(In plural) a game of poker in which only the money a player has on the table at the start of a hand may be used to bet in that hand; (also, chiefly in plural) the money a player has on the table available to bet.
Origin
Late 19th century.
Definition of table stake in US English:
table stake
noun
Poker
(In plural) a game of poker in which only the money a player has on the table at the start of a hand may be used to bet in that hand; (also, chiefly in plural) the money a player has on the table available to bet.