Hosting A Poker Night Tips
Indeed, hosting poker night is a science, but just like string theory, it can be easily explained to the layman. So get out a pen and a pad and start taking notes, one misstep could cost you your reputation and your social circle. First things first: ask your spouse if you can have poker night. Hosting a home poker tournament can be a lot of fun. Organization is the key to success. Don't forget to have a poker timer for all players to see the tournament progress Buy a poker chip set. The most realistic affordable size is 500 chip.
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For some people, a high rolling Las Vegas vacation is one of the great pleasures of life. The glitz and glamour of the shows, the endless amounts of food and drink and the thrill of gaming in the casino hot spot of the world makes it one of the top vacation getaways on the planet. But not everyone can throw down a few thousand bucks every time they get the itch to sit at a blackjack table and try their luck. For this reason, casino night parties have become very popular. From frat parties to office soirees, hosting a casino night can be a lot of fun -- if you do it right. Here are some tips to make sure that your casino night event goes down without a hitch.
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If you live in a fairly large city, then chances are you'll be able to hire some experienced dealers to run the tables for your casino night. Check the Internet for local listings for dealers and compare prices. If you have the budget, having some real dealers can make a big difference in the overall experience of your guests.
If you're hosting the party and can't foot the bill for real dealers, then get some friends who are familiar with the games to volunteer as dealers and make sure everyone is up to speed on the rules of the games. Playing dealer can be a lot of fun for the guests, so you shouldn't have much trouble getting volunteers.
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It's one thing to host a poker party and set up a few card tables in your living room. But if you want to throw an authentic casino night event, then you're going to want more options for your guests and the proper equipment to enhance the experience. Check around for places that rent out casino equipment and then spend some time deciding what you can afford and what games you want to feature.
Blackjack and poker tables are relatively inexpensive, whereas a craps table or a roulette wheel may cost a little more. But while poker and blackjack tables will only fit six to eight players at once, a craps table can accommodate as many as 12 to 15 players at a time, so your money may be better spent. For a well-rounded party, try to offer at least three to four different game options.
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Las Vegas casinos are all about themes, so your casino night event shouldn't be any different. If you have a few bucks to spend on décor, consider paying homage to one or more of the iconic Vegas casinos to give your party a fun edge.
Caesar's Palace is one of the most famous casino brands in the world, so think about decking out your gaming room with some nods to ancient Rome. The same goes for the MGM Grand, the Flamingo and even newer casinos like Paris or New York New York. You can either go with one central theme, or divide your room up into zones to feature multiple motifs. Your guests will appreciate the extra effort when your bartender is dressed like Julius Caesar.
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One of the great things about a casino night event is that you can have a great time throwing a rocking party all for a good cause. If you're considering a casino night event, think about partnering with a local charity to help raise some funds. There are several ways you can go here.
One option is to charge money for tickets to attend the casino event. Typically, the ticket will also buy guests a certain amount of gaming chips to get them started. Or you could have free entry, but the guests have to buy in to get their chips.
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At the end of the night, the guests won't trade in their chips for cash like at a real casino, but they get the prestige of being the big winner for the night and the honor of helping out a worthy cause in the process. If you want, you can offer a few prizes for top winners to give them a little something to play for.
If you're going to throw a great casino night event, it's going to cost some money. Hiring dealers, renting gaming equipment, buying food and beverages, decorating your space -- it all adds up. It's best to decide what your budget is early on and then back your way into what you can afford.
If you have a limited budget, you won't be able to have it all, so you'll need to prioritize what is most important. This is true for any party, but especially true for such a specifically themed event like a casino night. Food, drinks and décor are all important, but for a casino night, the top priority has to be the games. Put that at the top of your list, and then see what you can afford in the way of professional dealers, hors d'oeuvres and the bar. And remember, requiring your guests to 'buy in' for the gaming can also help cover a lot of the costs.
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How to Host a Trivia Night
Hosting a trivia night can spice up a slow bar night or be a great fundraiser. Learn how to host a trivia night to get started.
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Sources
- 'Casino Stats: Why Gamblers Rarely Win.' Investopedia.com. (Jan. 27, 2012). http://financialedge.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0910/Casino-Stats-Why-Gamblers-Rarely-Win.aspx#axzz1kwmsHeWt
- 'How to Run a Successful Casino Night Fundraiser.' Fasttrackfundraising.com. (Jan. 27, 20120. http://www.fasttrackfundraising.com/fundraisers/how-to-run-a-successful-casino-night-fundraiser/
- 'It's Casino Night!' Chiff.com. (Jan. 27, 2012). http://www.chiff.com/entertain/casino-las-vegas-party.htm
- 'Planning a Casino Night Event?' Fhcevents.com. (Jan. 27, 2012). http://www.fhcevents.com/casino-night-event-planning-tips.php
Our guide on how to host a poker night outlines everything you need to consider, even how to social distance while playing poker.
The current pandemic has forced people to slow down and enjoy being at home more than ever before. Also, with so many events, parties and travel plans canceled or postponed, we’ve all had to get creative in planning fun activities with our friends.
What better way to have fun with your group of friends than to host a poker night at your house? If you’ve never hosted your own game night and don’t know what to expect, we’ve outlined a few tips and tricks below to host a poker night successfully.
4 key factors to host a poker night
Strategy and Rules
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Since you are the host, you’ll get to decide the strategy of what type of game will you play. Will it be a cash game or a tournament? What is the buy-in, and will there be rebuys? You’ll also need to think about how to handle disputes. If you set the rules from the beginning, it will help avoid confusion.
The experts at Global Poker explain, “Unfortunately, if money is involved, arguments can and will happen, no matter how friendly everyone is at the start. Outlining rules such as if there are rebuys, what happens in the event of a draw and what happens to someone’s power hand if they are out on smoke break or in the bathroom when the cards are dealt, will ensure it doesn’t fall on you as the host to play referee and settle disputes.” Also, if there are disagreements throughout the night, it’s best to take a vote and rule that majority wins.
Social Distancing
With being in the middle of a pandemic, social distancing will be important at your poker game night. Plan to have at least two good tables with your players evenly spaced apart – more tables depending on the number of people you invite. Depending on the weather and where you live, you could host the poker night entirely outside. It’s important to check with your attendees on what they would feel comfortable doing.
It’s also important to remind your attendees if they feel ill or have been around anyone who is sick to kindly not attend. This could affect your numbers and the overall game, but it is important to keep your other guests safe. Plan on being flexible the day of – just like you would with any party you’re hosting.
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Provide Food and Drink
What’s a game night without food and drink for your guests? If you don’t want to spend hours cooking, consider ordering take out or pizza to arrive as the party starts. It’s a perfect way to minimize a mess in your kitchen or stress over if the food will taste good. Also, if you are inviting a large group, it’s easy to feed a crowd with takeout.
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You could even go with a theme of a “Mexican Poker Night” or “Italian Poker Night” and order accordingly. Also ensure you have enough drinks for you guests. Whether alcoholic or not, you’ll need to provide beverages over the course of your game night! You could also ask your guests to bring their favorite beverage with them.
Have Fun!
Hosting A Poker Night Tips For Beginners
The most important part of hosting a successful poker night is to have fun. Things will likely stray from what you planned, but just roll with it! If you have any questions or are stuck with the rules of the game, work together to figure it out. Get creative with the prize for the winner (besides the cash they win) – you could even look at getting a trophy made or some other fun keepsake. If you a host a fun party the first go around, your friends will be begging you to host again!