Paying pool tournaments

JuicyGirl

JuicyGirl

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I'd like to have my local pool hall host a pool tournament that pays out. Does anyone have guidance for me?
How do we determine the payout?
How much does the house keep typically?
How can we attrack ball well known players?
Is there any laws in Florida that we need to review?
Thanks
Loren

Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 Windos mobile phone using Board Express
 
Tourneys

I'm in PA and our payout, having a liquor license, is controled by the state at $500 max.. It's hard to draw better shooters, when gas is at $3.75 gal., for the share of $500. The Tourneys have a total payout and the Bar benefits from the extra traffic. A 20 person tourney will last, on 3 tables, from 2pm-8,9pm. There is also spouses, boy&girl friends, and general spectators that will also bring more revenue to the bar.
Regards, Brian.
 
JuicyGirl said:
How do we determine the payout?
How much does the house keep typically?
How can we attrack ball well known players?
Is there any laws in Florida that we need to review?
Thanks
Loren
Click to expand...

Hi,

I usually pay out 25% of the field no matter what the money or add is. I created a chart for our weekly and monthly tourneys that has all the amounts pre-calculated. If the entry is $10, I remove $2 for green fee. This is native to each room but don't take out very much or it looks like you're trying to make money off tourney. More money is made from gaining regular customers and from other food/drink sales. Actually, any money added can be written off as advertising.

FL law states you must add 60% to the pot. This is done by some places by way of making the green fee so high it covers the 60% whereas other places really do add the money. Once again, its a decision that has to be determined up front so your patrons want to come play at your place and don't feel like they are being heisted.. Even adding a minimal amount to tourneys will at least show the room is willing to pay a little to get customers into the room... (calcuttas are illegal in FL btw... so if you try to run one, ATF may shut you down or fine you.. )

to attract more players, add more money.. Very simple. If you make it handicapped, I would lean a little bit towards the weaker players as their numbers are much greater. If you are having an Open event, just add whatever you think is attractive.. 10x's entry fee or more is reasonable for a monthly local event..

I'd be glad to send you a couple money charts if you need them.. for guidance or ideas in the least..

Adam
 
Thanks for the info. It would be awesome to get the chart too.

I had to look up what calcuttas. :) I get it, and no I haven't heard anyone doing those around here.

Thanks everyone for the information.
Loren
Wybrook said:
Hi,



I usually pay out 25% of the field no matter what the money or add is. I created a chart for our weekly and monthly tourneys that has all the amounts pre-calculated. If the entry is $10, I remove $2 for green fee. This is native to each room but don't take out very much or it looks like you're trying to make money off tourney. More money is made from gaining regular customers and from other food/drink sales. Actually, any money added can be written off as advertising.



FL law states you must add 60% to the pot. This is done by some places by way of making the green fee so high it covers the 60% whereas other places really do add the money. Once again, its a decision that has to be determined up front so your patrons want to come play at your place and don't feel like they are being heisted.. Even adding a minimal amount to tourneys will at least show the room is willing to pay a little to get customers into the room... (calcuttas are illegal in FL btw... so if you try to run one, ATF may shut you down or fine you.. )



to attract more players, add more money.. Very simple. If you make it handicapped, I would lean a little bit towards the weaker players as their numbers are much greater. If you are having an Open event, just add whatever you think is attractive.. 10x's entry fee or more is reasonable for a monthly local event..



I'd be glad to send you a couple money charts if you need them.. for guidance or ideas in the least..



Adam
Click to expand...


Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 Windos mobile phone using Board Express
 
JuicyGirl...I would stay away from calcuttas. They only interest the really good players, and nobody else really benefits. You missed a really fun tournament over in Clearwater yesterday, at the Crooked Cue. There were 24 players, and it was a "round-robin" type tournament (that means that almost everybody gets to play almost everybody). In Montana we called it 'Chip Pool', because every player gets 5 chips (win a game...keep your chip; lose a game...turn in your chip), and has to lose 5 matches to be out of the tournament. The kicker is that every match is a race to 1, which anybody can win! There was even a pro player in the tournament today. This kind of tournament is really run, and everybody gets to play a lot of pool. :D There are tournament rules and brackets you can download from the the internet for this kind of tournament.

Oh...btw, I don't know about the "60% added law" that Wybrook mentioned. They didn't do that yesterday, and nobody complained. There were also NO greens fees. All entry fees were paid back, and the room added $50 to the pot.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

JuicyGirl said:
Thanks for the info. It would be awesome to get the chart too.

I had to look up what calcuttas. :) I get it, and no I haven't heard anyone doing those around here.

Thanks everyone for the information.
Loren



Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 Windos mobile phone using Board Express
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
If you want to run some cheap tournaments, here is a good breakdown: $5 for payouts, $2 for table fees, and $1 for the Tournament Director. (35/25/25/15)

This works well with around 10-12 players and a couple tables - single game matches, double-elimination all the way to the top. If you've got a third table, you can run a third elimination ladder.

Takes about 3 hours to run.
 
Thanks for the info. I have 4 tables available the tourney. Scott, We have no need to run calcutas here.
Thanks again,
Loren

allanpsand said:
If you want to run some cheap tournaments, here is a good breakdown: $5 for payouts, $2 for table fees, and $1 for the Tournament Director. (35/25/25/15)



This works well with around 10-12 players and a couple tables - single game matches, double-elimination all the way to the top. If you've got a third table, you can run a third elimination ladder.



Takes about 3 hours to run.
Click to expand...


Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 Windows mobile phone using Board Express
 
I enjoy Calcutta events. I've won a few tourneys that did not have them and would only end up with $80-115 I won a Calcutta tourney and ended up with $500 in Calcutta payout and $90 in tourney winnings.

I don't play strictly for the money but it is nice sometimes to be able to make my cues and accessories pay for themselves
 
Scott Lee said:
JuicyGirl...I would stay away from calcuttas. They only interest the really good players, and nobody else really benefits. You missed a really fun tournament over in Clearwater yesterday, at the Crooked Cue. There were 24 players, and it was a "round-robin" type tournament (that means that almost everybody gets to play almost everybody). In Montana we called it 'Chip Pool', because every player gets 5 chips (win a game...keep your chip; lose a game...turn in your chip), and has to lose 5 matches to be out of the tournament. The kicker is that every match is a race to 1, which anybody can win! There was even a pro player in the tournament today. This kind of tournament is really run, and everybody gets to play a lot of pool. :D There are tournament rules and brackets you can download from the the internet for this kind of tournament.

Oh...btw, I don't know about the "60% added law" that Wybrook mentioned. They didn't do that yesterday, and nobody complained. There were also NO greens fees. All entry fees were paid back, and the room added $50 to the pot.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Scott Lee. Your "Opinion" of calcuttas is way off.

Benefits of calcutta:

1. The room benefits because more people can get involved besides just the players. The rail gets involved sweating matches more. (their horse)

2. Lower level players can win too. buy a horse.

3. High level players benefit by buying half themselves or get extra cash from "jelly" or tips.

4. Allows improving players to swing at the big cash for a very low entry, often the minimum bid.

Everyone wins when there is a calcutta. Plus it's fun.

Ray
 
Ray...You have your opinion...I have mine. No problems with your opinion, but I've seen a lot of calcuttas too, and imo they often don't benefit lesser skilled players. Usually the better players get bid way up (sometimes the lesser players too).

Obviously, Loren has no interest in calcuttas anyway, so it's a moot point in this thread.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Bigtruck said:
Scott Lee. Your "Opinion" of calcuttas is way off.

Benefits of calcutta:

1. The room benefits because more people can get involved besides just the players. The rail gets involved sweating matches more. (their horse)

2. Lower level players can win too. buy a horse.

3. High level players benefit by buying half themselves or get extra cash from "jelly" or tips.

4. Allows improving players to swing at the big cash for a very low entry, often the minimum bid.

Everyone wins when there is a calcutta. Plus it's fun.

Ray
Click to expand...
 
Scott Lee said:
Ray...You have your opinion...I have mine. No problems with your opinion, but I've seen a lot of calcuttas too, and imo they often don't benefit lesser skilled players. Usually the better players get bid way up (sometimes the lesser players too).

Obviously, Loren has no interest in calcuttas anyway, so it's a moot point in this thread.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Sorry Scott, I avoided adding any opinions in my post. Just facts. ;)

Ray
 
calcutta

the calcutta makes a tournament 10x better...imo. any time there is more money to win there are more players and spectators. more players and spectators mean more money spent. there is an excitement with the auction that both players/spectators look forward to, whether they participate in the auction or not. those who have money in the auction will stay at your place longer. it can be hard to make money during the tournament weekend especially if you don't have quarter tables and the players utilize most of your tables for most of the time.
 
I run a 1 Pocket tournament the 1st saturday of each month. We have a $20 entry with no green fee. Tables are 9ft. Diamond ProAm..we have 5 of em.
Usually we get 13 to 14 players. We have a ratings system that starts at 6 and goes up to 10-5.
Anyhoo, the payouts are 1st=50%...2nd=30%...3rd=20%If we get a full field of 16 players then I steal a bit from 2nd and 3rd to pay 4th place $30.
Most tornaments payout to 25% of the field.

A 1 Pocket tourny takes a while so the house makes money from food/drinks during the tourny. We also try to give up any tables that are not being used for the tournament as players get knocked out.
 
JuicyGirl said:
I'd like to have my local pool hall host a pool tournament that pays out. Does anyone have guidance for me?
How do we determine the payout?
How much does the house keep typically?
How can we attrack ball well known players?
Is there any laws in Florida that we need to review?
Thanks
Loren

Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 Windos mobile phone using Board Express
Click to expand...

Payout 1st=50% 2nd=30% 3rd=20%

House should not keep any money...nice if they can add money.

The players will come if tourny is fair and consistent rules.

Calcuttas are illegal in Arizona, so check around.
 
Typically the house matches the pot.

If the house is not getting quarters from the tables during the tourney then usually there is a green fee.

An example from a typical bar box tourney in this area (low-rent,so to speak):
$5.00 + $2.00 GF;@$7.00 entry,16 players.

5x16=80.00 dollars,house matches $80.00,total pot 160.00.
The house keeps the 2x16,$32 green fees for table wear etc.

first place $80.00

second $ 40.00

third $25.00

fourth $15.00
 
greenroomms said:
the calcutta makes a tournament 10x better...imo. any time there is more money to win there are more players and spectators. more players and spectators mean more money spent. there is an excitement with the auction that both players/spectators look forward to, whether they participate in the auction or not. those who have money in the auction will stay at your place longer. it can be hard to make money during the tournament weekend especially if you don't have quarter tables and the players utilize most of your tables for most of the time.
Click to expand...

Since her room is in FL, Calcuttas are illegal, so its a moot point.
 
I have a few more questions...

Do any of you have any analytical data or opinion that shows what days or times are better to host a tournament. Are weekends, better to weeknights? I often hear complaints that our free tournament runs late close to two or 2:40 in the morning on a weeknight. We still have about 20-30 people turn out for a $20 gift bar tab.


What systems do you use to setup the Brackets?
Thanks again for everyone's input, I'm supposed to chat with someone to launch the new tourney this week.
Loren
 
JuicyGirl said:
What systems do you use to setup the Brackets?
Thanks again for everyone's input, I'm supposed to chat with someone to launch the new tourney this week.
Loren
Click to expand...

InGenPool can handle up to 128 players and 16 or 32 tables, can't remember which. It can be used over time to handicap races and keeps players in a database for the next tournament.
 
To avoid passing bad information to Juicygirl, can someone cite FL on 60% added pot and Calcutta?
 
ATF as in Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms is a federal agency, has no jurisdiction enforcing state laws. So, please cite the FL state laws so Juicygirl can be in legal compliance.
 
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