 | 
09-25-2006, 10:41 AM
|  | ChipTalk.net Article Writer | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rapidly Warming Up England Age: 41
Posts: 2,059
Chips: 2,140
| | | Re: How can I accept money and keep the game legal?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by OnTheButton But when you are always the host, and your hospitality becomes expected, then you have to change your plan, especially when it is costing you money to be nice to your guests. | Amen.
My position exactly. |
09-25-2006, 12:37 PM
|  | World Series Champ | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lakewood, CO Age: 37
Posts: 4,834
Chips: 1,861
| | | Re: How can I accept money and keep the game legal?
Taking a rake is illegal (everyone knows this)
Selling booze is illegal (also).
The problem comes when you COMBINE them. An overzealous DA would look at your tip jar and see not only a gambling violation but a liquor license violation.
Just do the BYOB thing.
Since I'm unemployed now, I'm considering setting up an actual underground game that I deal/rake and do not play. You can bet your ass I wouldn't provide a single beer to any of the players... I don't need a liquor violation on TOP of a gambling violation 
__________________
-   |
10-17-2006, 11:16 PM
| | In the Money | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 491
Chips: 31
| | | Re: How can I accept money and keep the game legal?
i host a cash game.. no rake. sometimes people contribute for alcohol. one of my regulars is a cop |
10-18-2006, 08:59 AM
|  | Big Stack | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: CA$H game at 3-Creek Ranch Age: 53
Posts: 1,984
Chips: 22
| | | Re: How can I accept money and keep the game legal?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by julian i host a cash game.. no rake. sometimes people contribute for alcohol. one of my regulars is a cop | I think you will find that if the feces hits the fan, that is just going to make it worse.
Want to see some overzealous prosecution? Just say “bad cop”. No DA can let that go, they have to act. |
10-18-2006, 11:48 AM
| | In the Money | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 491
Chips: 31
| | | Re: How can I accept money and keep the game legal?
well i think what it comes down to is that there are 10 different underground poker rooms in my city (montreal) that i know with 10+ tables that take a rake and some that offer higher stakes (20-40 cash game)
my game is not open to the public. no one knows about it and yes sometimes people have to pay for the beer that they drink out of my fridge. but are the cops really gonna spend the money to investigate every little home game (probably hundreds in the city) with warrants, surveillance, etc?
if they were going to take someone down, they have priorities. it would be the organized poker rooms.. which they actually tried to do a few months ago, came barging in with guns, seized everything, arrested everyone.. it was all over the news. and nothing came out of it except for small fines, no criminal records. i know the guy who ran one of these clubs and he was fined ~20K.. and he was making 30k a week for the year that it was open. i know that in the US the penalties surely would have been more severe, but this is my situation  |
10-18-2006, 12:21 PM
|  | ChipTalk.net Article Writer | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lake Orion, MI Age: 38
Posts: 5,337
Chips: 5,848
| | | Re: How can I accept money and keep the game legal?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by julian my game is not open to the public. no one knows about it and yes sometimes people have to pay for the beer that they drink out of my fridge. but are the cops really gonna spend the money to investigate every little home game (probably hundreds in the city) with warrants, surveillance, etc? | Most folks understand that small, home games (raked or not) are not targets of the police. Typically the only issues you'll run into are disgruntled players/neighbors making a complaint, other issues such a drugs or guns on the premise, etc.
Basically, better to be safe than sorry. |
10-18-2006, 12:47 PM
| | Big Stack | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: CA$H game at 3-Creek Ranch Age: 53
Posts: 1,984
Chips: 22
| | | Re: How can I accept money and keep the game legal?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by hachkc Most folks understand that small, home games (raked or not) are not targets of the police. Typically the only issues you'll run into are disgruntled players/neighbors making a complaint, other issues such a drugs or guns on the premise, etc.
Basically, better to be safe than sorry. | Too true. You need to know your players. Not just who they are, but really know them. |
10-18-2006, 01:16 PM
|  | ChipTalk.net Article Writer | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hamilton, ON
Posts: 794
Chips: 1,577
| | | Re: How can I accept money and keep the game legal?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by julian my game is not open to the public. no one knows about it and yes sometimes people have to pay for the beer that they drink out of my fridge. but are the cops really gonna spend the money to investigate every little home game (probably hundreds in the city) with warrants, surveillance, etc? | I agree -- they're not going to launch a full-scale investigation into every home game... but you make yourself different by charging a rake and charging for alcohol. In the eyes of the police, you've become a nice target and a good public relations bust.
How are they going to find out about you? All it takes is one unhappy camper to make a complaint, and/or one player to take pictures/video with their cellphone. The cops now have evidence to bust your illegal home game, and you could end up screwed.
I guess it all comes down to this: we're all gamblers here -- are you willing to bet your house and your money that the cops won't investigate you? |  | |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
Chips Per Thread View: 0 Chips Per Thread: 3 Chips Per Reply: 1 | | |
| |
