Fundraising Poker Night - Advice Wanted

richtea

As part of my cricket club's fundraising drive, I've volunteered to set up a weekly poker tournament.
 
I'm expecting about 10-15 people to be interested in playing, abilities ranging from reasonable to novice to out-and-out manic gamblers. I'm probably going to make it a £5+1 re-buy (with the £1 going straight into the club's coffers)

The main objective of the tournaments isn't to raise as much money as possible through the 'rake' taken out of the buy-in, I'd be happy with £20-30, it's more about giving the novices value for money and getting people in the bar spending some money in the close-season.

I could do with a bit of advice regarding the structure of the tournament. I'm looking to start the tournament at 7:30, and need to have it wrapped up before 11 when the bar shuts(preferably finishing around 10:30). When should the re-buy period end? And what should the blind structure be? If anyone's tried anything similar in the past please post below and let me know what worked and what didn't! Thanks.

EvilPingu

Instead of having rake, make it mandatory for everyone to buy drinks from the bar each time Shahid Afridi announces his retirement :P

If you want it to be finished by around 10:30, then I imagine the structure should be designed so that if the tournament goes on a bit longer than you want it to, then you're almost forcing people to go all in (if they know what they're doing ofc), or fold.

Also, you might want to take out some of the 'filler' levels - For instance, you might just want to go from 50/100 straight to 100/200, and leave out 75/150 altogether.

Will think about this more later when I have time and see if I can come up with anything.

sikas

dont wanna pi** on ur 'chips' but im pretty sure this is illegal

well...afaik, whatever the buyin/runners the max total prize cannot exceed £100-also ur not allowed to charge 'rake' , plus i think u need special permissions aswell

check here 

http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/Advice%20on%20gaming%20in%20clubs%20and%20alcohol%20licensed%20premises%20-%20September%202008.pdf

and here

http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/pokerinpubs%20-%20july%202009.pdf

richtea

Thanks for that Sikas, I wasn't entirely sure on the legality either and I've had a quick read through your links.

I think it'd be OK, looking at section 10 of your first link there seems to be a concession for club fundraising. Also, looking at the appendix at the end of that document the tournament I'd be looking to run falls comfortably within the criteria for a member's club.

Thanks for bringing it up though, and I'll check on what permits we hold..

YOUNG_GUN

Starting 6k, I have taken into account that you will approx have up to 15players and i would also recommend a blind jum automatically when heads up. 

Blind levels:

50/100 25mins

100/200 20mins

150/300 20mins

200/400 20mins

400/800 20mins

800/1600 20mins 

1600/3200 20mins

3200/6400 20mins

6400/12800

i doubt you will ever get to the last blind level but its there just incase, think an extra 5 of 10mins in the first blind level will allow a bit more play. 60bb start is plenty but obviously with the 3 hour latest deadline you have to start low and double the blinds IMO altho have added 150/300 to allow a little bit more play.

Regards 

John

Just a suggestion

richtea

Thanks for that John, I reckon 20 minute levels are good, I've tweaked your suggestion a bit (owing mostly to the fact that I've acquired a couple of cheap poker chip sets, and the highest denomination is 100) What do people think about this:

     Starting stack: 1500

Time               Blinds            
7:30-7:50       10/20
7:50-8:10       20/40
8:10-8:30       30/60
*10 minute toilet/cig/beer break*
8:40-9:00       40/80
9:00-9:20       50/100
9:20-9:40       100/200
*10 minute break. End of rebuys*
9:50-10:10     200-400
10:10-10:30   300-600
10:30---- />     500/1000

EvilPingu

Have you considered having an add-on?

sherifoo7

if you time constraints sometimes best to make it re-entry so not too many chips on table lete on rather than re-buys and add on.

sherifoo7

probably only have re-entries, re-buys, add-ons etc for first hour as again too many people have chips late on

aiken2001

Do you have a proper club license in which case you can have a bit more in the pot. Legally as stated above no more than £100 in the pot no more than 5£ buy in and no rebuys. You cannot legally charge a rake either.

If your looking to get bums on seats look into one of the national franchises redtooth / poker tree as they will supply all the gear and your players have a chance at regional / national finals. Drawback is your charged a weekly fee for this (round about £20 per week)

Structure wise we run as follows 8pm start 3500 chips

20 min 25/50
20 min 50/100
20 min 75/150
10 min break for beer wee etc
15 min 100/200
15 min 200/400
15 min 300/600
10 min break for etc
15 min 400/800
15 min 500/1000
15 min 1000/2000
15 min 1500/3000
15 min 2000/4000

we do have an understanding landlord and are rarely packed away before 11.30 with around the 24-36 runners each week.

You need to look into what license your club has (what fruity do they have is a bit of an indication) I believe there is rumours of a new white paper coming out some time this year changing some of this info.

Dependant on your landlord/local authourity the £100 max prize pot is generally ignored these days but the 5£ bit is stuck too.

Hope this helps.

richtea

Thanks for your input guys. I think I'm gunna stick with blinds structure I posted, it seems pretty similar to the suggestions, just with a smaller stacking stack and lower blind levels. I won't bother with add-ons due to the time constraints, but I'll make to cut-off point for re-buys earlier.

Regarding the legal side of it, we're a member's club with a club machine permit and possibly a club gaming permit as well (I'll check). Anyway, according to the appendix at the end of this document http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/Advice%20on%20gaming%20in%20clubs%20and%20alcohol%20licensed%20premises%20-%20September%202008.pdf (thanks again Sikas) we shouldn't be breaking any rules with the £5 entry and £1 'participation' fee.

Slykllist

In Response to Re: Fundraising Poker Night - Advice Wanted:

Thanks for that Sikas, I wasn't entirely sure on the legality either and I've had a quick read through your links. I think it'd be OK, looking at section 10 of your first link there seems to be a concession for club fundraising. Also, looking at the appendix at the end of that document the tournament I'd be looking to run falls comfortably within the criteria for a member's club. Thanks for bringing it up though, and I'll check on what permits we hold..
Posted by richtea

Max payout (legally) is £100.00 unless you have a gambling licence from memory.  We've run a weekly league for around 3 years now will post the structure we use later when I've copied it from the website

In my opinion, the structure you've suggested doesn't push the blind levels high enough to get it done by closing time, you may have to do a chip count, particularly if you're allowing re-buys and add ons.