Fees & Break-Even Guide
Read the worked examples and limitations.
Open →Double Up Sit & Go Break-Even Calculator
Flat payouts make the arithmetic simple enough to inspect directly. Enter the nominal buy-in, fee and gross amount returned when you cash to see the minimum long-run cash rate required to cover entry cost.
Break-even cash rate = total entry cost ÷ gross cash payout.
Calculate Double Up break-even rate
Dated example — $10 + $1 Double Up (September 2026)
Use this as the default in the fields above. It matches the parent format page. Operator lobbies change; confirm the live prize before you treat $20 as your cash.
| Input | Value this month | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal buy-in | $10 | Advertised ticket |
| Entry fee | $1 | Kept by the operator (9.1% of $11) |
| Gross payout when you cash | $20 | Typical 10-player Double Up: five paid seats share a $100 pool |
| Total outlay | $11 | What leaves your account |
| Break-even cash rate | 11 ÷ 20 = 55% | Cashing 5 times in 10 still loses $10 over those 10 tickets |
Expected value at a chosen cash rate: (cash rate × $20) − $11.
| Cash rate | EV per ticket | Per 20 tickets |
|---|---|---|
| 45% | −$2.00 | −$40 |
| 50% | −$1.00 | −$20 |
| 55% | $0 | $0 |
| 60% | +$1.00 | +$20 |
Leave the calculator at 10 / 1 / 20 / 55 and press Calculate. Then change only the fee if your lobby is $10+$2 (break-even becomes 12÷20 = 60%). Format write-up: Double Up Sit & Go. Fee page: fees and break-even.
Dated 6 September 2026. This is an arithmetic example, not a claim that every site still posts $10+$1 this week.
Why 50% can still lose
Half the field is paid. The fee is not paid back. A 50% cash rate returns $10 on an $11 ticket in the example above. You can cash “your share” of the table and still bleed.
Scope of this tool
The calculator is arithmetic, not a skill estimator. It does not include rakeback, promotions, taxes, currency conversion, opportunity cost or changes in game quality.
Related reading & tools
Bankroll Management
Connect fees and variance to stake selection.
Open →Double Up Rules & Format
Verify the actual operator payout before calculating.
Open →Reference table
See the Double Up Fee & Break-Even Reference for a transparent fee table and downloadable CSV.
Last updated: 6 September 2026 · Editor: Greg Parsons. Educational only. Responsible gaming.