The Lincoln Poker Club at the University of Nebraska is making waves in the US poker circuit. . The poker club now becomes the first and only collegiate poker club in the US to livestream its meetings. Since October 11, the UNL Poker Club has been working with Twitch to run live streams every Thursday and Sunday at 7pm.
First Livestreaming Collegiate Poker Club in US
Apart from streaming their meetings live, club members are also currently using a table with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, helping them achieve uninterrupted, professional live streams comparable to ESPN’s live broadcasts.
Club members built the table themselves by installing antennas that serve as a connection device to a computer program. As the cards hit the table, they are then displayed on the broadcast. The members contributed individually to raise the necessary funds for buying all the wood and materials to build the table, and the club’s president Alec Rome couldn’t be prouder of what the club has achieved.
The table was built back in September at the Nebraska Innovation Studio. It has since been transferred to the Andersen Hall, alongside the school’s other broadcasting equipment, including its professional live production system Tricaster which was previously used by the UNL Poker Club during its first stream.
But the group eventually discontinued using the Tricaster as it wasn’t suiting their needs. The club’s vice president Geoff Exstrom said the equipment is not flexible and is not compatible with USB and RFID. At the moment, the club streams its meetings using smartphones, a stream deck, and a gaming PC, all of which are owned by Rome.
The club prides itself on being among the best poker clubs in America. It competed against six other clubs in a six-week online tournament which took place in the middle of the pandemic. UNL won the whole thing, both in the team and individual categories. Rome said that victory brought them to the top, and it wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and effort exerted by all members.
Rome said their main goal is to get more people to play poker in the Lincoln area. The club will work on putting on exciting streams for people to watch so they’ll get an idea about how the game works, and the tremendous amount of fun it can bring.
More Than Just A Poker Club
Rome created the UNL Poker Club in 2019 with some friends. The club provides a platform for students to connect, have some fun, play poker, as well as engage in fundraising activities for charity. In May 2019, when the club held its first championship tournament, it became an event for a cause. By holding the tournament, the club was able to raise almost $1,100 for those affected by the Nebraska floods.
This year, the club’s spring semester championship tournament was held virtually due to the pandemic, but it still managed to raise over $500 for the Food Bank of Lincoln. The club has yet to finalize its plans for the fall semester, but among their goals is to help Nebraska families affected by COVID-19.
Dealing With COVID-19
When the pandemic hit in mid-March, the university had to close down, and the club had to implement changes especially when it comes to playing games and conducting meetings. It also came up with a plan to keep its members safe while staying on track for its goals, and that was when the livestreaming and RFID ideas were born.
As in-person interaction is an important element for the club, it plans on holding poker tournaments at different casinos during this semester but members will be required to wear face masks, and the chips, tables, and cards will be regularly sanitized. Each member’s temperature will also be checked before they can enter the venue. Bottled hand sanitizers will also be made available for players inside the room.