Hosting a tourney - are there any issues?

[tonypap]

What's the deal with playing poker for money in your house? For example, if I was to host a tournament with 30 players would I be at any risk of getting in trouble. For the sake of this discussion, lets say the tournament is a $300 buy-in where 100% of the monies are distributed among the winners. There will be no entry fee and the house (me) will not take a penny - even the food I will serve will be my expense.

Can you guys help me out - I'm not familiar with the law regarding gambling in your house...

[BPTDirector]

The laws differ depending on which state you live in. Generally no game taking a rake is legal in any state, but since you state that no rake whatsoever will be taken and all monies taken in will be returned, this does make your game legal in some states. Check out your state law, and you will have the answer.

Hope this helps;
BPT

[tonypap]

Originally Posted by BPTDirector

The laws differ depending on which state you live in. Generally no game taking a rake is legal in any state, but since you state that no rake whatsoever will be taken and all monies taken in will be returned, this does make your game legal in some states. Check out your state law, and you will have the answer.

Hope this helps;
BPT

I live in New Jersey....any idea what this state's law is? Where would I be able to find out?

[sunderB]

the PPA has a listing by state.

Here you go.

http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/...nyourstate.php

EDIT: Sorry wrong link. I'll try to find the right one

[sunderB]

here you go.
http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Laws/


When in doubt, Call you local police department. If you are worried about caller ID, call form a payphone.

[jimmygunz]

i am in jersey too and i know a bunch of tourneys that run about 4 or 5 times a year from 100 to 500 bucks and there never has been problems. i think that its fine if the house takes no rake or has employees

[tonypap]

Just tried to decipher the laws for New Jersey from the website in above post. It's all greek to me! If anyone can explain to me whether it IS or is NOT legal to have a tournament in my house where 100% of the pot is distributed among the winners I would really appreciate it. (I would prefer NOT to have to call the local police department)

[shadesofgrey]

Originally Posted by tonypap

Just tried to decipher the laws for New Jersey from the website in above post. It's all greek to me! If anyone can explain to me whether it IS or is NOT legal to have a tournament in my house where 100% of the pot is distributed among the winners I would really appreciate it. (I would prefer NOT to have to call the local police department)

Yeah, that was a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo....

I did find this, and it appears that its legal as long as there is no rake, and you do not profit aside from winnings at the table.

"State law allows gambling outside casinos, with some restrictions, said the attorney who represented the club's operators, Amato Galasso. "A poker game would be legal as long as no one would be profiting, aside from personal winnings," he said Monday." http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/ne...05-484007.html

obviously the best advice would be to ask a lawyer or the local law enforcement... but I would say you're probably safe if you only take winnings from the table.

[smoore]

Originally Posted by sunderB

here you go.
http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Laws/

Yeah, that's what I was going to post. I tried three or four times to make a thread with just that link in the OP but it keeps disappearing. I don't know if one of the mods is deleting it or if it just "falls off" but it keeps going away so I stopped.

[tonypap]

You guys are great! Thanks for the 411. To cover my A$$, I'm going to ask my lawyer. I will post my findings once I get them.