Docmuments

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When to Work

Today, an agreement was reached between Delegate Jones, the patron of our bill, and Delegate Krizek, the delegate that has been the biggest detractor against poker, to allow our bill to be sent to a committee that will work with us to come up with the right statutory language and be reintroduced, with their support for next year's session.

We were not given a real alternative.  Either we agree to this, or the bill will get killed anyway and we get nothing for it.

This may appear as a defeat, and for this year, it is...however, we are in a much better position now, than before.

The primary reason that we had to reach this agreement is that this year, the primary gaming bill that the General Assembly is committed to, is the bill on the new "gaming commission" that should be up and running this year.  Even the Governor had said that he will not sign any bills regarding gaming, other than the gaming commission bill. 

So, this was a longshot for this session.

They want us to play the game, under the current rules for a year, before we seek any changes.

If we would have pushed to have them vote on this bill, it would have been killed in that committee with no commitments  for the future.  I had a meeting with their  primary "poker advisor" and he agreed that he will speak on our behalf next year if we can just follow through and play the current game.

Believe me, all of the points that we have all made over the last year, have all been made...to numerous people.

Unfortunately, politics is NOT based on logic and reason.  It is based on relationships and agreements.  Today, we have continued to forge better relationships and made better agreements.  

This is not my preferred outcome, but we are still on the ground floor of an amazing industry, and I believe will eventually be successful.

We had great support today with Boyd, Snake, Kurt, Alexis, Dave (from Good Lions/Pop's), Liam (who runs a bingo game at Pop's), and Jerome (the head of a charity close to Chuck, and has a relationship with several delegates, along with Dylan (our lobbyist).  Thank you all for your support!

I intend to keep the games going, and run the games that we need to run to give us the best opportunity to get this bill passed in 2026.

Thank you for hanging in there!

I love my Pop's family, and I am here to talk about any of this, with any of you, at anytime.

Rich

We have been working very hard on the new bill that is currently in the House (the State House of Delegates).  It is HB2651 patroned by Delegate Mike Jones.  There is a lot of support for this bill and there are a few detractors of this bill.  Here is what you need to know about it.

The bill will bring back cash games, allow us to use cash chips, it allows for tips for staff, it allows for rebuys and proper addons, it also fixes the issues with use of proceeds and accounting that have also made this difficult.  Within the new bill, we are proposing a timed rake or seat fee that will be collected at the cage, not at the table for every hand.

Currently the bill is set to be heard by the gaming sub-committee chaired by Delegate Paul Krizek, who has been against charitable poker in general and more specifically Pop's.  There are 8 people TOTAL on the gaming sub-committee.  I have met with the staff of 5 of them (Del. Seibold, Del. Price, Del. Leftwich, Del. Bennett-Parker, Del. Moorefield).  Delegate Torian and Delegate Knight are meeting with our lobbyists, which we just acquired last week.

The delegate in charge of the overall "General Laws" committee, where our bill goes after it passes the sub-committee is Del. Bulova.  We have also reached out to him as well and hope to get a meeting this week with him.  He may sit on the gaming sub-committee to vote as he has a seat there too, since he is the chairman of the general laws committee (which is a larger committee and also influential to our pathway towards passing this bill in the House.

There are several talking points that we have put on paper and distributed out to each of these delegates with a couple of graphs and data to back things up.  The bill and talking points (support package) are available under downloads at the top of this page.

Our bill will be heard by the sub-committee on Tuesday, January 28th around 4-5pm (TBD).  I would like for each of you to let your voices be heard.  You are each invited to join me as the bill comes up in the sub-committee.  There will be an opportunity for supporters to speak about the bill.  I will speak in support of the bill and so will Dave Ryan (the Good Lions host) and perhaps Alexis.  If anyone else wants to speak, you will be given the opportunity.  All you need to say is, "I am <full name>, I work in the Virginia Charitable gaming poker industry and I support this bill!"  You do not need to speak, your presence there is the most important thing!

The General Assembly (GA)  is located at:

201 N 9th Street

Richmond, VA 23219

We can get a carpool going to bring  people down to the General Assembly building and save on parking and make it easy for everyone.  I don't know the exact time the bill will be heard, but I hope to have a more  definitive time as the week goes on.

The more people the better, this is our democracy in action, so let's get involved!

In an effort to optimize your each of your time, I am only going to schedule 6 dealers on Friday and 6 on Saturday.  I am collecting data on the flow of the days, and want to make sure that I'm not overbooking you guys and having you sit around waiting for tables.

So, if you would, please let me know if you have a preference of day (Friday or Saturday) and I will try to accommodate everyone, but no guarantees.

Also, please login to WhenToWork and fill out your "Repeating Weekly" Schedule, please.  I will begin using this as soon as everyone fills out their weekly Recurring availability.  Here is how to do it...

1.) Login to WhenToWork

2.) Click on "Choose Times I Prefer To Work"

3.) Click the "Repeating Weekly" button below the time graph

4.) Choose either "prefer" or "dislike" or "cannot work" and paint the time slots with the icon that looks like a paint roller, with your typical weekly availability.  Please focus on Thursday through Monday.

5.) Save your work

6.) Let Rich know you have completed this by texting at 804-304-6456.

Thank you!

As you know we are going to open back up again and host two tournaments this week, for Friday and Saturday ONLY, for now.

I have the following availability logged in, BUT NOT YET SCHEDULED ON WHEN2WORK.

Friday: PD, KURT (AM), NICK, JOHN, KEV, CARLOS (AM), ALTA(AM), FISH, MARTIN, SNAKE, JAMES, NATE

Saturday: PD, KURT, NICK, JOHN, KEV, CARLOS (AM), FISH, MARTIN, SNAKE, JAMES, NATE, FRED

Please double check what I have listed and let me know if there are any changes!

I will work up the schedule in the next day or so and post it to When2Work. 

Thank you!

Hello to my amazing Pop's Poker Staff! 

Please read completely and understand before responding!

I am trying to get ahold of what the staffing shifts look like, especially for the first couple of weeks.  I am in the process of getting When2Work (W2W) back up and running.  I will need you to confirm your email and cell phone number.

All of this needs to happen quickly, so I once I get confirmation of your email address, I will need each of you to login to W2W and update your availability using the tools on that site.  I intend to give more explicit instructions once I get that nailed down.

For now, I am looking to understand your availability for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the following shifts, early and late 

(y/n - means yes or no, select one) for the weeks of 11/21/24-11/25/24 AND 11/29/24 - 11/2/24 (not open on Thanksgiving).

You should copy an paste everything between <start copy/paste here> and <end copy/paste here> (what is in bold) to a text (or email) and send it to me at 804-304-6456 (or at rich@popspoker.com), and select or enter only y or n for each shift.  For example:

<start copy/paste here>

Week1

Thursday (11/21/24): 

y/n - 4pm-8pm (early shift)

y/n - 8pm-midnight (late shift)

Friday (11/22/24): 

y/n - 4pm-8pm (early shift)

y/n - 8pm-midnight (late shift)

Saturday (11/23/24): 

y/n - 4pm-8pm (early shift)

y/n - 8pm-midnight (late shift)

Sunday (11/24/24): 

y/n - 4pm-8pm (early shift)

y/n - 8pm-midnight (late shift)

Monday (11/25/24): 

y/n - 4pm-8pm (early shift)

y/n - 8pm-midnight (late shift)

Week 2

Thursday (11/28/24): 

CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING

Friday (11/29/24): 

y/n - 4pm-8pm (early shift)

y/n - 8pm-midnight (late shift)

Saturday (11/30/24): 

y/n - 4pm-8pm (early shift)

y/n - 8pm-midnight (late shift)

Sunday (12/1/24): 

y/n - 4pm-8pm (early shift)

y/n - 8pm-midnight (late shift)

Monday (12/2/24): 

y/n - 4pm-8pm (early shift)

y/n - 8pm-midnight (late shift)

<end copy/paste here>

Thank you for bearing with me and all of us as we are working through the details to get this room opened.

Rich

Hello to my amazing Pop's Poker Staff! 

I wanted to prep you for the meeting on Thursday, 11/7/24 at 7pm at Pop's.  By law, we have to complete "compliance" training before we can open.  This presentation will be given by our attorney and is mandated by VDACS.  All staff will need to go through this training before they can start with us.

I will also be presenting the details of how the room will work and opening up for some discussion and Q & A.

Please confirm with Rich 804-304-6456 (if you haven't already) that you will be in attendance!

Please BRING YOUR ID AND A CANCELLED CHECK with you to the training.  We do need to do a complete reset on all paperwork.  

Also, please look at this slideshow presentation as it will be the focus of the training and you should be familiar with it, prior to the training.  

The Compliance Training presentation is available on the download page by clicking here.

This is not a paid training.

For those who cannot make it, we will eventually have a compliance training video, however I cannot guarantee that it will be available before we open.

Please save this page http://www.popspoker.com/staff-communication so that you are always up to date with any communications that I have sent out.

Thank you for your time and patience over these last couple of years! Once we get things settled and up and running, we can all finally benefit together!

Rich

Hello to my amazing Pop's Poker Staff! 

This is a very exciting time, we now have the license in hand and the approval process from VDACS is officially over! We are working hard to open soon.

I'm sure each of you if being bombarded with questions regarding Pops and I wanted to create a space where I can post information that is accessible to you, and only you.  Please do not share this link with people outside of our organization as I want to be able to address issues that really affect us all as Pops staff and industry workers.

Let me begin by explaining to you the processes that are currently going on to get things ready:

• Working on the program that tracks everything
• Working on setting up compliance training and the accompanying certifications
• New felts, cards, all-in markers, players cards etc.
• Simple signage explaining the rules etc.
• Signage for the overall room
• Payroll, employee documentation, IRS considerations etc.
• Auditions and the auditable documentation that accompanies the passing of those requirements
• Staffing and training
• Employee manuals with all responsibilities outlined
• Computer system integrations including overall computer system maintenance, multiple receipt printers, integration with the charity and it's members, and integration with the bar.
• Reporting that needs to run on a daily basis
• Setting up the overall business model and agreements with the charity
• Much more...

I ask that you remain patient with us as we work through all of these things over the upcoming weeks.  There is a lot to do, and I am trying to get it all done so that we can open in November.

Please remember that this entire industry, Charitable Poker in Virginia, is still on the ground floor.  I do expect some challenges, heart breaks and frustrations.  However, in the end, I believe we have created a great system and have a viable business model for all of us to profit from.

I thank you for your time and effort in this endeavor!  You have all been great and I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for each and every one of you who has stood with us through the last few years as we have attempted to get things going.

The best is yet to come!

Rich

 I am writing to you because you have previously expressed an interest in becoming a poker dealer at Pop's.

After a very long wait, we have reached an agreement with VDACS (the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services), the governing body in charge of charitable gaming in Virginia, to receive our gaming license!  We do not have the license yet, but we just reached this agreement last week and we anticipate receiving our license very soon.

This is exciting news as it has been nearly two and half years since we were up and running, carrying the biggest and best games in the city.  We intend to open once again and now that the end of this wait is near, we will be opening up dealer training   workshops.  Although you may have contacted me a long time ago about dealing, I did not forget about you!  I have not run any training classes in the last two years, as I did not want to waste anyone's time without knowing that we would be able to re-open, however, now the end is in sight and we are moving forward!

We are only looking for serious inquiries.  

You don't need previous professional experience, but you will need to be VERY familiar with poker and how the game is played in order to attend the workshops and progress to the point where you will be able to pass an audition in a timely fashion.

I will be hosting an "introductory" workshop orientation on Tuesday, October 8th at 8pm-10pm at Pop's Poker, 210 Giant Road, Richmond Virginia, 23224.  There is no charge for this orientation and all are welcomed to attend, however, to offset the costs of paying our dealer trainers who are helping with training, we will be charging $120 per person (one time for all sessions, schedule to be determined by need, around 10-12 session to be scheduled, beginning the following week, Mon/Tue/Wed) for the workshops after the initial orientation.  I am going to limit the workshop classes to 20 people and taking signups at the orientation based on experience, background, and availability.

If you already have the experience, the skill, and the knowledge, we can set up an audition for you at a later time.

Please email me back at rich@popspoker.com and let me know your interest along with your mobile phone number.

If you would like to get started NOW, take a look at our dealer training page with the details of how to access True Poker Dealer's training videos, and the TDA (Tournament Directors Association) Official 2022 rules and other details about dealing for Pop's.

https://popspoker.com/dealer-training

We are looking for folks who are willing to work hard to learn this profession, carry themselves in a professional manner, and want to work in an environment where everyone is treated like family.

Are you who we are looking for?  I hope so, and look forward to seeing you at the orientation on Monday (again, please RSVP to me directly at rich@popspoker.com).

All the best to you and see you at the felts!

Rich