino. Throughout the festival, poker.pro will be on-site providing full coverage: live updates, chip counts, photo galleries, and behind-the-scenes insights. Expect timely, in-depth reporting tailored for poker fans who demand more than just the top ten chip counts.
With a cleaner rake structure, zero hidden fees, and one of the lowest total player costs anywhere, the PartyPoker Tour in Birmingham is setting a new bar for transparency that deserves attention—both for longtime regulars and those just discovering live events.
Our team will not only be busy reporting, but poker.pro will also hosting three mixed game events you can read more about here.
For the latest schedules, key event times, and all the drama as it unfolds, poker.pro’s reporting team will keep the entire poker community plugged into every moment.
Want insider previews of the Birmingham? poker.pro is your go-to source for tour insight, honest breakdowns, and the coverage players trust.
