Legal non-casino tournaments in the news

Interesting Ken, thanks.

What Ken is referring to is the tournaments I have been running in Texas for the passed three years. I had a big three tournament event planned for this pass January when the police interferred, getting the hotel to cancel on me two weeks before the events.

Since we were running the tournaments legally, I am now in a legal battle with the hotel and police department. The funny part of this story was I had it okayed by the city of Fort Worth and they were advertising the events so if they were to change their minds I could go the other way and file against the City for telling me the tournaments were legal and charge them with advertising and promoting illegal gambling.

At this time I am the only non-casino hosting Blackjack tournaments and the only one (casino or not) hosting satellite tournaments for the Las Vegas Hilton Million Dollar monthly qualifiying tournaments east of Las Vegas.
 
TXtourplayer,
"At this time I am the only non-casino hosting Blackjack tournaments and the only one (casino or not) hosting satellite tournaments for the Las Vegas Hilton Million Dollar monthly qualifiying tournaments east of Las Vegas."

I'm curious what you mean by a satellite tournament for the Las Vegas Hilton Million Dollar events? Do you pay the winner's (of your tournament) entrance fee to go to LVH's and compete? Do you cover anything else for their trip if so? That'd be a great prize ontop of anything else, and if you wouldn't mind, I'd appreciate info on your tournaments. Thanks!

I'd heard talk that some of the Atlantic City casinos were thinking of running a similiar idea but still haven't seen that happen unfortunately. I think it'd be great, and another step towards making blackjack tournaments more like the big WSOP event.
 
100% return

4ever, down here in Texas gambling is not allowed, so any of my tournaments I have to return 100% to make them legal. The satellite tournaments are based on the number of players we have, 10 is the minimum we will play with and any extra money we offer airfare for the winner and prize money to the other finalist.

The nice thing about our tournaments is we will play a little 15 hand tournaments for as low as $5 to $10 entry and help out the newbies (during the tournaments). My goal is to get more players interested in tournament play and by doing so create bigger and better tournaments.

Since your a Stardust player, what do you think of the new format I made for them? Other idea I am trying out this month is the SUPER-MINI's, we get 36 players for a three round tournament, High entry fee and only play three rounds. Round #1: 6 tables of 6 with 2 advancing, Round #2: 2 tables of 6 with 3 advancing, Round #3 (finals) pays 1st - 6th place. The entire tournament last less then 3 hours.

Back in the 1980's, tournaments were great. Session winners would get a $1,000 bonus, Round winners wound get $5,000, $15,000, $30,000, even a new caddilac (yes, a real car), plus they were playing for $100,000 first prize.
 
tournament payout

i am curious about the way these tournaments pay out. where i am from the casinos pay out 100 percent and add money to the pot, often $1,000. it is done as a promotion. during the 2-4 hours that players are in the casino they drop enough money on the tables the house still ends ahead of the game.it seems that most of the big tourneys i find in nevada the house keeps an entry fee, resulting in a less than 100 percent payout. are there any big tournaments out there with a money add?
 
Money-added tournaments are usually invitationals, but there are some nice ones around. Perhaps the best in the country for a non-high-roller is the Bally's Tunica event, open to anyone. They add $25K every tournament. The table drop has always been high enough for them to feel that the event is a success.

The tournament director there told me that tournament weekend is bigger than New Year's Eve for them. There's a statement I'd like to see a lot of casinos hear! These events can be win-win, if the casino management makes the right decisions.
 
MDIII Satellites

KenSmith said:
The tournament director there told me that tournament weekend is bigger than New Year's Eve for them. There's a statement I'd like to see a lot of casinos hear! These events can be win-win, if the casino management makes the right decisions.
Click to expand...

Ken,
I'm trying to use this example as an incentive for Sun Cruz Casinos to host MDIII satellite tournaments on their seven casino ships. I'm trying to figure what format would be more attractive, Five individual daily tournaments with the five winners and a wild card competing for the trip to Vegas. or a three day tournament with day 1 consisting of first round and rebuy winners advancing to the second day eliminations and the finals on the third day. Problem is there are only 3 tables max that could be devoted to tournament play and only about 3 1/2 hrs of playing time. Of course a lot depends how they market this puppy, they could get 10 entries or 250. Let me know what you think. I'm sure TX has some ideas.
Thanks guys,
IG
 
How many seats?

I know some of the cruise ships seat 10 players per table, how many do these seat?

Are they willing to play with live money or funny money?

Get me this info and I'll work you up a format.

Off the top of my head I'd say go with $50 entry for three tables of 7 per table, advance two per table, have re-buy's for the 15 losers at $50 each, playing 5 per table advancing two, then play two tables of six with three advancing from each to the finals.

Total purse will be $1,800 give $1,250 to 1st (will cover air or some anyway) 2nd $200, 3rd $150, 4th $100, 5th & 6th $50 each. Tournaments should be fast only 20 hands and start to finsh only 3 hours. This way you can run one (maybe two) every day. Have the cruise line also give shirts away to the winners to wear at the Hilton for advertising for the cruise line.
 
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