If you’re a fan of in-person and online poker, but you also like to spend time with your friends, there’s a perfect solution that will give you the best of both worlds: You could create your very own poker club.

Whether it’s to play online poker with friends, get together around a physical table and play in person, or to get some poker practice with people who are more experienced than you, starting a poker club can be hugely beneficial to your game.

Take a look at how to start a poker league, why starting a private poker club is a good idea, as well as a bunch of handy tips and tricks for getting the most out of it. You’ll also read about mistakes to avoid so that you can get your club up and running successfully at the drop of a hat.

Why Start a Poker Club?

Starting a poker club can be an extremely exciting venture. You’re going one step further than a simple home poker game with your friends and creating a community where like-minded poker enthusiasts can get together to socialize and enjoy each others’ company while playing the game that you all love. 

Before you start a poker league, it’s important to know how it is going to benefit both you and the people who join. Here are just some of the benefits of starting one.

• You get more practice and experience playing poker.
• It’s convenient, as you can organize to play games whenever you have the time and inclination to play.
• You can host it at different members’ houses if you want a change of scenery.
• You can choose between playing online and in-person poker, or both.
• You can introduce friends to the wonderful world of poker.
• Poker clubs help foster a sense of community among poker enthusiasts
• Poker clubs are the perfect place to learn from more experienced players. A home poker club can give you a casual, stress-free environment where it is safe to learn and make mistakes.
• Poker clubs can also serve as a networking opportunity. Business professionals often use poker games as a relaxed environment to build relationships and network with others in a more informal setting.
• When you start your own poker club, you have the freedom to customize the format, rules, and atmosphere. This allows you to tailor the experience to the preferences of the group, making it more enjoyable for everyone involved.
• Poker is competitive, but it also fosters camaraderie among players. Starting a poker club can provide a platform for healthy competition and the development of lasting friendships among members.

Online or In-Person: The Choice Is Yours

If you really enjoy playing online poker tournaments, then it might be worth considering starting an online poker club with your friends. However, if it’s the more social aspect you’re after, then a physical poker club with in-person interaction is a better option.

Of course, it’s totally possible to do both. You could play poker online with your club regularly and then, every once in a while, throw a casino-themed party to get your social fix. 

Determining whether you want to go fully online or in-person will impact the tools that you need to create your club, however, so do keep that in mind.

Define the Objectives of Your Poker Club

Before you start a home poker club, it’s important to clearly define and understand the reasons you want to do it. For example, are you just looking to create a fun, casual environment to socialize with your friends, or are you looking to train for professional tournaments? Having a clear understanding of the goals of your poker club will make it easier for you to structure the atmosphere and rules of your club.

Some of the things to remember when defining your poker club’s objectives include the following.

Player Skill Levels

Skill levels will influence the format and competitiveness of the games you play. So, will your club be catering to beginners, intermediate players, pros, or a mix of all skill levels? 

Frequency and Schedule

Establishing a regular schedule ensures consistency and helps participants plan accordingly. Decide how often the poker club will meet, whether it be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. 

Picking a Variant

There are a number of different types of poker games to play with your friends, but when you’re starting a poker club, it’s usually best to stick to one variant to avoid confusion and make sure everything is as efficient as possible. However, depending on how experienced the players in your club are, you can add a bit of variety to your club and cater to more player preferences by introducing another type of poker every once in a while.

Social or Competitive Focus

Clarify the balance between the social and competitive aspects of the club. Are you starting a poker club to play with friends and emphasizing a casual, friendly environment, or is there a stronger focus on competitive play? Striking the right balance ensures that everyone feels comfortable and engaged.

Learning and Improvement

If one of the objectives of your club is skills development, consider incorporating things like periodic strategy discussions or even friendly coaching sessions among members.

Choose Your Name and Logo

Once you have decided to create a poker club, it’s time to get started on a name and a logo. It goes without saying that the name shouldn’t be offensive in any way. It’s also important to include club members when choosing the name. Everyone should be able to suggest a name and then vote for the one they like best.

If you have a graphic designer or artist on your team, they can cover the logo design. But if you don’t, it’s probably a good idea to get a professional to do this for you.

Appoint Member Positions

Ask your club members if any of them would like to have a more formal position within the club. This could be anything from a moderator or administrator to a director. Ensure that they know what the role requires, and then choose the most suitable candidates for it. 

Tools You’ll Need

The tools you’ll need are going to vary depending on whether you choose to do online or in-person poker tournaments. In this case, these will be tools you’ll need for online poker clubs.

Administrative Tools

Most online poker club software providers will have admin tools for you to take advantage of. These are simple things like registering members, having moderators, adjusting your poker times, choosing tournaments and so on.

Statistic Tools

If you and your club mates are serious about getting better at poker, then it’s essential to get a tool that can help you understand your statistics better. It also allows you to look at the statistics of opponents and other players to learn from them and understand their gameplay.

Saved Home Settings

You don’t want to have to go through the rigors of choosing the games you want to play, how long you play them, how many players are joining the game, and all your other preferences every time you play a poker game. It’s essential to choose a system that can save your settings.

Ensuring Privacy

You definitely don’t want to start a club that any random player can join. So, it’s important to have the right tools to ensure privacy and exclusivity to your games and tournaments to stop gatecrashers from joining the party.

Mistakes To Avoid

When starting something new, there’s always the chance that you’ll make mistakes. While mistakes are part and parcel of everyday life, there are some that you can avoid if you’re prepared. So here are just a few of the most common mistakes people make when setting up a poker club that you should try to avoid.

Don’t Try To Do It All

As tempting as it might be, don’t try to be everything for everyone. It’s important that you delegate some tasks and positions to members of your poker club. Otherwise, you will be left feeling overwhelmed and unable to enjoy the experience.

Don’t Overestimate the Level of Poker

It’s important that every member of the club gets to enjoy their poker experience, so it’s essential that you’re aware of the level of poker within the club. There’s nothing worse than a beginner constantly joining a game of experienced players. It will have a negative effect on their confidence levels.

Don’t Play Too Many Different Poker Variants

While it’s always nice to change things up and try new games, it’s not usually the best strategy for people who want to improve their poker skills. Rather, choose one or two poker variants that your club is going to stick with and give your members the opportunity to really hone their skills in these games.

Don’t Take It Too Seriously

Chances are that most people have joined the club to have fun and get better at poker. This is especially true if you’ve started a club with a group of friends. So, it’s essential that you don’t take it too seriously, or players will start to lose interest in joining your games.

Get Online Poker Experience at BetMGM

There’s nothing that will improve your poker quite like practice, and at BetMGM, there’s a whole host of options for you to choose from. Whether you’re just looking for a relaxing game, a serious tournament, or a more social and immersive live dealer experience, you’re in the right place. Register with BetMGM and join in on the fun.