If you are considering purchasing a poker table then there are many things to consider before making your final decision – remember a poker table could be for life and not just for Christmas!
1. Budget
Poker tables can range in price considerably based on mainly the style of table you require and whether you are looking for a temporary or permanent solution to your poker playing need.
2. Style – Temporary or Permanent
Poker tables come in a number of different sizes and shapes. The first thing to consider is whether your poker-playing experience is one of a temporary nature or a more permanent fixture. If it’s a temporary solution you are looking for then your options are poker felt, a poker table top, or a folding poker table. The poker felt/mat is the lowest-priced solution and provides the equivalent of a felt mat to lay over a current table. This can be fixed to a table with staples to provide a slightly more permanent solution. The quality of these mats does not stand the test of time and so eventually, given enough use, you are likely to want the next step up. This is a poker table top which again comes in a variety of options. You can find half-fold and quarter-fold poker table tops, most of which come with a carrying case for easy transportation and storage. Also to be considered for a temporary solution are folding poker tables which look like the real deal when set up but can be easily removed when not in use. After that, you are looking at more permanent solutions and even then you have a choice. Do you want a table that would be fit for a casino or one that works as a piece of furniture in your home, did you realize there were quite so many choices?
3. Branded/Non-Branded
There are a couple of options to consider in respect of buying a branded poker table. You can choose the color of felt on some styles of poker tables and after that, the only branding options are Jack Daniels or Harley Davidson. These branded tables are pieces of furniture and well worth considering for your games room and would certainly create a stir with your friends and playing buddies.
4. Size/Shape
Poker tables come in various shapes and sizes and much of the choice surrounds the available room you have along with the number of players you are trying to cater for. The smaller tables or tabletops can usually seat up to a maximum of 8 players come in 48″ and 52″ diameters and are designed to be set on top of a round table. Alternatively, you can purchase an oval poker table top (depends on the type of table you are putting it on) and these can seat up to 10 players. The folding poker tables tend to seat 10 players (or 9 players plus a dealer spot) and the casino-style poker tables again will seat the same number of players.
5. Accessories
There are many options to consider as accessories for your poker table. Standard accessories to consider, depending on the style of poker table you select, include the obvious requirements for poker chips and playing cards along with a dealer shoe, card shuffler, chip trays, and dealer button. After that, the sky’s the limit in terms of how much you want to add to your poker game experience. You could consider purchasing button packages (tend to include big blind, little blind, and reserve buttons for instance), tournament timer, card guards/spinners, in-between tables (to hold drinks), and not forgetting the dark shades and a baseball cap to complete your poker personality!
6. OnLine/Retail
If you buy a poker table online then unless the e-tailor is based in your state you are not likely to have to pay sales tax which can make quite a big difference on the end price of a poker table. If you buy from a retail store then you are always going to be paying sales tax on top of the final price you are given. That said, then there is a clear advantage in dealing face to face with someone in a store as you have the advantage of being able to negotiate yourself the best price. This is not as easy online, however, still possible if you are prepared to pick up the phone and talk to them. The best e-tailers have freephone customer services numbers with real people at the end of the phone! You don’t get anything if you don’t ask! The advantage of dealing with an online store is that their overheads are lower than a physical retail store and so the cost to you should be less.
7. Shipping
If you are purchasing a poker table of any sort the cost of shipping can either be built into the price that you see and include FREE shipping or the shipping can be shown as a flat rate or volume/weight-based charge in addition to the base price of the poker table. Be aware if you are looking online for a poker table and comparison shopping, not all e-tailers show prices in the same way. Be careful to ensure you are comparing like with like and that ultimately you end up with the best deal.
8. Installation
Again, be aware that most poker tables are not delivered to you fully assembled. In the main, the requirements are relatively straightforward and require tools that you would find in most households. If you buy from a store and you require them to install your poker table then be sure to ask what the cost of installation is and when it can be completed. If you are buying online then be sure you have access to someone capable of setting up your pool table.
Now that you know where to buy poker chips and what are some of the best options out there, you need to find out which type of setup will work best for your particular game.
Plastic Poker Chips vs Ceramic
For the experienced player, there is a big difference between plastic and ceramic poker chips, but a casual person who has never been to a casino or poker room may not understand this difference.
As an amusement organizer, you’re in charge of securing these things and choosing how much cash you ought to spend on setting everything up.
Remember, you can’t always buy these, so it’s best to pay a little more than a few dollars for that feeling of quality. options with 200 pieces can leave you short on chips if the game is deep as the night progresses.
Poker chips are purged compared to those with numbers.
The final consideration is to go with empty poker chips or those with printed or recorded numbers. in your games, no matter what poker format you plan to play.
Hopefully, these tips will prove useful to you in your search for the perfect poker table.