Overlay
When a guaranteed tournament prize pool exceeds the total buy-ins collected from registrants. The poker room covers the difference, creating extra value for all participants. Overlays are essentially free money added to the prize pool and represent the most profitable tournament opportunities. Savvy players actively seek out overlay events.
Example
A poker room guarantees $10,000 for a tournament but only 80 players enter at $100 each ($8,000 in buy-ins). The $2,000 overlay means the room is adding value from their own pocket.
Where this matters
Move from definition to decision.
Glossary pages explain the language. Use the links below to see how the term affects room choice, rakeback value, or payment tradeoffs on the commercial side of the site.
Related Terms
See Also
- ROI (Return on Investment)- The percentage return on tournament buy-ins over time. ROI is calculated as (total winnings - total ...
- Freeroll- A poker tournament with no entry fee that awards real money or prizes. Freerolls are common promotio...