Raffles suck

One practice that is very prevalent in New Zealand, and very destructive to good poker, is the practise of holding raffles for extra chips at the beginning of a tournament.

Yes, I realise that the bar/club must make a profit, and the organisers (i.e. the poker league or club) must make a profit, and that ultimately the profit must come from the players. But the players want a fair competition, where skill rather than spending power is the deciding factor.

It's a fine balancing act, and to some extent all leagues are forced to compromise the fairness and integrity of the game to serve the interests of their hosts. But the practice of holding raffles for extra chips is an abomination for any serious poker player, and is possibly illegal under the Gambling Act 2003.

Kudos to APL for saying NO to raffles! (By the way I am in no way affiliated with APL).