Games played at the highest levels of stakes. Online cash games fromR$5/$10 and up (akaR$1000NL and up for No Limit Hold'em games) are considered high stakes. Live cash games played aboveR$10/$25 are considered high stakes games.
The phrase "high stakes" is derived directly from a gambling term. In gambling, a stake is the quantity of money or other goods that is risked on the outcome of some specific event. A high-stakes game is one in which, in the player's personal opinion, a large quantity of money is being risked.