Organizer charges bars fees to host tournaments
Thanks to ESPN’s almost constant airing of the “World Series of Poker,” along with shows like “Celebrity Poker Showdown” on Bravo and the Travel Channel’s “World Poker Tour,” the popularity of Texas Hold ’Em poker has skyrocketed.
Along with friendly games and poker rooms at the riverboat casinos, poker leagues are forming in bars and taverns around the country.
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The leagues allow players to play for free, earning points or prizes such as gift certificates or trips to Las Vegas. Locally, several bars offer poker tournaments on certain nights of the week.
Brian Turner has been playing poker “for a while now” and tried some of the poker leagues in town and in Kansas City. After becoming frustrated with some of the rules and players, he decided to start his own league.
Two months ago, Big Boy Poker held its first tournament.
“I’ve played in other leagues before and I’ve heard players say they’d rather see this or see that,” Mr. Turner said. “So, I just took what players said they wanted and what the bar owners said they wanted and I just gave it to them.”
Mr. Turner’s poker league works by charging bars a fee to host a tournament. Mr. Turner and his employees set up all the equipment and run the tournament, including registering players and overseeing games, and clean up afterward. The bar owners get to choose what to give away for prizes.
Players who are registered with Big Boy Poker earn points, which are then used to rank the top 40 players in each bar each month. The top 40 players are invited to play in a tournament for bigger prizes. Every quarter, the top 80 players throughout the league are invited to a tournament where the top prize is a trip to Reno, Nev., or Las Vegas, Mr. Turner said.
“It’s nice because the bar owners get to participate in the prizes and the players are competing with other local people,” he said. “Other places have St. Joe competing with other players from around the state and you have to travel to Kansas City or Springfield or something for the big tournaments.”
The bar owners benefit from an extra 40 to 50 people on tournament nights and players get to enjoy free entertainment, Mr. Turner said.
The tournaments usually draw a variety of players, from beginner to advanced.
“Our league is the best thing to do if you want to learn how to play,” Mr. Turner said. “We have anyone from 18 years old to 70, 75 years old. Everyone understands if you’ve never played before and helps you out.”
Currently, tournaments take place at two South Side bars, but Mr. Turner said he is hoping to sign up more bars this year.
Source: St. Joseph News Press
