Q: When are the Results Posted?
A: Event results and new members are usually added to the database within 3 days. If you feel any information has been published in error, please login to your account to correct or contact info@5thStreetPokerParties.com.

Q: What are Reward Points?
A: Participants in public leagues have the opportunity to earn Reward Points for every event in which they participate. Reward Points are issued based on an element of the number of points earned within each event. You will be given credit for your total tab including staff tips and dealer tips. Reward Points are used to pre-register for events and to play on-line for our Sunday PokerStars Tournament.

Q: Do my poker series points decrease if I pre-register online for an event?
A: No. Only your reward points balance will decrease.

Q: What is the difference between the Tournament of Champions and the Grand Championship?
A: The Tournament of Champions and the Seasonal Grand Championship are two different events.

A Tournament of Champions is specific to a venue in which participants compete over a 17-event series. After 16 weeks, the top 25% in points (and event champs) during the series qualify for the Tournament of Champions (17th event) where a $100 to $200 Grand Prize is awarded to the winner.

The Grand Championship occurs twice per year during the winter and summer in conjunction with the completion of the Chase for the Championship. The Chase for the Championship is an accumulation of player points across all venues from Jan 1 - June 30 and again from July 1 and Dec 31. The Top 50 in "Chase" points and series winners qualify for the Grand Championship. The winner of the Chase for the Championship is awarded $200.

The Grand Championship is a 10,000 chip deep stack tournament. The winner is awarded $200.

Alternates are welcome to register for any Tournament of Champions or Grand Championship tournament. Alternates are seated in the absence of qualified members and are ranked either by their final series ranking (Tournament of Champions) or their final Chase for the Championship ranking (Grand Championship). Anyone who did not qualify outright is encouraged to register. Several open seats have been available to alternates at each event.

Q: Do I have to give you a down payment when I book a party?
A: Yes. We require 50% of the entire party paid up front and the other 50% paid that day/night of the party when completed.

Q: How far in advance do I have to book the party?
A: We require at least 2 weeks advance notice.

Q: How long do these tournaments usually take?
A: That all depends on how many players you will have. We will give you an estimate when you call to book your party. A standard 4-5 table event will last approx. 3.5 hours.

Q: What are blinds and blind levels?
A: Blinds are forced bets used to ensure action on the first round of betting. Blind levels are the amount those players have to put in when it’s their turn and they will increase in set increments (usually 20 minutes) to keep the game flowing.

Q: Who sets the blind levels?
A: We will provide you with pre-set blind levels that will depend on how many players you will have and the format of the tournament. Our standard blind schedue for poker series events starts at 25/50 and increases every 20 minutes.

Q: How many chips do we get?
A: We will provide you with a few options depending on how many players you will have and the format of the tournament. Our standard distribution for poker series events is 2,000 in chips.

Q: What are the rules of play?
A: Your tournament director will have a copy of the official rules of your tournament on him/her at all times and they will be posted on the website for download.

Q: What if we have a disagreement during the tournament?
A: Your tournament director will listen to the issue and make the best decision he/she can make in all fairness of the game and in accordance with the rules.

Q: How Much Should I Tip A Dealer?
A: Since many of these poker tournaments are free, a lot of people are not sure how much to tip or if they should even tip at all. Poker dealers at free tournaments work mostly off of tips, so it is always a great idea to tip and when you do the dealers appreciate them greatly. A good standard would be at least a $5 tip to your dealer when the tournament is getting started from everyone seated at that dealers table or right when you get knocked out (most tip before, in hopes of good luck!). If a dealer has gone above and beyond even larger tips are greatly appreciated. If you win a tournament it is also nice to give a little extra. With that said, please keep in mind that tips are by no means required. But, just like any other good service you receive, tips are appreciated and help keep the great dealers dealing!

Q: How Much Should I Tip A Tournament Director?
A: A good standard would be for the event host to extend a tip to your director that is at least a 10%-15% of the event cost or $1-$2 per player. Players wishing to tip tournament directors should wait until they are eliminated to show their appreciation. With that said, please keep in mind that tips are by no means required. But, just like any other good service you receive, tips are appreciated.

Q: Is this legal?
A: Yes it is because our service is for ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.

From the Minnesota Department of Public Safety - Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement:

It's sometimes difficult to distinguish the difference between a "private, social bet" and illegal gambling. The best way to make the distinction is to look at the intention of the law.

Minnesota law* makes any "bet" illegal. A "bet" is defined as "a bargain whereby the parties mutually agree to a gain or loss by one to the other of specified money, property or benefit dependent upon chance, although the chance is accompanied by some element of skill." According to this definition, any card game where the participants pay to play, and have a chance to win money, would constitute a "bet" and, therefore, be illegal gambling.

However, the criminal gambling statute creates an exception for "a private, social bet." The important thing to remember about a private social bet is that it cannot be part of "organized, commercialized, or systematic gambling." The owner of the location of the social bet cannot derive any profit from the bet, organize regular occasions for such bets, or advertise their occurrence. Potentially, any gambling that occurs in a business establishment could constitute illegal gambling because the owner of the establishment derives the indirect benefit of increased patronage.

It appears that the law was intended to exclude from prosecution such events as penny-ante card games among friends in one's home, small spontaneous wagers between friends, and other spur-of-the-moment private transactions. Once those wagers occur on a regular basis at a business establishment, it is difficult to characterize them as "social bets," and the location of the event runs a substantial risk of violating the law.

Additionally, Minnesota law allows for social skill card games of cribbage, skat, sheephead, bridge, euchre, pinochle, gin, 500 and smear or whist, as long as the sponsoring organization receives no direct financial benefit and the prizes do not exceed $200.00. A bill recently passed in the Minnesota senate (Bill Name: SF0317) adding Texas Hold 'em to this list of social skill games. This now allows bars, restaurants, golf courses, bowling alleys, and other establishments to sponsor Texas Hold'em tournaments as long as there is no entrance fee, the house doesn't get any money directly from the tournament and prizes are limited to no more than $200 total. Phil Gordon, professional poker player and host of Celebrity Poker Showdown, visited the State Capitol in late March 2005 to support the bill. St. Cloud Times Article.

Note: These tournaments are for Entertainment Purposes Only. Our Directors Do Not Handle Any Cash.