The Nuts Poker League are seeking .......

badgerStevebadgerSteve
in General Poker Chat
Hi All,

My name is Steve Bellis and I own The Nuts Poker League from the UK. We featured on BBC2 Dragons Den (link - Dragons' Den, BBC 2 - The Nuts Poker League's Steve 'The Badger' Bellis ) a few years back and recently won Best Poker League in the British Poker Awards.

We are looking to get the league set up and running in Ontario. I will be in Barrie / Midland area from 22nd March to 2nd April meeting with interested parties. I am seeking interest for sponsorship, organisors, franchisee or master franchisee for a launch later in the year.


I can be contacted on stevebellis@hotmail.com

Our site address is The Nuts Poker League, the Biggest Brand in Pub Poker - Live Pub Poker tournaments in the UK - As seen on TV, Dragons' Den BBC2 to find out more about us.

I have asked by way of courtesy if I may post this information on this forum rather than just posting and hoping it falls under the radar, but have not yet received a response.

Thanks
Steve Bellis.

Comments

  • JimmyHoJimmyHo
    we have a few pub poker leagues here in Canada (Red Hot Poker Tour, etc.). Good luck in any case and hopefully you can differentiate your tour from the rest.
  • badgerStevebadgerSteve
    pokerJAH wrote: »
    we have a few pub poker leagues here in Canada (Red Hot Poker Tour, etc.). Good luck in any case and hopefully you can differentiate your tour from the rest.

    Thanks for your kind words

    We like to keep things simple and understandable with a 1st class results and league table database which is easily navigated.

    In addition we are looking to embrace "home games" into the system which should open up new opportunities.

    We now have a tried and tested formula made up from what poker players really want. Time will indeed tell.
  • JimmyHoJimmyHo
    be careful of our funny gambling rules here in Ontario with regards to holding poker tournaments in licenced establishments. As long as it is free to enter, I think it is usually fine from a legal standpoint.
  • badgerStevebadgerSteve
    pokerJAH wrote: »
    be careful of our funny gambling rules here in Ontario with regards to holding poker tournaments in licenced establishments. As long as it is free to enter, I think it is usually fine from a legal standpoint.

    It can't be any more difficult that the farce we have in the UK (or the rest of Europe for that matter) with the Gambling Laws. This is one reason why we have introduced Home / Private games into the league which can be played anywhere, and as they are private games we do not publish the location etc. only the results and league tables.
  • JimmyHoJimmyHo
    not sure how you generate revenue from home games? The UK is a lot better than Canada when it comes to poker. At least you can run private poker clubs outside of casinos. Also like the fact that there are casinos right in the centre of London.
  • HVEEPOKERHVEEPOKER
    The Gaming laws are pretty focked up here and will continue to be until the Government allows private ownership and backs off. We are so far behind the times it is not funny.
    Private card Rooms should be allowed.
    They can. A very strict set of guidelines for getting a license to operate a room, ( To keep organized crime) out of it. And a very strict code of conduct that can be enforced can keep the rooms legit.
    If someone was to complain the room would be shut down until an investigation is completed. If it is found that shenanigans was going on and the room was not being run properly than shut it down completely and make sure the morons never get to work in another one. Just an example.
    Card Rooms should be alcohol free also.
  • badgerStevebadgerSteve
    I think most gaming laws are written by people who have no sense of reality. The Nuts will comply with all relevant laws but we get a little upset when the enforcers don't understand the law they are supposed to enforce.

    Gaming Laws Drive Pub Poker League Boss "Nuts"! | PokerNews
  • DennisGDennisG
    If you are going to charge people for hosting home games, that becomes a rake. Therefore, not legal.

    Good luck :)
  • HVEEPOKERHVEEPOKER
    He is also going to be hard pressed to find someone to buy a poker league franchise.............
  • jontmjontm
    selling a franchise won't be easy when there are two already established large "free" leagues in Ontario, what will be done better and why wouldn't anyone just start their own if the brand isn't already popular?
  • badgerStevebadgerSteve
    Just to keep everyone in the picture, I have had a few positive meetings and found out how we can bring value to the poker players in Ontario (for starters). We have over 500 venues in the UK at present and would hope to achieve significant numbers here in Ontario.

    We will be allowing "home games" into the league and we will not be charging players to play, just a fee for the organiser to pay for the use of the league tables, results upload service and of course larger regional events with good prizes.

    In terms of the initial Franchise model, I am aware that the model needs to be adjusted to suit, which means that people can still get involved without an upfront fee of any kind, and will be financially rewarding for the right people who can produce results.

    I am currently in Ontario until 2nd April, then back in July / Aug. I can be contacted at stevebellis@hotmail.com

    I am especially interested in communicating with current "small league" organisers, TD's and even some of the larger poker league owners.
  • TheBowlBoyTheBowlBoy
    badgerSteve wrote: »
    Just to keep everyone in the picture, I have had a few positive meetings and found out how we can bring value to the poker players in Ontario (for starters). We have over 500 venues in the UK at present and would hope to achieve significant numbers here in Ontario.

    We will be allowing "home games" into the league and we will not be charging players to play, just a fee for the organiser to pay for the use of the league tables, results upload service and of course larger regional events with good prizes.

    In terms of the initial Franchise model, I am aware that the model needs to be adjusted to suit, which means that people can still get involved without an upfront fee of any kind, and will be financially rewarding for the right people who can produce results.

    I am currently in Ontario until 2nd April, then back in July / Aug. I can be contacted at stevebellis@hotmail.com

    I am especially interested in communicating with current "small league" organisers, TD's and even some of the larger poker league owners.

    I agree with everybody else that it would be difficult to break into the market here as there are already established leagues set up, but I don't think it isn't doable. I think that the key thing in the beginning is to convince some pub owners who do not already host tourneys through one of the existing leagues that doing so with you can result in more business.

    There are definitely a lot of pubs out there that could benefit from having a poker league because the players who come out to play will usually spend money on food and beverages while they're there.

    I've never played in one of those things, not sure why but just never got the urge to go out to one. Live poker doesn't excite me much unless its with my friends. If I was to run it though, I would try to create a better experience than what already exists by making a webcast from the final table and then streaming it on the site. Its added exposure for the venue, it can be viral becaue people who made the final table or their friends end up cross posting it on facebook which just results in more link backs to the league website to check standings etc, and the I think the added hype would keep people coming back to try and get that little bit of local fame you'd get from that sort of thing.

    I'm actually in Barrie and am co-owner of a company that produces video content for websites. My production manager has over 10 years experience as VFX and composite artist in the film industry. We have all the necessary gear to turn it into a little local poker show. Not sure how cost effective something like that would be for a small operation, but I think if you throw in some commentary and banter it could actually help generate a bit of a fanbase overtime and would definitely give you a niche in the market here.

    The more I think of it, I'm definitely interested in talking more about this.
  • DennisGDennisG
    Something like this BowlBoy?

    YouTube - The Next Level episode 1
  • TheBowlBoyTheBowlBoy
    Ya something like that :)

    Looked pretty good, definitely a lot of potential for it to be even better imo. Sent you a PM Dennis.
  • badgerStevebadgerSteve
    https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150132883303572

    Here is a video we did with photos. Not the best, but the players loved it
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