The mission of Top Gun Poker Runs, LLC is to provide a premier poker run to the offshore boating community on the waters of Door county and western shores of Lake Michigan, and to do so, in a safe and professional manner for all that share the passion for offshore boating. Poker runs have grown in popularity in recent years as a way of fundraising for various non-profit and charitable organizations.; some well organized poker runs attract hundreds, even thousands of entrants. When done properly, the result is a 'win-win' situation for the organizers and participants, with large sums being raised for. May 22, 2017 - Explore ldybg's board 'Poker Run', followed by 140 people on Pinterest. See more ideas about Poker run, Poker and Poker party.

• What Is A Poker Run Motorcycle
• Rules For A Poker Run

Our Purpose and Our Partners

The 1000 Islands International Charity Poker Run is extremely proud to bring people from around the US and Canada to Clayton, NY and the Thousand Islands region. “The Fresh Water Boating Capital of the World.”

The 1000 Islands International Charity Poker Run is a grassroots volunteer-driven event, dedicated to the charitable needs and economic development of the Thousand Islands Region. The goal of the 1000 Islands International Charity Poker Run is to host events that promote the local river communities and preserve the historic integrity of the Thousand Islands.

Event Dates

Thursday, July 16, 2020 – Sunday, July 19, 2020

Run Date

Saturday, July 18, 2020

Mission

With the support of dedicated volunteers, the 1000 Islands International Charity Poker Run’s mission is threefold:

• Provide an exciting event with spectacular boats in a safe family-friendly environment.
• Promote Clayton and the Thousand Islands Region.
• Raise money and awareness for…
  • Make A Wish of Central New York
  • The River Community Wellness Program for Treatment of Veterans

Our objective is to raise money through Corporate Sponsors, silent auction items, t-shirt sales and Boater entry fees.

The 1000 Islands Charity poker Run is intended to be a safe family-friendly event. There will be many things to experience, both on and off the water. Expect more ‘slow zones’, allowing for participants and spectators alike to have a clear view of the boats at a safe distance.

100% of all donations and proceeds will be going to charity.

How Can You Help?

We always welcome and greatly appreciate new volunteers. Click here to learn more.

Poker Runs are a great way to raise money for a charity or cause and have lots of fun doing it. However we get many people asking how do I start a motorcycle poker run and others asking simply how do I play in a poker run. So we have put together these tips on how to hold a motorcycle poker run and how to play.

We will start with the basics...

A Poker Run is simply classic game of poker with each player choosing five (or seven) cards. The person with the best hand wins. The difference is instead of a dealer dealing the cards to the players, the players enjoy a fun ride randomly choosing a card at each stop.

The event begins when you check in and receive a score sheet and route map. Typically, there are five (or seven) checkpoints along the route and you will draw a card at each one. You draw a card, it will then be noted on your score sheet and you will ride on to the next checkpoint. And like a game of poker, the person with the best hand at the end will be deemed the winner.

Preparing for your poker run...

The very first thing you will need to do is to set up the stops where the riders will pick up their cards. The best case is to have a starting point, 3 stops, and an ending point (the starting and ending point can be the same place). However, if for any reason you need to have less than five stops, that's okay too. You can simply draw multiple cards at any of the stops so each player winds up with a total of five cards.

For the starting point I would recommend a biker friendly bar or restaurant. People will normally gather for a while before taking off and it is always good to have some food and drinks available.

For the 3 stops...they can be just about anywhere (even a school parking lot) because the riders are normally just pulling in, getting their cards and continuing. However, if you can find local biker friendly businesses for these stops (bar, restaurant, bike shop, etc.), I recommend it. You can sometime get them to contribute to the prize and donation pots in exchange for bring them a large group of bikers.

For the ending point you want a place that serves food and drink, unless you can set up food and drink yourself...like a BBQ. The riders will all need to gather there until all bikes are in and the winner is determined.

What Is A Poker Run Motorcycle

Day of the Ride...

At each stop you need to have a couple of people working the stop with a table and a couple of decks of cards. Each deck of cards is spread on the table face down and shuffled around right before the rider picks their card.

At the starting point the riders will pay their entry fees and register. When they register they will each be given a route map with the stops and a score sheet. (See Below for Sample Score Sheet) The first card will be drawn and scored at registration.

At each stop the riders will pick a card from the deck and the person working the stop will mark the card on the riders score sheet. It is important that the rider presents their scoresheet to the attendant before picking the card. If you permit riders to play more than one hand, they must present each score sheet to the attendant before drawing their card. They cannot draw a card than decide which sheet to mark it on.

At the final stop the riders will pick their last card. The attendant will mark the rider’s scoresheet and keep it. Once the last rider is in the event leaders will go through all the sheets to determine the best hand and the winner. Some rides allow riders to draw an extra card(s) at an additional donation for each card (this is like throwing out cards and drawing new cards in a traditional 5-card draw poker game).

As far as keeping it legal (gambling laws) ...

Note: These are only suggestions. It is recommended you check your local laws to determine if hold a Poker Run violates any local gambling laws.

In most areas a 'Game of Chance' is considered gambling and is not allowed without the proper permits. A straight-out game of poker is gambling because it is purely a game of chance. To keep the local gambling commission at bay, many event promoters insert a game of skill into the route that helps determine the riders' final score.

Again, it is recommended to check with local authorities on the gambling laws in your area and secure any special permits needed.

And of course, the most important thing is to let people know about your Poker Run and the best way to do that is to list you Poker Run on the CycleFish Motorcycle Event Calendar!!!

PRINTABLE - POKER RUN SHEET

Rules For A Poker Run