Allied Trade |
AssociationATA Poker Run
A simple, interactive way to increase attendee traffic, encourage meaningful vendor conversations, and add a little friendly competition to the event floor.
About the Poker Run
The ATA Poker Run is designed to bring attendees directly to participating ATA vendor booths. Attendees visit vendors, engage with company representatives, and collect a playing card as they work toward building their best five-card poker hand.
The activity gives vendors a natural opportunity to start conversations, introduce products or services, and build relationships.
How the Poker Run Works
Each participating ATA vendor will serve as one stop in the Poker Run. Attendees must visit participating booths and interact with the vendor before receiving a card. Particpants hold a maximum of 5 cards in their hands. Only one card from each vendor may remain in a participant’s hand. A participant who would like to replace a card in their hand may discard their card to a participating vendor, give the unwanted card to the vendor for the discard pile and draw a new card.
Visit a Participating Vendor
Attendees locate participating ATA vendors using the official Poker Run vendor list, signage, or event materials.
Engage at the Booth
The attendee speaks with the vendor representative, learns about the company, or completes the vendor’s brief booth activity.
Draw a Playing Card
After the interaction, the attendee draws one card from that vendor’s deck. Cards may not be selected by sight or exchanged between attendees.
Build a Five-Card Hand
Attendees continue visiting participating vendors until they have collected the cards needed to complete their official five-card poker hand.
Use the Discard Option
An attendee may discard an unwanted card at a participating vendor and draw a replacement, subject to the official event rules.
Submit the Final Hand
Completed hands must be submitted at the designated Poker Run turn-in location before the posted deadline.
Winning the Poker Run
The attendee with the highest ranking valid five-card poker hand wins. Standard poker-hand rankings will be used. Tie-breaking procedures will be announced before the event begins.
Vendor Participation Requirements
Participating vendors help make the Poker Run successful by providing a welcoming booth experience and following a consistent card distribution process.
- The company must be a current ATA member in good standing.
- The company must be an approved exhibitor or commercial participant at the NCAB event.
- ATA will provide one complete standard deck of playing cards marked with a number to maintain fairness.
- The deck should remain shuffled, face down, and under the control of the booth representative.
- A representative must be available at the booth during the official Poker Run hours.
- Vendors must display the official ATA Poker Run sign or identifier at their booth.
- Vendors must distribute cards only after an attendee has completed the expected booth interaction.
- Vendors must follow the same draw, discard, and replacement card rules used by all participating companies.
- Vendors must return all cards to the ATA representative at the end of the event. This includes all discarded cards.
What Vendors Should Bring
A Simple Booth Interaction
Prepare one brief conversation prompt, question, product demonstration, or educational activity that attendees can complete before drawing a card.
Official Vendor Signage
ATA will provide or distribute the approved Poker Run booth sign. Display it where attendees can easily identify your booth as a participating stop.
An Informed Booth Representative
Make sure the person managing the cards understands the official rules, including the attendee draw process and any permitted discard or replacement card procedure.
Card Distribution Rules
- Each participating vendor uses its issued complete deck of playing cards.
- The deck must remain shuffled and face down while cards are being distributed.
- Attendees may draw only after completing the participating vendor’s booth interaction.
- Vendors may not choose a card for an attendee or allow the attendee to view card faces before drawing.
- Cards may not be exchanged between attendees.
- An attendee may not receive repeated cards from the same vendor unless completing an authorized discard and replacement.
- When a card is discarded, the vendor should place it in a separate discard pile. Discarded cards should not be returned to play.
- Vendors should not advise attendees which cards to keep or discard.
- Only hands submitted through the official Poker Run process will be eligible for prizes.
- ATA and the host event reserve the right to resolve disputes, reject invalid hands, or modify procedures when necessary.
Recommended Vendor Booth Interaction
The booth interaction should be useful and brief. The goal is to create a real introduction, not hold an attendee hostage while a sales presentation enters its fourth act.
Ask One Question
Ask the attendee about their role, facility, purchasing needs, or current challenges.
Share One Key Message
Explain one product, service, capability, or company advantage that is relevant to the attendee.
Offer a Brief Demonstration
Show a product feature, sample, display, or short educational demonstration.
Invite Future Contact
Encourage the attendee to exchange contact information or return for a more detailed conversation later.
Event-Day Schedule
Final times will be confirmed before the event. Participating vendors should plan to be ready before attendee play begins.
Vendors display their Poker Run sign, confirm their card deck is complete, and review the rules with booth staff.
Official Poker Run play begins. Vendors may begin distributing cards to eligible attendees.
Vendors stop distributing cards and direct attendees to the official turn-in location.
All completed hands must be submitted. Late entries may not be accepted.
The winning hand and prize recipient will be announced at the designated time and location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who may participate as a Poker Run vendor?
Does ATA provide the playing cards?
Can our company use a branded deck?
How long should the booth interaction take?
Can a vendor simply hand out cards without a conversation?
Can an attendee draw more than once from our booth?
What should we do with discarded cards?
What happens if our booth runs out of cards?
Who determines the winning hand?
Vendor Participation
ATA member vendors are automatically registered to participate when they exhibit at NCAB. Additional instructions and event materials will be provided to participating companies.
Contact the Poker Run CoordinatorPoker Run procedures, schedules, prize details, and participation rules are subject to change. Final instructions provided by ATA or the host event will take precedence over preliminary information shown on this page.