Poker Tourneys - Cash Security

Culchie

It's probably from my retail background, but just a little note of caution to the all the different Poker Tournament Organisors out there.

I think sooner or later one of these tourneys are going to get targeted by a gang of scumbags, and hope that you guys are doing all you can to minimise your personal risk, that of your colleagues, and also the punters.
From what I've seen, it's a soft target, and an accident waiting to happen, and I'd hate to see people get hurt.

Would it not be worth your while to accept card payment only now .... everyone has a card be it debit (laser) or credit card nowadays, you would simply need a mobile terminal to take your entry fees rather than large quantities of cash.

I thought it was worth saying, if only to make you guys think for a second and take stock of your own tourneys.

Again, excuse the pessimistic tone of the post, but there are bad dudes out there.

bill_ashmount

It's a good point, there is a lot of cash floating around every night.

I remember at the pokerevents tournaments held in Cork there was security guards present. Not sure if they were supplied by the hotel or by pokerevents themselves.

murfie

Good point, but there a few things i see would get in the way of taking credit cards or lasers; the machines to take the cards technically should not be moved from the address of your company ie the retail shop etc. Also its a lengthy process of actually applying through the bank to get your hands on the visa machines, setting up merchant accounts, prove you are a businees and alot of other little things, annoying more than anything.

I could possibly do what your saying but i am usually not the one who would take anything from the tournament so i would have all this cash coming in and out of my account and i would not actually be selling anything for it. Cheques would have to be wrote out on the night, it would just seem very messy!

But you are dead right that one of these days there will be a raid on one a tournament, especially on the bigger games 10-20k on the premises in cash!!!

accensi0n

look below.

accensi0n

I'm more worried about players being targeted.
i.e. Scumbags hanging around a casino waiting to follow someone when they leave and then mug them.
Big cash game players have a lot of dosh.

I usually cycle into the fitz. If I ever win one of the bigger tournys there I'd ask if I could pick it up the next day when they open. Or else leave my bike and get a taxi home.

kinaldo

accensi0n wrote:

I'm more worried about players being targeted.
i.e. Scumbags hanging around a casino waiting to follow someone when they leave and then mug them.
Big cash game players have a lot of dosh.

I usually cycle into the fitz. If I ever win one of the bigger tournys there I'd ask if I could pick it up the next day when they open. Or else leave my bike and get a taxi home.

u can take a cheque

Lafortezza

In the Fitz (and I'm assuming the Merrion/Cavendish/Macau) you should be able to keep the money in an account at the desk. Then whenever you have a car and are able to go straight to the bank you can go in and withdraw your money.

Good point about the tourney taking place in hotels/pubs though.

Washout

lafortezza wrote:

In the Fitz (and I'm assuming the Merrion/Cavendish/Macau) you should be able to keep the money in an account at the desk. Then whenever you have a car and are able to go straight to the bank you can go in and withdraw your money.

Good point about the tourney taking place in hotels/pubs though.

Do the casinos have the ability of transferring the money to your account directly if you give them your details?

Culchie

It's not the Casino tourneys I'd be too worried about, it's the hotels and pubs I see a real risk factor.

Lafortezza

Washout wrote:

Do the casinos have the ability of transferring the money to your account directly if you give them your details?

No idea, I doubt it but maybe someone who works there could answer, or ask at the desk the next time you're in there.