Poker Structure Around the World

[Danielle Angel]

Just wondering besides the obvious being the WPT etc how poker tournaments run in each country. I am not planning on leaving Australia in a hurry but are very interested to know if the structure is the same as here.

In Australia we have APL (Australian Poker League). Each and every night in my city we have live tournaments at a different venue. In each tournament you can qualify for the regional finals, then follows qualification for state finals etc etc ..... The tournament entry is free and so is membership to the APL. As well as the tournaments they have prizes, promotions and give aways. Its quite an extraordinary structure !!

In addition we of course have our famous CROWN CASINO where there are cash games 24/7 and other casinos such as Jupiters. There is also rounder games located (illegally no doubt) all around the place held by all sorts of people.

Is it the same in every country for live poker ? Do you have tournament structures such as in Australia ?

[Degen]

That sounds pretty cool but I've never heard of anything like that in America. They have some things like that in the UK I know. In America the closes thing would be the WSOP Circuit Events and the WSOP. But the Circuit Events do not lead into the main WSOP.

Normally the tournaments just run as stand alone events. Some have satellites or super satellites for people who can't afford the large buy-ins, but they are typically events that start and finish in a short period of time.


On Aussie Poker, I've played in both Crown and Star City and I have to say the games were great with lots of gamblers, but the RAKE was HUGE. In a AU$10/20 NL game we were paying AU$1.50 PER HAND PER PLAYER in rake. Even if the BB got a walk, the house took AU$15 off of the table!

[Danielle Angel]

Yes they are indeed pretty nasty with their rake here, It is a lot less on the $1/$3 tables that i play on though obviously. I think they take the small blind of $1 in each hand. It still adds up to a fair bit each round I guess. Regardless they are very generous as you have read in other areas. Free entry to all tournaments which get you through to the TOC (tournament of champions). Then of course even further if you are the winner of that !!! Free tournaments end of story lol. :D wow we are the lucky country :D

[Degen]

I'm certain it is a lot more than a $1 small blind per hand. They probably take that in addition to a 10% rake. I played in a $60 cap buy-in waiting for a seat in a bigger game at Crowne and the rake was astronomical as a % of all of the money in play.

Good that they treat you guys well though, they better with that kind of rake!

I have to say though the live games in Australia were some of the funnest I've ever played in. A lot of times in Europe or America everybody is quiet and serious. The Aussies like to chat and have a good time.

[Danielle Angel]

The Aussies like to chat and have a good time. Yes indeed they do, both on and off the poker tables. I am sure you have noticed that though on this forum :p

[Danielle Angel]

I have no idea where to post this, so poker structure will do. I am wondering if someone can tell me what a Poker Prop is

[mustardeggs]

as a " prop " you get paid an unusual high rakeback, (some sites pay up to 120%) to start games, they pay to sit at empty tables or 3 and 4 haned tables and get games going/fill up.

[Degen]

propping has been around long before online poker. low traffic casino poker rooms have props on staff to get the games going. these guys usually get an hourly wage+100% rake returned to them+benefits. pretty sweet deal for old retired guys (usually who does it).

online some rooms use them to get games going as well. they'll have various restrictions like which games you can play and what hours etc. basically a prop player is a player who is paid to play in the game for the purposes of getting or keeping the game going.

[Danielle Angel]

ty guys :)