Backing in Poker | Meaning & How It Works

In poker, backing means a backer financially supports you by paying for all or part of your tournament or cash game buy-in. In return, the backer often receives a share of any winnings, based on the terms of the deal both parties made. This arrangement is also known as staking.

What Does Backing Mean in Poker?

Being backed by someone is essentially an investment in you as a player:

• The backer: Provides the money for the buy-in.
• The player: You use your skill to try to turn that investment into a profit from the winnings.
• The deal: Profits are then split according to a percentage previously agreed upon. 
   

This is common in both live and online poker, especially in big buy-in tournaments where the variance is high.

Why Do Players Use Backing?

Backing benefits both sides when done correctly and successfully:

• For players: It reduces the personal financial risk and allows you entry into bigger games with bigger winnings.
• For backers: Offers them a chance to profit by investing in skilled players.
• For both: Creates partnerships where talent meets capital. 
   

This system allows you to compete in bigger, high-stakes events that you otherwise couldn’t afford.

Example of a Backing Deal

Imagine a $10,000 tournament:

• A backer pays the entire buy-in.
• You agree to split the winnings 50/50.
• You cash in for $100,000.
• Each party receives $50,000. (minus any expenses such as travel, hotel, etc., if applied). 
   

Backing Deals can vary widely, but this example shows the basic structure of all deals.

Risks of Backing

While profitable partnerships are possible, backing, of course, carries risks:

• Variance: Even skilled players can lose over long stretches. Especially in large tournaments.
• Trust: Miscommunication or dishonesty can cause disputes. Especially when large sums of money are involved.
• Makeup: Some deals require players to repay prior losses before profits are split. 
   

Both sides must understand and agree on terms, then honour them, to avoid conflict.

FAQs

Is backing the same as staking? 
Yes. Staking is the common term for backing arrangements.

Why would a player want to be backed? 
To reduce their own financial risk or to gain access to bigger games than their bankroll allows.

Can backing be profitable? 
Yes, if you are a skilled player and the deal is fair, but variance in poker means there are no guarantees.