APAT Europe - Player Briefing

[APAT]

Final event details for players entered in the European Amateur Poker Championship are as follows:

VENUE

Grosvenor G Casino
35 Park Street West
Luton, LU1 3BE

Freephone: 0800 064 6000
Direct: 01582 813 780

CAR PARKING

Car parking is available at the G Casino and free, however the park itself is quite small.  Additional parking is available via Pay & Display next door, but there are no concessions on price.  Those staying at local hotels are advised to leave their cars at the hotel.

DRESS CODE

Clean and tidy dress is strongly recommended. 

Please take note of the dress code for the G Casino. NO TRAINERS, NO RIPPED JEANS (smart Jeans are fine), NO HOODS AND NO SPORTS TOPS.

Players will be turned away if they wear any of the above, so please ensure you dress within the guidelines of the venue to save being disappointed on the day.

REGISTRATION

Will be available at the venue from 12.00pm. 

For registration you are required to complete a Casino Member Applicaton Form (link below) and produce a valid proof of identification. 

http://www.gcasino.co.uk/luton/lutonregister01.php

We actively encourage every APAT member to both pre register for the event, and to also turn up as early as possible on your day one to complete your registration.  Players can leave the venue after registration providing they are back in their allocated seats by 2.15pm (for a 2.30pm start), however if you are stuck in a queue at 2.30pm, you will miss the start of the event and be disqualified.

Please note that any friends or family members that wish to accompany you into the Casino will also have to complete a Casino Member Application Form.

Registration is only available to individuals aged 18 years of age and older, with a valid proof of identification.

IDENTIFICATION

Please bring a valid Passport or Drivers License.  If you do not have one of those, then a credit card AND recent utility bill will suffice.  Your guests will also need to bring a similar proof of identity.

If you cannot present valid identification to the Casino, you will not be allowed to enter the premises.

SCHEDULE

This event will run over three days, with Saturday and Sunday acting as dual day ones.  The remaining players will merge on Monday and play the tournament to completion.

Play commences at 2.30pm sharp on all three days.  Players not seated by 2.30pm will be disqualified under British Casino guidelines.  Please do not turn up late as APAT has no control over this!  

Play is expected to finish at around 1.00am on both day ones.  Players left in will return for a 2.30pm start on Monday, with the final expected to finish around 9.00pm that evening. 

Due to the nature of tournament Poker, end of day timings are estimated.

PRIZES

1st - A cheque for £3,750 - Engraved European Championship Cup - Gold Medal - Grosvenor UK Poker Tour Grand Final Package - 18 ranking points - Significant Media Exposure.

The Grosvenor UK Poker Tour Grand Final package comprises an expenses paid entry to the televised Grand Final of the GUKPT being played later this year.  The GUKPT package is worth up to $8,000. 

2nd - £2,250 - Silver Medal - 17 ranking points.

3rd - £1,500 - Bronze Medal - 16 ranking points.

4th to 9th - £1,000 each - 10 to 15 ranking points.

10th to 18th - £600 each - 1 to 9 ranking points.

19th to 30th - £300 each.

Under our terms & conditions, APAT will not support deal making.  This is a unique International Championship event and the onus is on every player to try their utmost to win it outright. 

Please note that all entrance fees will be paid out in prize money.  APAT will not retain any fee for running this event for our members.

The prize fund outlined above is subject to 300 paid entries at £75.00 per player.

BUFFET

A free buffet will be laid on for players on each day.  The buffet will take place between 6pm and 7pm with one half of the field breaking for the first 30 minutes and the 2nd half of the field breaking for the second 30 minutes.

PRESS

Journalists from a number of Poker magazines, and a photographer will be present on both days.  We hope to feature a number of images from the tournament on our website soon after the event.  

A TV crew from Poker Week will also be present to produce a tournament report that will appear numerous times on Sky Sports the week after the event.

By entering this tournament you accept that your image may be used in APAT TV, press and marketing campaigns.

LIVE UPDATE

Technology allowing, APAT intend to run a live update on the event and we will be posting player pictures and chip counts throughout the weekend.  Feel free to tell your friends and family, who can follow your progress on the forum.  Guests will need to register on the forum to see pictures from the event.  Registration is free.

HOTELS

For anyone still to book accomodation, we can suggest the following two hotels, both within a short walk of the venue:

Days Inn, Luton
http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/Booking/check_avail?brandCode=DI,MQ,HJ,KG,RA,SE,TL,BU&searchWithinMiles=25&areaType=1&destination=Luton&stateName=N/A&state=NA&countryName=United%20Kingdom&country=GB&checkInDate=&numberAdults=2&numberRooms=1&checkOutDate=&numberChildren=0&rateName=Best%20Avail&rate=000&id=15136&propBrandId=DI&force_nostay=true

Premier Travel Inn, Luton
http://www.premiertravelinn.com/pti/hotelInformation.do?hotelId=23862&iscsell=true

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Please note the event is subject to the terms & conditions of the Amateur Poker Association & Tour.

FINALLY

As a member of the Amateur Poker Association, I would like you to be aware of your role in our collective responsibility to ensure that the weekend is memorable for every participant, and not just the winner at the end.  We would appreciate you doing your bit to ensure that every player comes away having had the best possible tournament experience. 

It only remains for all of us at APAT to wish every player the best of luck in the event.

[Ken Jude]

Is there a separate APAT registration process (the "Hi APAT I"m here" bit) as opposed to the G-Luton registration one?

In other words, will those of us who already have G-Luton membership cards be able to by-pass the reception queues?

[kinboshi]

Registration for the casino and the signing the APAT register to say that you"re there is a different thing.

I think that APAT are trying to work out a "fast-track" way for those of us who are already members of the G-Luton to skip the queue.  Maybe Des can advise on that?

Then once you"re in, it"s usually Rich who"s sat at a desk taking down your name on the register for APAT.

[Ken Jude]

OK thanks, that"s what I thought would probably happen.

[TightEnd]

I think that APAT are trying to work out a "fast-track" way for those of us who are already members of the G-Luton to skip the queue.  Maybe Des can advise on that?

the casino will open at 12pm with a couple of reception staff on

Earlier you arrive, less likely it is you will have to queue

Once you have signed up for casino entrance thenwalk across to the APAT desk where one of us will check you in for the tournament

Then seat draw at 2.15pm and start prompt at 2.30pm

[kinboshi]

I think that APAT are trying to work out a "fast-track" way for those of us who are already members of the G-Luton to skip the queue.  Maybe Des can advise on that?

the casino will open at 12pm with a couple of reception staff on

Earlier you arrive, less likely it is you will have to queue

Once you have signed up for casino entrance thenwalk across to the APAT desk where one of us will check you in for the tournament

Then seat draw at 2.15pm and start prompt at 2.30pm

Technically, not true (but I get your point).

I just meant that if people who are currently members of the G-Casino in Luton could be fast-tracked without having to queue - that would make it easier for all. 

Or am I just going to have to appear rude by pushing in, quickly swiping in, and then getting out of the way?   I think it might have been Ironside who mentioned an idea on the blondepoker forum.  He said that at airports there might be 3 desks - two for the standard travellers to queue in, and one for first-class travellers.  as the first-class deals with fewer people, it will often have no queue in front of it.  When that happens, the staff pull people out of the standard queue a group at a time and process them at the first-class desk. 

Just an idea, and it certainly has merit.

[TightEnd]

It does yes, perhaps you would like to suggest it to G Casino Luton and try not to smirk when you see the look on their faces? (not in their manual see?)

[APAT]

LOL.....ahem.....

[kinboshi]

I"ll suggest it when I arrive.  

[Jon MW]

...
Or am I just going to have to appear rude by pushing in, quickly swiping in, and then getting out of the way?  ...

That"s what some people did in Cardiff when they got bored of waiting in a queue when they already had a membership card.

I was so angry at this - that I pretended I didn"t see it (wouldn"t want to cause a fuss, that would be unseemly).

[kinboshi]

If you aren"t a member and have to queue to register, why should those who are members have to queue?  Surely, that just makes the queue longer for everyone?