Private clubs are ClubGG's main selling point: you are the admin, and you decide who gets in, which formats run, the blinds and how chips are handed out. This page goes from creating a club to running your first tournament, with the settings you should lock down from the start.
Creating a club in five steps
- Lobby → Clubs → Create. Enter a name, description and avatar. The name can be changed later but members see it.
- Set the join mode. Approval-required or open. Home games should always require approval.Open mode lets strangers in to sit at your tables; switch it off from the start.
- Note the club ID. It is the only key your friends need. Share it in private messages, never on public social media.
- Approve requests and assign admins. With a larger group, one or two deputy admins can share approvals and chip issuing.
- Issue chips and open the first table. Give each member a starting stack and run a cash table or sit and go as a test.
Table settings to decide up front
| Setting | Suggested (home game) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Six-max hold'em | Everyone knows it; add PLO and Short Deck later |
| Blinds | 10,000 starting chips, blinds 50/100 | 100 BB deep, room for post-flop play |
| Buy-in range | 50–200 BB | Stops short buy-ins from turning it into an all-in fest |
| Action timer | 20 to 30 seconds | Mobile players need time; short timers cause misclicks |
| Straddle / Run it twice | Off at first | Not needed in a beginners' game |
| Tournament structure | 8 to 10 minute levels, 30 to 50 BB start | 60 to 90 minutes, one event per evening |
Chip management
Club chips are issued and reclaimed by admins, and this is the part to agree on before anyone sits down. Two common approaches:
- Fixed allowance. Each member receives a fixed stack once a week; when it is gone, it is gone until next week. Good for purely social games.
- Leaderboard. Monthly chip rankings with bragging rights or small non-cash prizes. Good for long-running groups.
Never tie club chips to cash. Settling free-app chips for money privately is gambling under Taiwanese law and is prohibited by ClubGG's terms. Reported clubs are closed. This page covers recreational use only.
Running a club tournament
- Club → Create Tournament → choose the format (freezeout, re-buy, bounty).
- Set the chip buy-in, starting stack, level length, start time and minimum players.
- Announce the start time in your group chat and remind members to register early.
- Admins can watch once it starts but cannot intervene in hands.
- Record the results afterwards with PokerCraft (subscription feature) or screenshots.
Admin rights and common problems
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| A member says chips vanished | Check the issuing log; chips only drop through play or admin reclaim |
| Someone stalls every hand | Shorten the timer; remove the member if needed |
| Suspected collusion | Report in-app; admins can remove first and the platform security team reviews |
| Changing admins | Club settings → Members → assign / transfer ownership |
| Closing the club | The owner can dissolve it; member chips disappear, so announce it first |
Beyond clubs, ClubGG's platform events and WSOP qualifiers are the other route; see events and WSOP qualifiers.
Frequently asked questions
Does creating a club cost anything?
No. Any free account can create a club. Subscriptions affect platform qualifiers and tools, not club features.
Are club chips real money?
No. Club chips are issued and reclaimed by admins and have no redeemable value in the app. ClubGG has no deposits or withdrawals.
How many people can I invite?
The member cap depends on the app version and is plenty for home games and communities. For larger clubs, assign extra admins to share approvals.
How do I keep strangers out?
Set the club to approval-required and share the club ID only with friends. Admins can remove members at any time.
Can clubs run tournaments?
Yes. Admins set chip buy-ins, blind structure, start time and player limits, and can also run sit and gos.
Can admins see other players' hole cards?
No. Admin rights cover members, chips and table settings; the game itself is controlled by the platform RNG and servers.
