Poker Room Promotions
By Jim Fredrickson

As a manager for a small 3 table poker room, I have found that promotions are not only a good idea, but a must for a successful operation. Over the past 4 years I have tried many different promotions that reward all types of players who frequent my room.

You will find that you have 5 types of players in any room: "tournament only" players, "live game only" players, players who play both tournaments and live, your regulars, and your out-of-town "visitors" or "tourists."

I've found that you have to design promotions that will attract all of these players. I know that you may not be able to run 5 different promotions at one time, but you should stagger them as to attract a certain type of player when you need them the most.

With the changing of times in the casino industry, poker has found itself as, shall we say, a "Loss Leader" for most casinos. Square footage has become a commodity that is dominated by "Slot Machines." Operating promotions that use "casino cash" is hard to justify, but by establishing a "player bonus fund" and "bad beat fund" which are jointly maintained 50-50 by the "bad beat drop," you now have a renewable promotion fund.

I usually run 5 promotions per month. One that lasts all month and is attractive to ALL my players and encourages their participation in all room functions. Each of my Weekly Promotions may be directed at a particular point of view. Live Play, Weak Player times, Fun Events, or just about anything that will leave your players with a favorable experience and some CASH. I utilize a Big 6 Wheel in the room and offer FREE Spins on a regular basis, depending on the day. I offer a variety of prizes ranging from Casino Items, Meals, Added Chips to the Pot just won, CASH, CASH and more CASH.

Examples: Have any Full House Beaten and you get a FREE Spin, Make a certain Hand and get a FREE Spin, Draw random seats for FREE Spins.

Players will go away with a good feeling about the time they had playing because they WON that little extra item. They may have lost their money in the game, but they WON and had FUN. This will bring them back and they will tell their friends about how much fun it was and how they won that hat, coat, steak dinner for two, or CASH.

In closing, never give up on promotions. Some promotions may work, some may not, but be imaginative and THINK about what you would like. I have tried 60 different promotions in the past 4 years and some have worked and some haven't done as well, but I have yet to find a "bad" free promotion. Hang in there and keep-em coming back!