Poker Budget Management

• Poker Budget Management App
• Poker Budget Management System
• Poker Budget Management Services
• Poker Budget Management Software

Good bankroll management helps you deal with the psychological impact that losses can have on your game. If you have a bankroll of 10 full buy-ins for a cash game at the $200 NL game and lose 4 buy ins, your bankroll would deplete from $2000 to $1200. Learn more: NETGEAR introduces a new Gigabit PoE+ 24-port Switch in the GS724TPv2. Learn simple PoE Management as well in this video th.

Video poker is one of the very few types of casino games that allow players to make sustainable and often significant profits by simply avoiding errors and implementing a good money management plan. Allocating a gambling budget and sticking to it, however, is not always that easy and even seasoned gamblers would sometimes find themselves betting more than they have intended to.

Even worse, some casino players may end up losing their entire bankrolls by choosing the wrong game or trying to return their losses. This is why money management is fundamental to every successful gambling strategy – with the proper preparation and plan in place, players can dramatically reduce their losses and increase their chances of winning in video poker even in the long-term.

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Importance of Money Management in Video Poker

Unlike the majority of casino games, video poker does not rely solely on chance but has an element of skill, as well. Players should understand, however, that even with perfect strategy, the game is based on probabilities and winning each and every round is impossible. Video poker is played with a single deck of 52 cards - players receive an initial 5-card hand and must decide which cards they wish to keep and which to replace. The round is resolved in the second draw when all discarded cards are replaced with new ones.

As you can see, the odds for the initial hand are fixed but they change drastically, depending on the player's decisions. For example, players who hold Ace, Queen, Jack, and Ten of hearts and need just one card to a Royal Flush face odds of 47 to 1. If they hold a Three of Kind (three Sevens, for instance), the odds of turning this hand into a Full House are 16 to 1. Clearly, even the best strategy does not guarantee success since the outcome will still depend on chance.

Even if we play a video poker variation with a positive expectation (yes, there are versions of this game where the theoretical RTP is higher than 100%), we will still lose some of the hands. Small losses could accumulate and result in financial ruin unless players manage to adjust the stakes properly in accordance with their entire bankroll. Two main factors determine players' chances of winning in video poker - the house edge and the variance of the game.

House Edge in Video Poker vs Other Games

The house edge and the expected return (return to player or RTP) are fundamental concepts in gambling that show how profitable a particular game is. The house edge is the percentage of bets the casino keeps over time and the RTP shows how much money players can expect to win back for every $100 they bet. As you can see, they are simply the two sides of the same coin – a standard Jacks or Better game has a house edge of 0.46%, so its RTP stands at 99.54% and players can expect to get back $99.54 for every $100 of money played in this game.

In comparison, online slots offer RTP percentages of around 97%-98%, while slot machines usually have a lower return of around 95% or even less. Single-zero roulette, also known as European roulette, offers an RTP of 97.30% and American roulette, which uses a double-zero wheel, has a return of 94.74%. The RTP in craps varies, depending on the type of bet we make, but for the most basic bets, it hovers around 98.60%. Blackjack has a higher return at 99.50%, although most players find it hard to stick to basic strategy and the casino gets a higher advantage.

There are several video poker variations with a theoretical return of over 100%, which means that in the long term, these games are expected to bring a profit. However, players should understand that these percentages are based on theoretically perfect results and that the average return is not equal to the actual return. To achieve them, players would need to play through millions of rounds. Here are several versions of video poker that are more profitable than you would expect, at least theoretically:

• Full-pay Joker Wild = 101.0%
• Full-pay Deuces Wild = 100.76%
• 10 / 7 / 5 Double Bonus = 100.17%
• 10 / 6 Double Double Bonus = 100.07%

Volatility in Video Poker

As we have demonstrated above, the outcome of a video poker game still heavily depends on chance. So, there will be short-term fluctuations in the results and in players' bankrolls. These fluctuations are determined by the variance of the game, also referred to as volatility. The higher the volatility of a game, the greater these fluctuations will be. Volatility is affected by the payouts and the hit frequency of the game – both of them are fixed and cannot be influenced by the payer.

The classic Jacks or Better video poker is considered to have low volatility, which means it offers stable, reliable wins over time. Deuces Wild, on the other hand, is highly volatile and players can expect to win small amounts at intervals that are much less regular. They will likely play through thousands of rounds before they hit Four Deuces or Natural Royal Flush, the two top-paying hands in this video poker variation. Games with progressive jackpots are even more volatile – progressive slots have particularly high volatility and although they may offer a huge jackpot, most casino patrons may play them all their life without ever hitting the jackpot.

Is Gambling For You?

Casino games that require skills such as blackjack or video poker are particularly popular among advantage players and people who gamble for a living. However, most people are just casual players and for them, gambling is pure entertainment. They do not need to learn complex money management techniques and should stick to the basics – otherwise, they will simply be bored with the calculations and careful planning that bankroll management requires.

There is another group of casino players, however – those who look to make a profit in the casino without having to rely on this profit for their living. They understand that all gambling entails some risk and that video poker is not an exception. Moreover, they do have a tolerance for risk and their bankroll is large enough to absorb the inevitable losing streaks that occur occasionally in video poker play. With proper money management, they will be able to reduce their losses and maintain their bankroll for a long time.

Setting up a Video Poker Bankroll

A common mistake among casino players is to gamble with all the money they have - it is easy to see how this could lead them to a devastating financial ruin. An equally bad decision, however, is to bring too little money into the casino and lose it all in an hour. This is why players should set up a proper bankroll that would sustain their playing sessions.

A bankroll is a fixed amount of money dedicated to gambling. It should be separate from the players' bank account and money for everyday living expenses. Whether it is $100, $1,000 or $10,000, the bankroll is kept for the specific purpose of playing video poker.

Long-Term Bankroll

One approach to setting up the gambling bankroll is to have a long-term bankroll. It would comprise a significant amount of money – enough to fuel at least three or four visits to the casino. This approach is suitable for regular video poker players who can afford to take a large sum out of their pocket for the purpose of gambling. Note that when it comes to playing online video poker, the bankroll may need to be large enough for a dozen game sessions.

Setting up a long-term video poker bankroll is not easy, though, especially for novices. This is why they may be better off starting with a session bankroll and slowly build it up. This could take weeks or even months.

Session Bankroll

Most players choose to set up a session bankroll since it includes a smaller sum of money. The size of the session bankroll could be calculated in different ways but most importantly, it should be an amount players feel comfortable gambling away. This even means that players are prepared to lose this amount of money – such a scenario may be unfortunate but it is completely realistic. In other words, players should set aside a session bankroll of such a size that even if they lose it, it would not significantly affect their entire gaming experience and their long-term bankroll.

Royal Flush to Bankroll Ratio

For many video poker players, a good method for calculating the size of one's long-term bankroll is to view it as a multiple of the Royal Flush payout in the game they play. To be more precise, the bankroll should be three or four times the 5-coin payout for this hand – we need to take the coin size into account, however.

For instance, we bet 5 coins and have chosen a $0.10 denomination. In a standard Jacks or Better game, the Royal Flush pays 4,000 coins, which means that we would potentially receive $400. To determine the size of our long-term bankroll, we will need three or four times this amount or anything between $1,200 and $1,600. Note that the bet size here is $0.50 per round and if we divide the bankroll into 10 session bankrolls, we will have 10 small bankrolls of around $140 each.

Betting Units

Another method to keep track of your gambling budget and to determine the proper size for your session bankroll is to consider the concept of betting units. The base betting unit is the smallest unit players plan to bet per round. Zynga poker mod android 1. Of course, they can increase the stakes at some point but this is the minimum bet they would place at the start of the game. If we use the example from above, the basic betting unit will be $0.50 – playing with 5 coins of $0.10 each. Poker bankroll requirements.

Most players prefer having a bankroll for the session that is at least 50 times the base unit. In this case, they would feel comfortable starting off the session with at least $25 but a $50 budget would be even better. The greater the bankroll, the more resistant to financial risk it is. So, having a bankroll of $140 or more is even a safer tactic – it is 280 betting units, which guarantees that we will be able to play through at least 280 rounds even if we have considerable losses.

Win Goals and Loss Limits

Poker Budget Management App

1Calculating Your Win Goal

Before starting to play video poker, players should decide when to quit, regardless of whether they are losing or winning. When some people make a profit, they prefer to keep playing, assuming they are betting the casino's money. But this is not the best way to approach money management, especially if your purpose is to keep your profits. By continuing to place bets, they simply risk losing them.

That's why it is a good idea to have a win goal of around 30 percent of the session bankroll. If you have a bankroll of $150, your win goal would be $45. To simplify it, we can say the win goal will be a third of the session bankroll – in this case, it would be $50. When your profits reach this amount and you have $200, you should quit playing. It would be a mistake not to. An alternative to this quite conservative strategy is to divide your profits in two and use one half for betting. The other half should be kept for the next game session.

2Know When to Stop Playing

One of the most important steps of every successful money management plan is to set a loss limit and stick to it. Video poker experts recommend having a loss limit of around 60 percent of the session bankroll – that is twice the win goal, as you can see. For a bankroll of $150, the limit should be $90 – once you lose this amount, you should quit playing with $60 in your pocket.

Many players, especially less experienced ones, tend to disregard this piece of advice in the hope that they can win back some of the money they have lost. Often, they end up losing their entire bankroll chasing losses.

Additional Bankroll Management Tips

A good money management plan helps players control their spending in the casino. But it has an additional purpose - to increase one's chances to win and, if possible, to reduce the potential losses. Dozens of great tips would help every gambler stay in control of their money. For instance, they should avoid using their regular credit card for making casino deposits - having a nearly unlimited source of funds at your disposal is certainly not a good idea when gambling.

When it comes to video poker bankroll management, in particular, there are several specific things players should focus on. They should always go for full-pay variations, learn the proper strategy for the game they play, and slow down their bets.

Go for Full-Pay Games

Video poker offers great payback percentages compared to other casino games but some variations pay significantly less than others. When we open several online versions of video poker it is easy to see that the payouts for some hands are slightly different. Even small deviations from the standard paytable, however, result in reduced return percentages. This is why players should always stick to the so-called full-pay variations of video poker.

It is easy to spot them when looking at the paytables – the simplest way to determine whether a game offers good value or not is to check the payouts for Full House and Flush. In the standard Jacks or Better game, these hands pay 9 to 1 and 6 to 1. That's why full-pay games are referred to as 9/6 games. In comparison, there are versions of this game where the payouts for the same hands are 8 and 5 coins, or even less. The RTP of 8/5 Jacks or Better is only 97.30%, while the full-pay version offers a return of 99.54%.

Poker Budget Management System

Stick to Optimal Strategy

The only way players can achieve returns that are close to the theoretical payback percentages in video poker is to apply an optimal strategy. Each variation of the classic game has a different strategy that comprises of various decisions that should be made on every single hand we receive. Games with wild cards such as Deuces Wild or with bonus payouts for a particular hand need to be played with more complex strategies, however.

Slow Down the Game

Some players may think that by playing video poker at a fast pace, they can achieve the average return more easily and end up with a profit. While this is theoretically true, we should keep in mind that the RTP percentages displayed in the games are average rates for thousands and even millions of plays. Players simply cannot realistically play through so many game rounds – it could be achieved only in computer simulations.

In real play, variance (or volatility) will kick in, bringing chaos to the mathematical averages video poker players love to refer to. As a result, some players will end their video poker sessions at a profit of $50, while others would have lost $30, for example. By slowing down, they will be able to make the right decision for each hand, which is the only way they could, in fact, influence the outcome of the game.

Take Advantage of Casino Bonuses

Last, but not least, players who choose to play video poker online can boost their bankrolls with a casino bonus. Most online casinos offer new and existing players various promotions and surprises such as cash bonuses, free chips, cashback, deposit bonuses, and many more. Before you claim a bonus of any kind, however, make sure that you can meet all requirements and conditions.

For instance, deposit bonuses (and most types of bonuses in general) need to be played through a certain number of times before any winnings can be withdrawn. Players who receive a $20 bonus with a 30 times wagering requirement will need to place bets of at least $600 ($20×30) before they can withdraw their winnings. Additionally, many casinos restrict the bonus play or the wagering to slots only – bets made on video poker games may not be counted toward the wagering at all.

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.

Poker Budget Management Services

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

Win Goals and Loss Limits

Poker Budget Management App

1Calculating Your Win Goal

Before starting to play video poker, players should decide when to quit, regardless of whether they are losing or winning. When some people make a profit, they prefer to keep playing, assuming they are betting the casino's money. But this is not the best way to approach money management, especially if your purpose is to keep your profits. By continuing to place bets, they simply risk losing them.

That's why it is a good idea to have a win goal of around 30 percent of the session bankroll. If you have a bankroll of $150, your win goal would be $45. To simplify it, we can say the win goal will be a third of the session bankroll – in this case, it would be $50. When your profits reach this amount and you have $200, you should quit playing. It would be a mistake not to. An alternative to this quite conservative strategy is to divide your profits in two and use one half for betting. The other half should be kept for the next game session.

2Know When to Stop Playing

One of the most important steps of every successful money management plan is to set a loss limit and stick to it. Video poker experts recommend having a loss limit of around 60 percent of the session bankroll – that is twice the win goal, as you can see. For a bankroll of $150, the limit should be $90 – once you lose this amount, you should quit playing with $60 in your pocket.

Many players, especially less experienced ones, tend to disregard this piece of advice in the hope that they can win back some of the money they have lost. Often, they end up losing their entire bankroll chasing losses.

Additional Bankroll Management Tips

A good money management plan helps players control their spending in the casino. But it has an additional purpose - to increase one's chances to win and, if possible, to reduce the potential losses. Dozens of great tips would help every gambler stay in control of their money. For instance, they should avoid using their regular credit card for making casino deposits - having a nearly unlimited source of funds at your disposal is certainly not a good idea when gambling.

When it comes to video poker bankroll management, in particular, there are several specific things players should focus on. They should always go for full-pay variations, learn the proper strategy for the game they play, and slow down their bets.

Go for Full-Pay Games

Video poker offers great payback percentages compared to other casino games but some variations pay significantly less than others. When we open several online versions of video poker it is easy to see that the payouts for some hands are slightly different. Even small deviations from the standard paytable, however, result in reduced return percentages. This is why players should always stick to the so-called full-pay variations of video poker.

It is easy to spot them when looking at the paytables – the simplest way to determine whether a game offers good value or not is to check the payouts for Full House and Flush. In the standard Jacks or Better game, these hands pay 9 to 1 and 6 to 1. That's why full-pay games are referred to as 9/6 games. In comparison, there are versions of this game where the payouts for the same hands are 8 and 5 coins, or even less. The RTP of 8/5 Jacks or Better is only 97.30%, while the full-pay version offers a return of 99.54%.

Poker Budget Management System

Stick to Optimal Strategy

The only way players can achieve returns that are close to the theoretical payback percentages in video poker is to apply an optimal strategy. Each variation of the classic game has a different strategy that comprises of various decisions that should be made on every single hand we receive. Games with wild cards such as Deuces Wild or with bonus payouts for a particular hand need to be played with more complex strategies, however.

Slow Down the Game

Some players may think that by playing video poker at a fast pace, they can achieve the average return more easily and end up with a profit. While this is theoretically true, we should keep in mind that the RTP percentages displayed in the games are average rates for thousands and even millions of plays. Players simply cannot realistically play through so many game rounds – it could be achieved only in computer simulations.

In real play, variance (or volatility) will kick in, bringing chaos to the mathematical averages video poker players love to refer to. As a result, some players will end their video poker sessions at a profit of $50, while others would have lost $30, for example. By slowing down, they will be able to make the right decision for each hand, which is the only way they could, in fact, influence the outcome of the game.

Take Advantage of Casino Bonuses

Last, but not least, players who choose to play video poker online can boost their bankrolls with a casino bonus. Most online casinos offer new and existing players various promotions and surprises such as cash bonuses, free chips, cashback, deposit bonuses, and many more. Before you claim a bonus of any kind, however, make sure that you can meet all requirements and conditions.

For instance, deposit bonuses (and most types of bonuses in general) need to be played through a certain number of times before any winnings can be withdrawn. Players who receive a $20 bonus with a 30 times wagering requirement will need to place bets of at least $600 ($20×30) before they can withdraw their winnings. Additionally, many casinos restrict the bonus play or the wagering to slots only – bets made on video poker games may not be counted toward the wagering at all.

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.

Poker Budget Management Services

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:

• 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.

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