Homegame Host - how would you? (1 Viewer)

[Tom]

This.

If you're hosting a card game - and good for you for taking the initiative - my opinion is that you are obligated to make sure your guests are comfortable. This means decent cards, decent chips, decent table/chairs, etc. This also means basic snacks and beverages.

In our* game, we start at 7 so dinner isn't a consideration. But I always make sure there's water, a handful of beers, some pretzels, etc. for people to enjoy. I don't deliberately make sure there's 8 different flavors of Heineken on hand, but if I see we're getting low on something, I'll pick it up before the game. There's an understanding amongst the group that everything in the fridge or on the snack table is fair game, and if you bring something it's fair game for all.

We also have sort of a tradition where last week's tournament winner brings something like a $20 bottle of liquor or something tasty for the room. Which reminds me... since I won last time, I better make a stop

*Yes I said 'our' game. Even though it's my space and equipment, the game belongs to everyone.

Good idea- Last tournament winner !

 

[FlushBlack]

Also good - but are you still concentraded while Playing?

We play after the fight or fights

 

[Tom]

All Right !

 

[JustinInMN]

As far as the legalities of “rake”. This isnt profit rake. No one is profiting on the game.

I would not count on enforcement authorities to make that distinction.

I think home games would be better if they could rake. The best operators would be rewarded consistently. But taking a commission of any kind crosses that line that requires licensure in the eyes of the government.

I better stop here before I get banished to the politics thread.

Bottom line, appreciate your hosts, always tip if they put on a rake free game.

 

[BonScot]

I host our game. Everyone chucks £3 into a food kitty and one of the boys picks up pizzas, soft drinks (for the drivers) and crisps (not chips) on the way over.
Anyone who’s drinking brings their own beers etc. I’ve got some decent whiskies and sometimes we’ll have a few towards the end of the night.
We play in my kitchen so guys just help themselves to the fridge and whoever is the first one knocked out of our tourney has the dubious honour of being the one who has to put the pizzas in the oven...

 

[APatHand]

The players are my guests. I provided drinks & snacks for short week night games and a full dinner for weekend games. The players often chip in some cash or bring extra stuff for the feast. I don't break even, nor do I expect to. We host ~40 games in my home each year and subsidize the game ~$2,000 each year.

The spread

• DrStrange
• Feb 3, 2016

Blueberry cobbler & Blue Bell ice cream

• DrStrange
• Feb 3, 2016

It is all about the fun! -=- DrStrange

PS: Same thing when we host family Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter etc. We don't come close to covering costs.

Mmmmmmmm BlueBell

 

[JustinInMN]

We play in my kitchen so guys just help themselves to the fridge and whoever is the first one knocked out of our tourney has the dubious honour of being the one who has to put the pizzas in the oven...

I would structure your tournament to guarantee a level 1 knockout, because I love pizza

 

[BonScot]

I would structure your tournament to guarantee a level 1 knockout, because I love pizza

I’d need to scrap the rebuys for that to happen. My girlfriend suggested making us “healthy” food instead of pizzas. The guys looked at her as if she’d just stepped off a spaceship!!

 

[krafticus]

I provide Soda, Water, Hot Dogs, and popcorn. All-in-all, the expenses are minimal for me. I ask players to BYOB, but I always have a ton in the fridge and welcome people to have it. They usually kick me a few bucks if they take my beer. I have some bourbon and scotch out too, but I don't drink it, so I ask the players to bring if if they want it.

Our local Safeway usually has a "buy 2, get 3 free" 12 packs of soda, and I stock up about 25 12 packs. That is about $60, but lasts several months.
Costco sells 40 packs of bottled water for $2.99. I usually get 3-4, and 1 gets me through a night
Hot Dogs are the most expensive part. I get the 28 pack of Nathans at Costco. I get 2 or 3 at $15 each. Buns are $2.50 for a 16 pack
Popcorn for the machine runs about $1 a packet, and I use 2 per night.

If you break it all down, it usually costs me about $30 to host, outside of the beer I buy for myself

Mark

 

[jcooper911]

I think home games would be better if they could rake.

Is that you Daniel?

 

[Highli99]

Is that you Daniel?

Is that you Doug?

 

[longflop]

This comes up every once in a while on here and what we seem to settle on is there's a lot of different ways to do it, and they are all good. As long as you have people coming back to play, you're doing it right.

I like to provide for my friends, that's just how I like to do it. I put the bar out, buy a 30 pack of miller lite and a couple packs of Kirkland National hot dogs (Plus one pack of Polock Johnny's, but that's a VIP hot dog). I always end the monthly email with "If you want to bring anything, feel free, but it is not required." Guys always bring stuff. We usually get a pretty good spread, lots of different stuff. Occasionally, guys will throw me a couple chips when cashing out of the end of night cash game. I appreciate it, but I wish they wouldn't. I tell people about the monthly game and they think I am crazy for hosting it. I tell them, I love organizing people, its my hobby. Whatever your hobby is, you usually spend money to do it.

 

[krafticus]

Oh, and I now have a bottle of Ouzo to share, thanks to my cousin....
More to come on this...

 

[detroitdad]

Whatever your hobby is, you usually spend money to do it.

A fantastic way to look at it.

Vacation pic for the hell of it

 

[BonScot]

A fantastic way to look at it.

Vacation pic for the hell of it
View attachment 276824

It’s a hard life...

 

[4SUMERZ]

As the host of a monthly home game, I offer free drinks of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. I have a bar fridge stocked at all times in my Poker Room. A few of the guys may have one or 2 alcoholic drinks, but most either drink diet or regular sodas , G2 or water for the most part. I wouldn't go through any more than 6 beer in a game night, and maybe 8 oz of hard liquor (Rye Whiskey, Rum or Vodka) Since I'm not driving, I'll usually have more alcoholic drinks than my guests. We rotate home games, and everyone offers the same courtesy as far as drinks and snacks go. We may have the occasional pizza, but that is rare.
I have lite snacks, which include chips, pretzels, beef jerky. Occasionally, I will have a meat tray with crackers and chesse, or a large Shrimp Ring.
Again, not may of the guys eat much. There are usually lot's of the snacks left over in our 4 hour game.
My table has snack pull out trays with bowls to fit, so snack bowls are forbidden to be on the table proper. The pull out trays work out well, because with the snack bowls in place, the trays can be closed while not snacking.

 

[Darson]

As the host of a monthly home game, I offer free drinks of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. I have a bar fridge stocked at all times in my Poker Room. A few of the guys may have one or 2 alcoholic drinks, but most either drink diet or regular sodas , G2 or water for the most part. I wouldn't go through any more than 6 beer in a game night, and maybe 8 oz of hard liquor (Rye Whiskey, Rum or Vodka) Since I'm not driving, I'll usually have more alcoholic drinks than my guests. We rotate home games, and everyone offers the same courtesy as far as drinks and snacks go. We may have the occasional pizza, but that is rare.
I have lite snacks, which include chips, pretzels, beef jerky. Occasionally, I will have a meat tray with crackers and chesse, or a large Shrimp Ring.
Again, not may of the guys eat much. There are usually lot's of the snacks left over in our 4 hour game.
My table has snack pull out trays with bowls to fit, so snack bowls are forbidden to be on the table proper. The pull out trays work out well, because with the snack bowls in place, the trays can be closed while not snacking.
View attachment 276846

That is so cool! I'm gonna copy it...

 

[CraigT78]

There is a link to my home game in my signature. I provide pretty much everything. 2 craft beers on tap, a fridge full of water, soda, more beer. A shelf full of liquor, hot dogs & sausages, chips, dips, and of course cigars. Also - 4 TVs, music, quality tables, cards, chips, and Gasser chairs. It's a substantial cost, running me $300-$400 per month. I take a $20 hospitality charge from every buy-in for my monthly league tournaments (20 players), and set out a donation box for any of the pickup cash games, so I am break even when all said and done. I've had some raised eyebrows, but I have a waitlist for every league game and most cash games. The guys still tip at cashout, so that's all the feedback I need.

Hosting poker is my hobby - I don't golf, I don't motorcycle, I have no "guy" toys. I'm very social and I provide a pretty kick-ass regular game where degens gonna degen. Some may think I'm crazy, but it's a labor of love.

 

[SergeantGetraer]

If there is food served, it's this:

I love the hot dog packs that are sold by IKEA.
They are cheap and easy to serve (even for a big group of guests).
And besides almost everyone knows them.

 

[2jzMk3]

A couple cases of water, a metric shit load of Lone Star beer, and a whiskey collection large enough to kill the graduating class of a small high school seems about right for me.

Pizza Hut always has good deals, pretty easy to feed 9 people without breaking the bank.

 

[JustinInMN]

I love the hot dog packs that are sold by IKEA.
They are cheap and easy to serve (even for a big group of guests).

IKEA sells hot dogs?

If so, they should sell hot dog rollers too .

 

[Old State]

I get the 28 pack of Nathans at Costco.

If I was buying hotdogs at Costco I’d rather have Costco hotdogs. Probably the best hotdog made! We got Nathan’s years ago for a few large tourneys and the flatulences generated was obscene . I was personally backed up for days. Nathan’s were banned after that

 

[CraigT78]

I’d rather have Costco hotdogs. Probably the best hotdog made!

I concur! A very good hot dog!

 

[Mojo1312]

If you break it all down, it usually costs me about $30 to host, outside of the beer I buy for myself

Mark

When did you start drinking?

 

[longflop]

I was personally backed up for days

You might have been putting them in the wrong end...

 

[krafticus]

When did you start drinking?

I don't understand your question?

 

[Seeking Alpha Social Club]

Hi, How do you host a homegame? Does everyone bring their own drinks? Do you make them available - how would you prefer to be a guest of someone as a friend?

Everybody in my group are close friends. Food is typically pot luck style with everybody bringing a little something. I make the best Chile in the world, so I often provide a crockpot of Chile.

Drinks are a combination. Some people bring their own, but I have a kegerator and an open bar that everybody is welcome to. People often try to give me money for food and drinks, but I decline because VA law considers it illegal gambling if the host takes money for ANYTHING. My wife initially had a problem with my open bar policy, but quickly learned that my poker peeps rock!! For my birthday and Christmas, I generally receive a gift card for a keg of beer, and TONS of bottles of top shelf alcohol. The key is to ensure you are hanging with the right peeps

I play at a couple places that are very different (i.e., nobody brings anything except for their own consumption). Nothing wrong with that, but I like more of a social environment where you truly feel like you're with friends and family.

Good luck and enjoy!!

 

[longflop]

I make the best Chile in the world

Confidence is important. I feel the same way about my ribs.

 

[Seeking Alpha Social Club]

Confidence is important. I feel the same way about my ribs.

Mmmmmmmm....I like the way you think. Your ribs and my chile, should be a feast!!

 

[Taghkanic]

IMHO, the real cost of running a game is the setup/cleanup time the day before and the morning after.

Oh, and my chip habit.

I do keep a few sodas on hand, and usually fill a growler with an “interesting” beer. Those cost maybe $25/game. I also like to have offer light snacks (chips/guac, some nuts or candy, popcorn). That’s another $25 or so. Players typically donate back around the same amount from the prize pool, so it’s a wash.

I’m not trying to provide a meal, just something to keep people happy, and maybe soak up some of whatever they drink. Not crazy about people eating at the table, and almost no one ever does. The snacks tend to get consumed during breaks, as players are pretty focused on the action in both the tourney and the later cash game. (One guy used to always bring a tuna fish sandwich, and stunk up the place, but he’s dropped out thankfully.) Another guy likes to drink huge quantities of herbal tea and boils water on the stove for that.

About 1/3 of the players bring their own sixpack or something else they want to drink—one guy always gets some cheap brown liquor from the nearest package store. Usually there is a little leftover, which I’ll keep on hand until the next game.