10 Expensive Mistakes New Poker Clubs Make

You’re thinking of starting a poker club. Maybe you’ve already got the tables lined up, a list of eager players, and a vision of chips flying and buy-ins rolling in.

But here’s the thing most people don’t tell you: running a poker club isn’t hard because of the big stuff. It’s the small, boring, overlooked decisions—the ones you don’t realize matter until you’re knee-deep in rebuys and rule disputes—that can sink you.

These are the 10 most common (and costly) mistakes new poker clubs make—and how to avoid falling into the same traps.

1. Ordering the Wrong Poker Chip Denominations

You know that excitement when your custom chips finally arrive? That fades real quick when you realize you ordered 300 chips no one’s going to use.

A lot of new clubs still include the classic 25-denomination chips out of habit. But with modern tournaments moving to the Big Blind Ante (BBA) system, those old-school chips are just clutter.

Instead, stick to four core denominations, and distribute them in a 4:3:2:1 ratio. So, if you order 1000 chips:

• 400 = lowest value
• 300 = next up
• 200 = second-highest
• 100 = highest

Keep your values in clean jumps—think 100 / 500 / 1000 / 5000—not weird numbers like 250 or 750. It keeps the game smooth and the math cleaner.

2. Using Same-Size Chips for All Denominations

Yes, color matters—but size helps a ton when you’ve got stacks flying across the felt. If every chip feels and looks the same from a distance, it gets annoying to track who’s actually ahead.

A quick fix? Use larger sizes for higher denominations. Even a small bump in diameter makes a huge visual difference at the table. And if you’re going big, go plaque-level for your top value chips—it adds flair and makes big pots feel dramatic (and photo-worthy).

3. Getting the Wrong Number of Poker Chips

We’ve seen clubs order 10,000 chips for 40-player tournaments—and others scrambling mid-event because they didn’t order enough.

Here’s the sweet spot: plan for each player to start with 30–50 chips. That gives them enough to feel rich and keeps the need for constant change to a minimum.

So for a 100-entry tournament:

• 30 chips/player = 3000 chips
• 50 chips/player = 5000 chips

And that’s it. Don’t overcomplicate it.

Here’s a standard color/value pairing we recommend:

• 100 = Black
• 500 = Pink
• 1000 = Orange or Yellow
• 5000 = Grey

If you’re running major events:

• Add 25k / 100k / 250k / 1M / 5M
• Use plaques for those monster chips (it just looks cooler)

4. Hiring Experienced Dealers Instead of Training Your Own

You might assume that hiring veteran dealers is the safe move. But here’s the curveball: new dealers you train yourself often outperform the seasoned ones in the long run.

Why? Because they learn your system, your vibe, your club’s culture. They’re easier to shape, they bond more with your team, and they don’t bring bad habits from other rooms.

Some experienced dealers see your club as just another gig. But your own crew? They’ll bleed your colors—especially if you treat them right.

You can also spot rookie mistakes way faster than you can spot subtle forms of cheating from a slick, “too-polished” pro.

5. Neglecting Your Poker Club’s Branding

Your club’s logo and design is your first impression. It’s the poster, the chip sticker, the card back, the badge on every screen. If it looks cheap or generic, it kills trust before a single hand is dealt.

So no, your cousin who “knows Photoshop” shouldn’t make it.

Hire a real graphic designer. One with a portfolio. One who understands branding. One who knows how to make your logo feel timeless, not like a leftover from an old poker app.

It’s a one-time cost that pays off every time a player tags your club on social, wears a branded hoodie, or sees your logo printed on a final table backdrop. The Bombay Club in Tallinn uses LetsPoker for the Diamond Poker Series—and their branding is a big part of what makes those events stand out.

6. Using Cables and Hardware for Tournament Displays

Here’s a scene we’ve seen too many times: HDMI cables taped to the floor, tangled behind TVs, daisy-chained through splitters… all just to show a tournament clock.

You don’t need to do that anymore. With platforms like LetsPoker, you can stream your tournament clock, standings, and player info straight to any smart TV over Wi-Fi. No cables. No custom hardware. Just smooth, real-time displays that actually work. See how LetsPoker runs 50+ tables at PokerStars Campione in Italy.

All you need is a stable Wi-Fi setup—and the right app.

7. Overordering Chips for Multi-Day Poker Tournaments

If you’re running a small club with around 6-10 tables, this one’s specifically for you.

Multi-day tournaments used to mean bagging chips at the end of every night, writing names on them, storing them securely—and needing twice as many chips just to keep the flow going. That’s no longer necessary.

With tools like LetsPoker, you can digitally track each player’s chip count across days. That means you only need enough chips for Day 1 entries. No need to keep stacks bagged and guarded. Just reuse the chips and let the app remember everything.

For smaller operations (think 6-10 tables or fewer), this approach saves you money, reduces chip chaos, and keeps everything transparent for players without needing the massive chip inventory larger venues require. At the IPC 2025 festival in Varna, LetsPoker handled over 2,300 entries seamlessly using this exact approach.

8. Buying Cheap Poker Equipment to Save Money

It’s tempting to go for cheaper tables, chairs, or chips—especially when the budget is tight. But here’s the truth: the equipment you buy at the start is what you’ll likely use for years. These aren’t things clubs change often.

That’s why it’s smarter to invest in quality, even if that means buying fewer items at first and expanding gradually. Players will always remember how your tables felt, how the chips stacked, and whether the room felt “pro.”

Poor-quality gear gets old fast. Make every piece of your setup count.

9. Spending on the Wrong Poker Club Marketing

Marketing has changed. What worked in 2012 won’t work today. Billboards, flyers, and even basic websites are often expensive, hard to track, and may never reach actual poker players.

Poker is a niche. Mass advertising wastes money by targeting the wrong crowd.

Instead of casting a wide net, build a focused community. Platforms like LetsPoker connect you with players who are already interested in poker. It’s not just about reach—it’s about reaching the right people, keeping them informed in real time, and turning them into regulars.

Don’t just advertise—build loyalty where it matters.

10. Ignoring Established Poker Room Best Practices

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “I’ll run things my own way.” But poker has evolved through years of trial, feedback, and structure. Every rule, every procedure, every flow at the table serves a purpose—transparency, fairness, safety, and a great player experience.

Trying to reinvent the wheel without understanding the why can create chaos, kill trust, and frustrate your players.

The smart move? Consult with a pro. Someone who’s seen what works and what doesn’t. Someone who can help you avoid amateur mistakes and set a strong foundation from Day 1.

The right mindset—open, curious, and focused on long-term quality—is what separates a temporary room from a respected poker destination.

Key Takeaways for New Poker Club Owners

Starting a poker club is about more than just the cards and the crowd. It’s about the vibe. The clarity. The little things.

Smart chip orders. Sharp branding. A dealer team that believes in the room. A display system that works. And a platform that ties it all together.

LetsPoker gives you the tools to run smarter, look better, and grow faster—without needing a tech degree or a full-time tournament director. If you’re serious about launching (or leveling up) your club, we’d love to show you what it can really do.

Ready to run your poker club on LetsPoker? Get in touch for a personalized demo and see how clubs worldwide manage tournaments, cash games, and player engagement from a single platform.