Texas Hold Em Poker tournaments began in late August throughout Southland bars and the sport’s booming says Kiwi Poker League Company owner Jamie Macdonald.

The Kiwi Poker League is currently holding 12 week tournaments at The Shack, One Blue Dog, Traffers, Waikiwi Tavern and the Gore RSA. The league is open to players over the age of 18 with any level of poker experience. Registration is free.

Texas Hold Em is a game which players are dealt two cards to begin, the dealer then showing five cards face up on the table throughout the game. Players bet and raise chips to create the highest value hand from their and the tables combination of cards. The winner collecting the total chips bet in the game.

There are 3 to 6 tables active at venues per night and a table for beginners.

Prizes are supplied by the individual bars at the conclusion of 12 weeks, with the top ten players from each bar qualifying for the regional finals. The winners then advance to the New Zealand Nationals, the venue yet to be decided. Players can view their rankings and results on the league’s website (Kiwi Poker League).

The Kiwi Poker League has been running throughout New Zealand bars since January this year.

Feedback from Bar Managers and employees have been positive. Kiwi Poker League Company owner Jamie Macdonald said the businesses have found their poker tournaments to be a great way to bring in patrons to their establishments on a regular basis, during otherwise quiet nights.

Regular player at The Shack Matt Blee said the tournament is very professional. “It gives new and experienced players the opportunity to play the game they enjoy locally,” Blee added.

Company owner Jamie Macdonald said they offer much more than the average poker league. “We’re a league which is passionate about what poker is about and what to improve players skill by offering tips and advice. We want to focus on eliminating the luck factor in the sport, the better players getting results,” Macdonald commented. The league has a range of tips and guides available when needed.

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Kiwi poker sensation Lee Nelson has influenced the game in New Zealand by winning the Aussie Millions event in Melbourne, Australia in January. The event was given weekly coverage on free to air television. “ Poker is a strategic game and people are starting to religiously follow it. People like the elements of poker, once they play they want to come back,” Macdonald said.

Jamie Macdonald is looking to launch his league in Otago and the North Island. The sport faces a positive future and can only get bigger throughout New Zealand.