Flawless Poker
THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE GAME · BEGINNER

What Is Return on Investment in Poker?

Tournament profit divided by tournament cost over a defined sample.

Common abbreviation: ROI

Sign in to save this term ↗

What it means

ROI should use consistent currency and include fees and re-entries in the cost.

AT THE TABLE

A practical example

If entries cost 100 total and returns are 120, ROI is 20%.

The calculation

ROI = (returns − total tournament cost) ÷ total tournament cost × 100%.

The example above shows the idea with stated assumptions. Actual decisions also depend on ranges, future action, and the game format.

A common misconception

A few tournament wins do not establish a stable long-run ROI.

Where you will hear it

Texas Hold’em, Omaha where applicable. The exact usage can vary with rules and context.

Also called: ROI, tournament ROI

Related concepts

Average Buy-InTotal tournament entry investment divided by the selected count of entries or tournaments, as explicitly defined.Explore ↗In-the-Money PercentageThe share of tournaments that produced an in-the-money finish.Explore ↗In the MoneyFinishing in a position that receives a prize.Explore ↗Multi-Table TournamentA tournament that begins with players spread across multiple tables.Explore ↗Pot CommitmentA loose description of a situation where folding after prior investment may be costly.Explore ↗

Keep learning

Study this idea in a wider poker context, then return to the dictionary whenever a term needs a closer look.

Explore Mathematics Nebula in Poker Galaxy ↗Read The Flawless Poker Odds Bible (PDF) ↗

Published 2026-10-15 · Updated 2026-10-15 · Flawless Poker Cosmic Codex