Ten Dollar Minimum

Bar Poker - Definition
A promotional or marketing tool that a food and or beverage establishment uses to bring customers into their place of business to increase revenue.

As you all know I from the state of Minnesota, that since 2003 has allowed bars to run FREE Texas hold-em tournaments as long as there is no entry fee and a maximum of $200 in cash or prizes may be given out per tournament with the maximum a person may win in one day being $200. Bars have used this tool to bring in new customers and hopefully increase their revenues. It was a very successful promotion for many establishments for many years, but as of late you are seeing less bars hosting games and prizes decreasing at a high rate. Why is this happening?

Good Question!

I run four different bar poker games a week at two different locations. I also have run games at several others and played at many different games over the past few years. The trend at these places is staggering to those of us that play bar poker regularly. Which we do because of the distance that we live from a casino or card room. At a typical table on a given night 50% of the people playing will not have a drink in front of them. Now, some may have eaten before the game and I didn't see or notice that but I believe that this is an accurate number. Now lets run the numbers!

40 players in a game

all buy a soda @ $2 total $80
Half buy a soda @ $2 40
half buy a soda half beer 20@$2 & 20@$3 total $100

Cost to run a tournament I will use one of mine for an example
Director $50
Prizes $50
Gift Cards $40
Total Bar investment $140

That's just to break even on the cost to run tournament and doesn't include the cost of the product sold. I am going to assume that the business would be open anyway and not bring in extra staff and not even count those costs.

So, what's the answer! It's simple if you wish to go a bar and play free poker you need to think of it as a night out. How much do you spend to go to the movies or go bowling. You need to think of free poker in the same light and give the owner that is graciously hosting your game a chance to make a little profit.

My proposal! If you are going to play bar poker that you spend an average of $10 each time you play. It doesn't mean that you have to spend that much each time (Thanks if you do!) but try and average it out. Now some of you are saying I can't afford to spend that much. The answer. Don't play! Stay home! If a bar has 50 players that average $2 or 10 players that average $10 they make the same amount. A bar that gets 30-40 players a week should be making a profit or it should end it's promtion. It's all about the Benjamin's!


Dave's Rules for bar poker

1. Be a customer! Buy something! Try and spend at least $10
2. Thank the bar owner for hosting your game.
3. Be respectful of equipment and other players. They are not all pros.
4. Teach players that don't know.
5. Tip your waitstaff.

This is becoming a serious issue and I would like to continue to be able to play bar poker the game that I love. Any other ideas, I would love to hear them.