Player155428

1); As in any business, the first three rules to success are Location, Location, Location. Is the local populace big enough? Perhaps you already have every poker player in the area, and the well is running dry. Is the bar a nice place? Be objective here, if the place looks like a smoke filled dump, and crack dealers are pushing their product nearby, a lot of serious players (myself included) won't even stop. How is the local poker climate? Organized poker games are illegal in many places, so many would be players are kept away by the social stigma of being arrested for a misdemeanor. 2); Has growth stopped because you are losing players as quickly as you are gaining players? In the business world, this is called "churn". While Churn is unavoidable, it can be slowed via loyalty programs. Player of the Year awards, Free admission after 20 events, or a year end bonus that is available only to players who attended at least 75% of the events. 3); If you are located in the United States, the poker boom got crushed by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Legislation was supported by casinos to shut down online poker because they were afraid they were losing patrons to…

Ok, too much to mention in the comments. I will write a new Blog: Running the Perfect Home Game - Part 4.1 - Rules and Structure

Of course 2 other options are: 1); Build your own. Nicer than a fold-up, cheaper than a professional table. Plans are available online. 2); Lack the carpentry skills? Buy some thin foam, and some cloth (or a tablecloth) at a craft store. lay the foam on your dining table, cover the foam with the cloth, trim both so the overhang does not interfere with the players sitting at the table. You can even duct tape the overhang to the underside of the table. Cards and chips may fall off the table, but it is super cheap, easy to clean, and is better than playing on a hard table.

I strongly agree on the Copag cards. I was using a new deck of Bees every night before finding these. I have not had to buy new cards since. I wash the cards at the end of every night (actually the next morning) with soap and water on a dishcloth to remove sticky marks. In the end, these cost more up front, but pay for themselves in less than a dozen games.

You missed the option of custom chips. While the stakes at my home game aren't high enough to warrant real cheating, custom chips prevent the possibility of slipping in a "counterfeit". Poker is full of rules to prevent cheating - the burn card, cutting the deck, rules against talking about your folded cards during a live hand - why not protect your chips as well? Plus, with a little creativity, they can look super-cool!

I run a home game, and I can concur with the effort involved. Although BYOB is the norm, I always supply 3 types of beer, mixers, and a pretty full bar. We also provide food. Typically pizza, spaghetti, or burgers - low cost, but expensive when feeding 12-20 players. Add to that the cost for 3 tables (home built, but over $100 in supplies), and a whole mess of folding chairs, and the cost skyrockets. Custom chips, poker timer software, Copag cards... you get the point. I never take a rake. When you invite friends over to your house for dinner, you don't charge them, do you? A poker night is just that, friends inviting friends over. You pay for everything, they pay for gas to get there. If a friend of a friend shows, or a friend of that friends friend, now you're spending good money on someone you don't know. What do you do then? 1); Tipping is not a city in China. I may be the only one who does this, but when I win (finish 1st in a tourney, or $ positive in a cash game)at a house where I don't personally know the owner, I throw $10-$20 their way when I leave. It gets me invited back, and I cover a fraction of the nightly expenses. 2); I hold out $10 each night for a year-end…