Budget Poker
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A charity poker tournament or Casino Night can be a glamorous way to achieve your non-profit organization’s fundraising goals. The benefits of hosting a poker tournament are many – donors will look forward to the event and you will likely have the opportunity to introduce new supporters (who love playing poker) to your organization. This leaves plenty of room to achieve your fundraising goals with tournament ticket sales, rebuys (which are additional poker chips available for purchase, either to buy back into the game or to add to a pile of chips), fundraising raffles, and other activities. We’re here to walk you through how to run a charity poker tournament fundraiser and raise the fundraising stakes for your organization.
1. Research the Costs Associated with a Charity Poker Tournament
As with many fundraising events, planning begins with how much you want to raise from your poker tournament. Poker tournaments can be lucrative events, if well-organized and well-promoted. For a smaller event with lower ticket prices, organizations can raise $5,000-$8,000. For larger tournaments with higher ticket prices, you can raise upwards of $25,000. Plan with your committee what you’re looking to raise and how many attendees you project for your event. Before deciding the gross fundraising goal, understand the costs that are associated with a poker tournament:
- Venue
- Poker Table and Accessories Rentals/Tournament Staff (Dealer, Pit Manager/Tournament Director)
- Hors d’oeuvres and Beverages
- Fundraising Software
- Other Marketing Costs
Shop around for the best pricing for the service and quality that best fit your needs. With projected costs and a fundraising event budget, it is easier to understand how to determine ticket pricing and attendees needed to reach fundraising goals.
2. Plan the Fundraising Goal for the Tournament
Once you research the tentative costs, the following projections should be determined:
- What is the gross fundraising goal (how much to cover your fundraising goal and your costs, before any deductions are taken out)?
- What are some potential projections of how many tickets are needed to be sold at a certain price point? For example, how many seats would you need to sell at $50 per person? At $75 per person? At $100 per person?
When deciding the price point, consider that re-buys and add-ons can contribute around 30% of your fundraising amount. Consider this when projecting how many tickets need to be sold.
3. Discuss Poker Tournament Format and Additional Revenue Channels
The most popular format for charity poker tournaments is Texas Hold Em’.
You will need to have at least one poker expert on your planning committee that assists with format choices and all rules. The tournament director dictates how quickly the blinds (minimum bet of the game) rise throughout the duration of the game. Throughout the tournament, as more players are eliminated, the tables are combined until a final table is left. The final remaining three to five winners will have a choice of winning an appealing, high-priced prize.
Keep in mind that charitable gaming is legal on a state-by-state case basis. Often prizes cannot be actual cash tender but need to be non-monetary prizes. Of course, perform due diligence to find out your local and state laws on gaming and charity poker tournaments before planning. This information can be found in the office of the state attorney general.
A given additional stream of fundraising comes from the rebuys and add-ons. Another option is to utilize the poker tables that have been eliminated to run smaller and quicker poker games for smaller prizes. Other forms of fundraising can come from side games, which are other card or casino games such as roulette or blackjack. Casino Night fundraisers offer tables with all of these games to choose from.
Non-gambling related options include selling raffle tickets for a chance to win appealing prizes or hosting a silent auction. In addition, a charity poker tournament could be held in conjunction with a fundraising golf tournament, gala, or other special events.
DoJiggy offers fundraising raffle and charity auction websites to make it happen.
4. Plan Promotional and Graphic Collateral for the Charity Poker Tournament
Once the venue, date, and time have been determined, it’s time to plan the marketing and promotional collateral. Poker tournaments typically exude a concept of “a fun and classy night out.” The marketing collateral should express the same concept or theme. There are inexpensive flyer and collateral templates available online if your nonprofit organization doesn’t have anyone with graphic design experience. Marketing collateral may include the following:
- Poker tournament event invitation
- Flyers
- Website Banners and logos
- Printed items for the event (signage, tickets, step-and-repeat banners, sponsor signs)
The physical or digital flyer and the invitation should include the following information:
- Date and time of the tournament
- Location
- Poker tournament format (Texas Holdem’, 7-Card Stud)
- Attire requirements, if any
- Pricing of Buy-in and Re-buys
- Promotion of desirable prizes
- Sponsors
- The mission of your organization or charitable cause
- How the money raised will be used
5. Build an Event Website to Register Tournament Participants
DoJiggy event management software allows organizations to easily manage the entire life cycle of fundraising poker tournaments, including event promotion and marketing, sponsor and sponsorship management, secure online event registration, donations, detailed financial reporting, and day-of-event operations. The following are just a few features of our software:
- Online ticket sales with the ability to create custom ticket packages (think VIP)
- Sponsor registration and promotion
- Real-time financial reporting
- Volunteer management
- Brand customization for your organization and event
- Easy-to-use interface
- Secure credit card processing
Consider our low fees and we think you’ll agree that DoJiggy is the best fit for charity poker tournament management.
6. Initiate Sponsor Outreach for the Tournament
The poker tournament will only be as appealing as the prizes, so in-kind sponsorship procurement is one of the pivotal steps in organizing a charity poker tournament. Sponsorship support is also important because, in a charity fundraising game, cash tender prizes are not typically allowed by state regulations and laws (the specific legalities of your state should be researched).
Typically, there should be sponsorship outreach to procure prizes for the following: the top winners of the main poker tournament, side games prizes, raffles, and/or silent auction items. The retail value of the tournament prizes should also be considered, especially in comparison to the buy-in price. Here are some great prizes to consider:
- Restaurant gift certificates for high-end restaurants
- A seat to the World Series of Poker ($10,000 ticket value)
- A ticket/suite admission package to sports games
- A week-long or week-end vacation or retreat package
Always start with your connections. Consider casting your net out to your poker planning committee to see if there are employers or business owners here. For cold outreach, delegate the team accordingly so that outreach for both corporate sponsorship and local business sponsorships are performed.
7. Begin Event Promotion and Tournament Ticket Sales
Once all the details are in place with the venue, time and place, and top prizes, it’s ready to share the news with the world. Here are some places to garner ticket sales:
Budget Poker Laptop
- Existing Supporters
- Past Sponsors
- Local Businesses
- Local News Outlets/Event Calendars
- Meetups
- Past Collaborators
Keep in mind to consider the most effective approach to soliciting ticket sales by what type of relationship is present. Existing supports, past sponsors, and local businesses are best approached in a face-to-face manner or with a warm phone call. Local news outlets and Meetups may be best with an e-mail sent to the main contacts. And as with many ticket sales, the magic behind the sold ticket is consistent follow-up. Send everyone to your event website for easy registration.
8. Prepare Volunteers for Tasks and Vendor/Venue Check-In
As the date of the charity poker tournament approaches, it is vital that the event has an all-star team on deck. That means that there is a lead volunteer or event coordinator that knows the agenda and the tasks involved throughout the night. Once these tasks are planned, finding volunteers to make sure that everything is handled is essential to event execution. Here are some volunteer and/or vendor roles to consider filling:
- Registration
- Greeter
- Event Set-up and Breakdown
- Master of Ceremony/MC
- Prize Presenter
- Coat Check
- Photographer/Videographer
- Raffle Sales
- Food and Beverage Servers (hors d’oeuvres should be provided as part of the ticket price)
- Runner/Back-up Volunteer
Approximately 1-2 weeks prior to the event, hold a meeting at the tournament venue. Vendors and volunteers should all attend, to assure that everyone is on the same page with the event agenda and their assigned tasks. Also, if there is any use of audio/visual equipment at the venue, perform a technical rehearsal to assure microphones work as expected and videos or slideshows play accordingly. This is also a great time to work and rehearse with the MC (master of ceremony) on the flow of the event.
9. Hosting the Charity Poker Tournament
Be sure to run through all the materials that should be brought by your organization the night before the tourney. Prior to arriving at the venue, have plenty of cash on hand to handle change for rebuys and raffles. Also, it’s best to arrive at the venue several hours early to work with the poker table rental company to set-up the tables in a way that works for the venue layout. Run through the tasks one final time with the volunteers before doors open, offer a venue tour as needed (to know bathroom locations and other information) and assign them to their locations. From here, enjoy the evening as the games begin!
10. Wrap Up the Tournament with Numbers and Thank-Yous
Host a meeting with your tournament committee within a week of the tournament to discuss the successes and failures of the charity poker event. What can be done differently in the future? Keep a file with this information for next year’s committee. Another agenda point is to review the feedback received during the event to see where there could be room for improvement at future events. Turning a charity poker tournament into a successful annual event is contingent on how much fun your supporters have during the tournament.
The amount of funds raised will also determine if a poker tournament should be a comeback occasion. Work with your treasurer or committee to review how much money was raised from the event, after all of your final expenses are figured.
Don’t forget to send off hand-written thank-yous to your sponsors and attendees and let them know what impact they’ve had as a supporter of your organization or charitable cause. This is an important step that is not to be skipped! And that’s how to run a successful poker tournament fundraiser in 10 steps.
More Charity Poker and Casino Night Resources
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When it comes to poker accessories, a poker table to play on at home is a must for any poker enthusiast. In this article, I will take you through all of your poker table options, from portable inexpensive tabletop mats and folding tables to professional high-end choices. Whether you want an 8 or 10 person table, octagon, round, or oval, no matter your budget, I will help you find the perfect solution to your home game poker needs.
When choosing a poker table for your home poker or game room, you have 4 basic options at varying price points.
- Roll Up Poker Mats
Perfect for a sporadic casual game among close friends, especially where poker is a secondary part of the fun. Here is my favorite portable poker mat, found on Amazon. - Foldable Table Toppers
Folding poker tables are a great option if you are serious about poker but on a budget. These still look amazing and sit on top of any table, dining room, or otherwise. If you’ve ever played pub poker, this is what they almost always universally use. My favorite topper is the Gigantex Folding Table Top. - Collapsible Poker Tables
If you have either a dedicated space for poker or just room in your living room, collapsible poker tables with legs are the most popular option for home game hosts. These tables tuck conveniently away in the garage and can be brought out and set up very quickly. My favorite one is the Barrington Oval Poker Table. - Permanent Professional Poker Tables
For serious players who want to furnish a full-size poker room in their house, high-end permanent poker tables are the best choice. Check out this solid wood poker table (Click to see on Amazon), it comes with a cool dealer station.
Option #1: Roll Up Poker Table Mats
Poker mats are typically made of either cloth or rubber and are basically just a rolled up felt that is used as a table top cover. They usually come with a compact carrying case, ready to be stored or conveniently taken any location you choose. To use, you simply unroll them onto your dining table and voila, poker time.
#1: GSE Games 70″ x 35″ Portable Table Top
Budget Poker Games
This mat is my favorite mainly due to the fact that it comes in several colors and is big enough to hold up to 7 or 8 players comfortably. I really like the classy look and prefer just having one ring around the outside without the fancy bells and whistles designs that many models come from. It also comes with a nice carrying case.
#2: Gameland Oval Portable Poker Table Mat
If you are looking for a mat that has a bit fancier look then this one is for you. It has a nice “felt” design and slots to place Texas Hold’em community cards. This mat also comes with a handy carrying case.
#3: Da Vinci Rectangle 2-Sided Poker & Blackjack Mat
If you also like to play Blackjack then you will love this mat. Just flip it over and you have your own personal Blackjack table. However, while this is one of the least expensive mats you can find it is also one has durability issues.
Option #2: Folding Poker Table Toppers
Folding poker table tops usually look like traditional card tables in that they typically have raised arm rests and cup holders. However, unlike regular poker tables, there are no legs on this next step up from poker mats. I recommend these to anyone who is on a budget but still wants to offer their playing buddies the look of a real poker casino table. Poker table toppers typically come in either octagon or oval shaped.
#1: Gigantex Oval Folding Poker Table Top
This attractive design is as about as good as it gets for folding poker tables. It is big enough to seat 8 people, has
#2: Homcom Octagon Foldable Poker Table Top
If you play in a small poker game or want a topper for a round table, this model fits the bill perfectly. It is heavy duty and very durable. I really like the plastic trays with cup holders that help mitigate spills. If you have a game with 6 players or less, this is a great option.
#3: Fat Cat Tri-Fold Poker Table Top
If you prefer a poker table topper that has a defined padded rail you will like the Fat Cat tri-fold table. It is also much larger than most other table toppers and will comfortably seat 8 or 9 players.
Option #3: Folding Poker Tables (With Legs)
This is the most common table that most folks purchase. The construction is generally similar to that of folding poker table toppers, they just have legs added on. However, there is a wide range in construction and sturdiness across a wide spectrum of price points. My goal is to help you sort through the madness and provide recommendations across a broad array of choices.
#1: Barrington Oval Folding Poker Table
This table has it all: Durable construction, compact storage, padded rails, and a really attractive design. It’s like having a professional permanent poker table without the high expense.
#2: Texas Holdem Folding Speed Cloth Poker Table
I just can’t get over how nice this poker table looks. If you have a small home game, this is the perfect table to impress your buddies. A huge bonus is the stainless cup holders and the speed cloth (spill-proof).
The materials are casino quality and you can expect this item to last for a long time. It’s basically a permanent quality table that happens to have folding legs.
#3: Polar Aurora Oval Folding Poker Table
If you are on a budget but don’t like poker mats, then the Polar Aurora is a great option. It has a plain look to it but is highly functional with its solid metal construction.
It seats 8 players (6 very comfortably), is made with solid wood, and has steel legs. There are 8 cup holders and padded armrests as well. I really like this foldable table and it would likely fill the needs of most everyone.
Option #4: High-Quality Permanent Poker Tables
If you have a dedicated game room and want your poker table ready to go anytime, you have a wide array of options. I realize that a large purchase like this will not typically be made on a whim. You will likely spend some time doing some research before you decide on which type and mode you ultimately choose. To that end, I will offer a few suggestions at several price points to help you on your way to a decision.
#1: Solid Wood Poker Table With Dealer Station
If you want your home game to have a professional setup, this is the best table for the money. It has a casino-style design with a dealer station and toke box (for tips). It also comes with speed cloth and stainless cup holders. Make sure you have a lot of room because this thing is huge!
#2: Elite Poker Table With Dining Top
If you are looking for a higher-end model then this elite poker table offers a solid oak construction with a black finish. It doubles as a dining room tables as well.
This is a 10
#3: Ultimate Poker Table (Folding)
With this
#4: Luxury Poker Table (With Chairs)
With this Permanent Luxury Poker Table with Chairs. With thistable, you get the best of both wor
It has both traditional and contemporary design elements and would fit in almost any decor. It actually would make a great conference room table as you can choose either dining or lounge chairs.
Other Considerations
Before purchasing the poker table of your choice, make sure that it fits your needs as closely as possible. Here are a 5 things to consider.
- Does the table fit well in the space allocated?
There’s no sense in buying a giant luxury poker table if you can’t even get it through the front door of your 600 square foot condo. You are much better off just using your current dining room table and a poker table mat. However, if you live in a 9000 square foot mansion with a million dollars of antique furniture, rolling out a rubber casino in front of your friends just won’t do. - Will the table match the expectations of your poker friends?
This ties into my first point. If “the guys” or “gals” are expecting a regular poker night that lasts for years, you will want to invest in a solution that matches that expectation. Even so, you still don’t have to break the bank when creating your poker atmosphere for your buddies. Any perceived “cheapness” you’ve put into the equipment will soon be forgotten if you break out the favorite beer or snack foods of your poker compatriots. - Is the table big enough to accommodate your regular players?
Check the number of seats a poker table will accommodate, before purchasing. For most small games, this isn’t typically an issue, since it’s usually just 4-6 friends. Almost every table I have recommended will fit the bill for this scenario. Just remember that for bigger events, you will need to comfortably fit everyone. If you jam Frances up against a wall, stuck between a counter and a trash can, don’t expect to see her next week. Remember, no one puts baby in a corner. (sorry bad movie reference, couldn’t resist) - Does your table of choice fit into your budget?
If you have set aside $200 to buy all of your poker night needs and then splurge on a $180 poker table as your first purchase, $20 doesn’t leave a whole lot of room to buy everything else you need. While the table is important, so is poker chips and playing cards. - Do you plan to play when on vacation?
If you have a family poker night, then you will want to strongly consider a foldable poker table that travels well. Or, just buy two tables; a permanent one your main home table and folding or roll-up one for vacations.
About Poker Table Felt
While the design of the table is the most important factor in choosing the right poker table, the type of felt that covers the surface is also something to take into account. Basically, there are two predominant options available for poker table felt, standard felt and speed cloth.
- Standard Felt (Made of Micro Suede or Velveteen)
This is the standard option on the vast majority of poker tables, especially those on the lower end of the price spectrum. The surface has a roughness to it and sometimes it is difficult to get the cards to slide where you want them to while dealing. This is the cheapest surface and should be fine for the vast majority of players. However, some folks like a slight upgrade to a more “professional” surface. - Speed Cloth (Typically made of polyester)
Discerning players and many professional poker players prefer their playing surface to be a bit faster than standard felt can satisfy. Enter speed cloth. Made of a very smooth type of polyester, you will have no problem getting the cards to slide from one end of the table to another while dealing. In fact, players not used to the surface may complain that the cards are sliding off the table too much. Most poker tables do not come standard with speed cloth, it is typically an upgrade that some companies offer if you want to pay for the option. A few of the tables in this guide do offer speed cloth as an option, be sure to check before you purchase.
Personally, I prefer speed cloth, but only for higher end tables. I would much rather adjust to a fast surface than a slow one. Even so, most folding or portable poker tables are compact enough that it doesn’t really matter one way or the other.
Honestly, the type of “felt” on your poker table is a really tiny concern for the vast majority of players out there. Unless you are a professional or play for thousands of dollars every poker night, no one is likely ever to care about what surface your table as (assuming it isn’t soiled, torn and nasty).
Additional Poker Accessories & Essentials
Now that you have tackled the biggest ticket item for your home game, you may need to buy a few more essentials to get ready for your home game. Speaking of which, I wrote an informative article on the 10 keys to hosting the perfect poker night, be sure to check it out. I cover everything you need to do to be a great poker host.
Also, get some really nice playing cards and good quality poker chips, they can make or break a poker night. My personal favorite is Copag, what’s yours? Here are a few more considerations for you to think about:
Budget Poker Tournaments
- Decorating your poker room
- Finding players
- Providing appropriate food & for your guests
- Choosing a game format
- Security (for you high rollers out there)
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Summary
If you are looking for a short-term solution but want to upgrade at some point, I suggest going with the cheapest poker mat possible and then spending some time deciding what permanent setup you want. Or, if you just want a safe bet that will last you many years, just go with what I feel is the safest bet, the folding 8-person Polar Aurora. It is a fine table that is a perfect balance between portability and permanent options. I love the way it looks and how it folds in half for easy storage.
From cheap, portable, rolled up cloth mats, to high-end luxury professional models, I hope to have given you a good review of the best poker table options there are out there and an idea of how much each type costs. If you found this article informative, be sure to browse the resources section of our site, and let us know if there is a subject you would like addressed in the comments below. Also, feel free to browse our site to learn more about poker strategy. Thanks for stopping by!