Where the Fun Starts!! - The BobbyK BLOG

Don't skimp on casino night

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If you're planning on holding a fantasy casino night, either as a fundraiser or social event, there are plenty of cheap ways to "do it right."

1. Put together a mix of popular lounge music to rotate throughout the evening. If you are planning on having a DJ, request some artists like Michael Buble, Norah Jones, and Frank Sinatra.
2. Dim the lights just enough to create the right mood. You don't have to order anything special - although white holiday lights could also go a long way!
3. Ask some volunteers to be your cocktail waiters and waitresses. This could be fun, even if you're only serving pretzels and punch.
4. Decorate the room with flashy, but cheap, accessories. It's easy to find garland, mardi gras beads, plastic masks, and more at your local party store. Tell them what you're doing and what your budget is and they might be able to put together a nice package for the evening.

Planning your next Fantasy Casino

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If you've run a Fantasy Casino or casino night party before, you know there are some organizational skills required to keep the event running smoothly. Here are some "prize-winning" ideas (no, really... they're ideas for awarding prizes) to help take some of the thought out of event planning and give you more time for creativity!

Top Winners
Award prizes to the top 3-10 finishers in order of money won. Prizes can be simple and local businesses are often supportive in donating them.

Auctions
Give everyone a chance to walk away with something at the end - allow participants to bid on prizes with the money they have won.
 
Raffle Tickets
Raffle off prizes at the end of the night. Sell raffle tickets to participants for $1,000 to 5,000 each. If someone doesn’t want to participate in the casino, they can still buy tickets with the starting money. If a participant gambles and wins a lot of money, they will obviously get more raffle tickets.

Chinese Auction
Same as above, but participants put their tickets in a different raffle bin in front of each prize. Each winner is then drawn from respective prize bins.
 
Combinations
Perhaps the top three money-winners get the "big prizes," and everyone else is allowed to compete through raffles or auctions.

NOTE – Sometimes it is important to enforce a “win only once” rule to truly give everyone a chance!

For more suggestions and ideas, visit the Fantasy Casino page at BobbyK.com. 

How to run a fantasy Texas Holdem Tournament

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Many times we are asked if there are a set of rules to running a tournament. While there are several variations on tournaments, this method has been our most successful. You can also adapt it for a private tournament. The suggestions are just that, suggestions:

• Every player starts with $2,000 in chips. Red are worth $25, Blue are worth $100, Black are worth $500.
• You have received a playing card to determine your seating position - match that card to one at the table to find your seat. Play begins with the player to the left of the dealer receiving the dealer button.
• Small & Big blinds MUST Ante. If you leave the table for a break of any type, you must leave your chips at the table and the dealer will put in your blinds. If you are back before the bet is to you, you may play, otherwise your hand is folded.
• All bets must be a minimum of the Big Blind.
• You may go all in at any time!
• Side pots will be handled by the dealer.
• You must keep your cards visible at all times and bet in turn. Any bet out of turn may not be drawn back.
• If a table decreases to four players those players will be moved to active tables. They will be seated at open seats and will play that position at the next deal, putting in appropriate blinds if needed.
• If a player is eliminated and they would have been dealer or either of the blinds, their position stays open while the dealer button and blinds pass through with no money put up for that position.
• The final table will be made up of 8 players, dealer will be determined by high card. Only the final 8 win prizes. If there is a tie for any position, chip count going into the hand will determine placement.
• assetsBlinds go up every 30 minutes, chips will be colored up every hour.

BLINDS
$25/$50
$50/$100
$100/$200
$200/$400
$500/$1000
$2000/$4000

At the end of three hours, a final hand will be dealt and chip count will determine winners if more than one player remains. The quick raising of blinds and the jumps at the end PLUS the last hand being dealt at the top of the final hour changes strategies and makes sure the game does not last all night. For more information or to hire professionals for your tournament, go to www.bobbyk.com .