Definition of Guarantee

What does the term "guarantee" mean in the world of poker? What is the definition of the term "guarantee" in poker?

Casinos and online poker rooms will often offer "guarantees" on their tournaments in an attempt to increase turnouts for events. For instance, you will be much more likely to play in an event that has a $1 million guarantee rather than an event that has no guarantee.

When tournaments have "guarantees", this means that the casino or poker room is guaranteeing that there will be a minimum amount of money in the prize pool. For instance, if a tournament has a $1 million guarantee, this means that the casino or poker room is guaranteeing that they will pay out $1 million, regardless of the turnout for the event.

In some cases, a tournament may have less entrants than expected, which could result in an "overlay". An overlay occurs when a casino or poker room overestimates the size of the field and has to put their own money into the prize pool in order to meet the guarantee.

For instance, if 200 people pay $500 to enter a tournament and the casino or poker room has guaranteed a total prize pool of $200,000, this would mean that the tournament organizers would need to put $100,000 of their own money into the prize pool in order to meet the guarantee.

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Recent Articles That Include The Term Guarantee:


Pokerstars Celebrates 200 Billion Hands With Downsized Promotion

$10 Million Guarantee Blown Away in 13th Anniversary Sunday Million

Partypoker "Powerfest" To Start on March 31st

2019 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) To Run From May 12-May 27

Sunday Million Numbers Dropping Since Buy-In Was Cut To $109


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