Sometimes, the old warning to gamblers of “the house always wins” isn’t such a bad thing.
In the case of an upcoming charity poker tournament, it’s a downright good thing. On March 17, the Penticton Lions' Club is sponsoring a 100-player Texas Hold’em tournament to help support their local charitable works.
“We did one last year and we did one in November. This is the third one,” said Lion Sally Koponyas, one of the organizers of the tournament. So far, she said, the event has been successful for them.
“Texas Hold’em is very popular and you get a lot of people out. And it’s something our whole club is involved in,” she said. “It’s actually our club people that are doing the dealing and selling the tickets.”
However, as a fundraiser, running a poker tournament requires a few more skills than a garage sale or other fundraisers. Koponyas said they have regular practices for any of the Lions that want to learn how to deal poker, with instructors that includes one of the dealers from the casino at the Lakeside Resort.
“We’re not professionals by any means, but everybody that comes knows that. It is strictly a charity fundraiser for us,” said Koponyas. “Everybody that comes seems to have a good time and thoroughly enjoy it.”
You must be 19 or older to play, and they are accepting a maximum of 100 players. The payoff for the winners, however, is substantial, with a guaranteed prize pool of $2,000. First prize is $1,000 and there are seven additional payouts.
The ticket to participate costs $50 and there are two chances to add a few more chips to your stack for another $10, at the beginning of the game and at the fourth level if you are still in the game. Players can participate in both, either, or neither.
The really big payoff, though, comes from what the Lions do with the money they raise through the tournaments. Koponyas said it goes to support a wide range of activities, from giving people special assistance with purchasing health aids, supporting people travelling to Vancouver and staying at their Easter Seal House to be near loved ones under care in hospitals there, to the Lions’ Christmas Hamper program.
“It’s just local assistance all year long. Whatever comes along, if it’s something we can help with, we usually do,” said Koponyas.
The tournament gets underway at 6 p.m. on March 17, with play starting at 7 p.m. in the Leisure Centre on Winnipeg Street. Tickets can be purchased in advance through Johnston Meier Insurance at 267 Martin St., Penticton. For more information, contact Sandra, Sally or Caroline at 250-492-0017.