How to Promote a Charity Poker Tournament on Social Media
Charity poker tournaments are a favourite fundraiser for local businesses and non-profits: an afternoon of Texas hold'em, a bar, donated prizes and a good cause. The original Somedia blog promoted an annual charity hold'em event of this kind for years. Here is how to use social media to fill every seat.
Check the rules first
Charitable gaming is regulated. In many US states, a charity poker event needs a permit or licence, and rules often cover who may run the game, how buy-ins and prizes work and where the money goes. Other countries have their own regulations. Confirm the requirements with the relevant authority before you announce anything.
Six weeks out: create the event
- Create an event on Facebook with date, venue, start times ("doors at 1 p.m., cards fly at 2 p.m."), the cause and a ticket link.
- Design one strong graphic in square and vertical versions for posts and Stories.
- Pick a short hashtag and use it on everything.
Four weeks out: show the prizes and the people
Each donated prize is a reason to post and a chance to thank a sponsor. Tag local businesses that donate, and they will usually share the post with their own followers. Introduce the volunteer dealers and the charity's team with short videos.
Final week: create urgency
Post a countdown, share how many seats are left and repeat the essential details. Remind people they can donate even if they cannot play.
On the day: post live
Share photos of the room filling up, chip counts at the final table and the winner with their prize. Ask players before you photograph them and keep the focus on the fun and the cause.
Afterwards: say thank you
Within a day or two, post a thank-you with the amount raised, the sponsors and the volunteers. It is the post that sells the next year's tournament.