Reviving PokerCon?

[hexjunkie]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

Add me to the email list for next year.

[badkobold]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

I would be interested in playing, but would have to juggle it with the other after hour events.

Can someone figure a way to clone yourself? I could then do everything I want at Defcon.

[Xeon]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

Sorry to hear that it's canceled this year. Let me know when planning starts for next year, I'm willing to help deal, stick stickers, or other general grunt work to make this happen. I am hoping to get into town early for the Shoot, so time between then and the BBQ would work great for me.

[arahel_jazz]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

Bump me for next year. In the meantime you can find me at either Bally's, Venetian, or Mirage playing cash games next week.

There are options - charity is not really a good way to go.

[astcell]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

How about dachshund racing in the hallways?

[lasvegasgamer]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

I'm definitely sad to hear that the possibility of some cards with other defcon attendees is getting possibly pushed, although definitely bump me next year if any assistance is needed.

...that said, forgive the newb/donk for asking, but I'm not really sure if it needs to be as complicated as all of this. Basically, all the other posts involve organizing logistics: chips, dealers, etc. But the one good thing about having a con at a casino is that...they already have all of that. Poker Rooms will often be willing to host at least sit and gos for a cut of the buy in, and I can't imagine that the Riv poker room is so busy that it wouldn't be able to host a few table tournament if it would fit in the room.

The only reason I can see someone needing chips is that if they were going to be a multi-day thing, but this is DefCon, not the WSOP. Poker tournaments happen within a few hours up and down the strip all the time. I'd also posit that it'd be easier to get attendees if it was a side event (after hours?) that didn't consume a major amount of time.

As far as the charity, I think that complicates the issue. Sure, I think it should be highly recommended and I'd personally be down to donate a portion of any winnings to the EFF, as I'm sure a lot of other people would be. that said, it shouldn't be directly tied to the tournament. that way, the NV gaming commission has no real interest in it. and for people like the poster a few pages back that doesn't want to donate -- so be it; I can't tell another player what to do with their hold'em bankroll. At least, if we make some dough for the EFF it's money that wouldn't otherwise go to them if nothing happens.

At the very least, it might be worth a looking into. I'd be willing to research the issue, head over to the riv (local) and inquire if it would even be possible. I just wanted to post to see if there was still any general interest in NLH if we did it on somewhat of a smaller scale.

[hexjunkie]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

I'm definitely sad to hear that the possibility of some cards with other defcon attendees is getting possibly pushed, although definitely bump me next year if any assistance is needed.

...that said, forgive the newb/donk for asking, but I'm not really sure if it needs to be as complicated as all of this. Basically, all the other posts involve organizing logistics: chips, dealers, etc. But the one good thing about having a con at a casino is that...they already have all of that. Poker Rooms will often be willing to host at least sit and gos for a cut of the buy in, and I can't imagine that the Riv poker room is so busy that it wouldn't be able to host a few table tournament if it would fit in the room.

The only reason I can see someone needing chips is that if they were going to be a multi-day thing, but this is DefCon, not the WSOP. Poker tournaments happen within a few hours up and down the strip all the time. I'd also posit that it'd be easier to get attendees if it was a side event (after hours?) that didn't consume a major amount of time.

As far as the charity, I think that complicates the issue. Sure, I think it should be highly recommended and I'd personally be down to donate a portion of any winnings to the EFF, as I'm sure a lot of other people would be. that said, it shouldn't be directly tied to the tournament. that way, the NV gaming commission has no real interest in it. and for people like the poster a few pages back that doesn't want to donate -- so be it; I can't tell another player what to do with their hold'em bankroll. At least, if we make some dough for the EFF it's money that wouldn't otherwise go to them if nothing happens.

At the very least, it might be worth a looking into. I'd be willing to research the issue, head over to the riv (local) and inquire if it would even be possible. I just wanted to post to see if there was still any general interest in NLH if we did it on somewhat of a smaller scale.

I may be putting the words in someone else's mouth here but I believe the problem with using the Riv's poker room, the Riv's chips, and the Riv's cards and dealers is that it would be a Riviera event not a defcon event. Not to mention we would have to pay for the dealers we used, the table space we used, and people would increase their bankroll left and right if they really wanted to stay in. It kind of defeats the purpose because the "richest" person would win. Not the best poker player. Also in a Riv event other customers "non con attendees" would walk up and wonder what is going on.

Keeping this whole thing low key, limited in size and 100% defcon organized would keep it under the control of the ones in charge. The donation to charity was brought up in order to prevent any kind of conflict of interest with the casino side of the Riv. This way we aren't taking away money they could be earning, and we aren't creating a scene by having customers just stand around and stare at the weird guys with funny hair and clothes playing poker.

Someone else speak up if my understanding is wrong in this regard.

[Xeon]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

Someone else speak up if my understanding is wrong in this regard.

That is my understanding as well.

In order to solve this problem, the policy at the Riv needs to be more understood. As such, I have not been able to find any sort of policy document.

The issue is, as I understand it, with the prize and the fact that it could technically be gambling, which is highly regulated in Vegas. In order to remove the event from the gambling category, hoops must be jumped through.

Some possible options are:
1. No buy-in, donated prizes.
2. Buy in, but include a charity (not sure if 50/50 would be enough...?)
3. Buy a prize with the buy-in money. (not sure if this would still be considered gambling)

So, aside from a friendly game of cards, this may be a no-go.
That said, I'd love to play some poker and drink some beer with the chance of earning some cool swag.

[lasvegasgamer]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

Not to mention we would have to pay for the dealers we used, the table space we used...Keeping this whole thing low key, limited in size and 100% defcon organized would keep it under the control of the ones in charge.

We would definitely be giving the Riv a fraction of the tournament entries for their costs, no question. I don't really see why this is a big problem since it avoids most of the logistics and at least revives PokerCon in some form. Heck, even the con itself is operated between The Riv and the Con in so far as the con pays a certain amount in exchange for the Riv hosting. It would be the same for this event, and both sides would be "in charge".

Also in a Riv event other customers "non con attendees" would walk up and wonder what is going on /... and we aren't creating a scene by having customers just stand around and stare at the weird guys with funny hair and clothes playing poker.

There are railbirds at poker tournaments all the time -- not sure why the Riv would care. Also, I hate to say it, but it's not like the Riv is the center of the poker playing universe on the strip and worst case scenario we tell people to move along. I don't forsee how this could be a problem

...and people would increase their bankroll left and right if they really wanted to stay in. It kind of defeats the purpose because the "richest" person would win. Not the best poker player.

This isn't normally how tournaments work. Usually, they'll be at-most one rebuy into the tournament, and that is usually only for the first hour or so. For equity purposes, in some tournaments players who do not bust in the first hour are allowed to buy that additional amount of chips as a bonus. Depending on how friendly we are able to get with the Riv, however, it wouldn't surprise me if we were able to make the rules as we saw fit, and if no-rebuys is what the con community wants...sounds fine.

(Oh and one other non-logistical thing: even if you were allowed unlimited rebuys, this wouldn't bias the field against the "best" poker players in any way. As the tournament progresses and players bust, the remaining chip sticks and the blind levels will get significantly higher very quickly. By the forth or fifth level, the initial amount of chips that a player receives for a buy in will be insignificant compared to the other action. They'll either blind to death or have to shove pretty much immediately)

[theprez98]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

The idea this year was to do an event independent of the casino (as much as possible) to keep the costs down for players. My goal was to make it affordable for almost anyone, with the goal being fun rather than winning a lot of money.

[Xeon]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

The idea this year was to do an event independent of the casino (as much as possible) to keep the costs down for players. My goal was to make it affordable for almost anyone, with the goal being fun rather than winning a lot of money.

Could always do some penny-nickle-dime poker. Bring the cup of change from the top of your dresser, maybe win enough to buy a case of good beer.

[hexjunkie]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

I like the penny nickel dime idea, winner gets the change. I threw a deck of cards in my suitcase. Wednesay night for those in town I'll get a friendly game going in front of the pool. I may even make the stakes something stupid like beer caps and tabs.

If the riv tells us to knock it off, so be it. I don't want a fight, but it could be a nice social thing.

[arahel_jazz]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

When my Poker Forum goes to Vegas, one of the things they do is "invade" a standing tournament by getting everybody to register for it. Granted, you may have a percentage of the tournament still outsiders, but the goal is to play against as many DEFCON folks as possible.

Other casino's have let us have a private Sit 'n Go tournament with just our peeps. Granted, it was only one or two tables, but the standard buy-in +fee + dealer tip is used to fund it. I can get more details if needed as to how they convinced the casino to do it for just them.

The Riv poker room is too small to do anything like this - we could easily get it done at one of the larger rooms down the strip, or maybe even do it downtown at either Binions or Nugget.

Me thinks I may throw the chip set in the car just in case.