DFS Min-Cash Rate Calculator
Calculate break-even win rate for cash games
Formula:
Min Cash = Entry / Effective Payout × 100Contest Details
Enter cash game parameters
$
$
%
%
Break-Even Analysis
Your profitability assessment
Min Cash Rate
61.7%
Win rate needed to break even
Your Edge
-6.7%
Losing
Payout Multiple
1.80x
Effective Payout
$16.20
Expected Profit
$-1.09
Expected ROI
-10.9%
Win Rate vs Break-Even
0%Break-even: 61.7%100%
Profitability at Different Win Rates
50%
$-1.90
55%
$-1.09
60%
$-0.28
65%
+$0.53
70%
+$1.34
Insight: Currently 6.7% below break-even. Consider lower stakes while improving or finding softer contests.
Contest Formats
Common cash game structures
Quick Answer
TL;DR summary
Min-cash rate is the win rate you need to break even in cash games. With $10 entry and $18 payout (1.8x after 10% rake), you need to win 55.6% of contests to break even. The formula is: Min Cash Rate = Entry Fee / Effective Payout × 100. Any win rate above this is profitable.
Key Facts About Min-Cash
Important things to know
- Min Cash Rate = Entry Fee / (Payout × (1 - Rake%)) × 100
- Standard DraftKings/FanDuel rake is ~10% on cash games
- With 10% rake and 1.8x payout, break-even is ~55.6%
- Implied edge = 50% - Min Cash Rate (how much better than coin flip)
- Lower rake tournaments offer better break-even rates
- Track your actual cash rate vs min-cash rate for profitability
- Heads-up matches have same break-even math
- Higher payout multiples (2x, 3x) have different break-even points
Frequently Asked Questions
Common min-cash questions
What is the min-cash rate?
Min-cash rate is the minimum win percentage you need to break even in cash games after accounting for rake. If a contest pays 1.8x and has 10% rake, you need to win 55.6% of contests to neither profit nor lose money over time.
How does rake affect break-even?
Rake directly increases your required win rate. With no rake, 50% win rate would break even at 2x payout. With 10% rake, you need ~55% to break even. With 15% rake, you need ~58%. Every percentage point of rake makes profitability harder.
What win rate do I need to be profitable?
You need to beat the min-cash rate by any amount. If break-even is 55.6%, winning 56% makes you slightly profitable. Top cash game players sustain 58-65% win rates, representing 2-10% edge over the field.
Should I focus on low-rake contests?
Yes, when available. Lower rake means easier break-even and better ROI for the same skill level. Look for promotional contests, overlay situations, and smaller-field games that sometimes have reduced rake.
How do I track my actual cash rate?
Record every cash game result with entry fee and payout. Divide wins by total entries for your cash rate. Need 100+ entries for meaningful data. Compare to min-cash rate to see if you're profitable long-term.
How this works
Calculations follow the published mathematics of the game — combinatorics for cards, probability theory for dice, and expected-value accounting for wagers. Results are verified against independent references (primarily Wizard of Odds). No calculation here is an opinion or recommendation; it is arithmetic applied to the rules of the game.
What this tool can’t do
When to consult a professional
This tool computes probability and expected value. It is not a betting system and cannot predict the outcome of any individual wager. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Sources
- [1]Wizard of Odds — Michael Shackleford, ASAIndustrywizardofodds.comAccessed Apr 21, 2026
Actuary; widely cited casino-game probability reference. Used for house-edge and EV verification.
- [2]National Council on Problem GamblingOfficial sourcencpgambling.orgAccessed Apr 21, 2026
Responsible-gambling guidance and 1-800-GAMBLER helpline.
Joseph OrdunaFounder & Software Engineer
Full-stack software engineer specializing in embedded systems, web architecture, and AI/ML. Founder of Practical Web Tools. Built the gesture-controlled drone IP acquired by KD Interactive (Aura Drone, sold on Amazon).