legal question

S

stinkypat

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Total posts
4
Chips
0
I'm swiss (that explain my bad english), I just want to know if it's legal to play money out of a casino in the USA ot any othe coutries aou're living on? For example playing a little sit'n'go with friends with an entry fee of 50$.

Because here in switzerland, if the police see anybody playing poker out of a casino with money to win we could have to pay until 20'000chf (~16'000$) and go to prison for three to twelve month.

The question is: are we the only occidental country where is illegal to play poker?
 
T

tigertight

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 15, 2007
Total posts
416
Chips
0
lol i think so i don't know any that playing poker is illegal
 
K

Kinkikos

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Sep 21, 2007
Total posts
24
Chips
0
Here in Ontario, canada, you can run a cash game only if you have a gaming licence from the government. Police don't bother with kitchen table games or a few friends getting together, but if a business runs an unlicenced poker game or someone runs an unlicenced game for profit, they do get busted.
 
S

stinkypat

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Total posts
4
Chips
0
nope in switzerland, if you're doing a simple sit'n'go with friends and police come and see you're playing money you could have to pay until 20'000 CHF (~16'000$). They say we compete to casino and legal game center, but there is no place to play texas holdem here, we have to go to germany, france or austria.

Government is working on a new law for poker, because poker is considered as a lottery for now, and they want to adjust this, poker will became a sport in which skills are important. But our politicians are not quick, so we must wait and stay illegal lol
 
KingCurtis

KingCurtis

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Total posts
9,946
Awards
1
Chips
1
Usually nobody bothers anyone reall..I.m from southern Pennsylavania and i have played in cash games and tournies against cops........even at some firehalls there are 25$ buyin tournaments......i think there is a law against it but everyone likes poker so nobody cares not even the cops lol
 
OzExorcist

OzExorcist

Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Total posts
8,586
Awards
1
Chips
1
In Australia, my understanding is that it's legal provided that the game is private, fair and the house doesn't take a rake. The second someone other than a casino starts taking a rake, things start getting illegal.
 
arkadiy

arkadiy

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
May 28, 2007
Total posts
2,378
Chips
0
I THINK, but definitely sure about those rules, that if the player hosting the game gets any rake on it, then it is illegal. If there is no rake involved then it is perfectly legal.

Of course I don't live in Switzerland :\
 
Flops'm&Bets'm

Flops'm&Bets'm

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Total posts
367
Chips
0
Well may I suggest that you keep the Gestapo at bay by, simply using chips as the 'token value' and the game
as a tournament where a Buy-In is the free for a set # of chips. the $ goes into a cookie Jar (Concealed)
and the game plays like a usualy Tournament with 15 min. Blind levels to a Cap. of 25% of the Total chips in play.
That way if the police come, it is only a simple house game for fun & folly.
Winner takes all or 70% for 1st, 20% for 2nd and 10% for 3rd
and have 1 re-buy for Half the initial Buy-in then they are out.
Example:
  • $50 Buy-In
  • $25 Re-buy 1x (No add-ons)
  • Blinds go up every 15 min.
  • Starting Chips 1500 or 3,000 (depending on you Chip case and Values)
  • maximum entrants say 20 players (2 tables)
  • Prize set as determined by the Host / manager
Who would have thought that the 'Peace Nation' and the keeper of 'Untouchable' Bank accounts would have such a Law..What a Paradox!

~Say Hi to Shania Twain & Mutt Lang for me~ LOL
 
S

stinkypat

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Total posts
4
Chips
0
Big brother is not here, so we can make little tourney with friends without any problems, cops dont care about this. But if we want to do something bigger, 20-30-50 people this is impossible, or too dangerous, even if we dont get a rake.

You know Flops'm&Bets'm, this paradox exists in every "democratic" country, in the USA, where liberty is so important, a democratic activist has been arrested in Florida after asking John Kerry why he didnt want to recount vote in Florida after the 2004 election... Paradox...Paradox, is the same thing everywhere.

I have a lunch with Shania next week end, i'll say hello for you dont worry lol
 
P

perry

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 8, 2007
Total posts
115
Chips
0
The Irony of it all

:) Here in USA: I can buy lottery tickets at the grocery store; go to the Catholic church to play bingo for MONEY: Have a nice day at the dog or horse racing track and bet real money; Of course the indians get their payback at the casino's; It's simple to go to Ebay and bid on an auction (gambling) and win an item.

:mad: I'm free to think and express my opinions about any subject without the government locking me up - However, I cannot be trusted to put my money into an online gaming cite because they are probably immoral or I'm debauched? Someday the politico's will discover the money to be made by the Treasury taxing online card games and even to figure out that I am capable of making my own decisions on how I spend my money without their control over my behavior. I have no intention of betting myself into the poorhouse and will not require public assistance to survive. My motto is "Get the hell out of my life Uncle Sam" - I love you . . . what's next ?
 
zachvac

zachvac

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 14, 2007
Total posts
7,832
Chips
0
My understanding of online laws, some try to say that the wire act bars online gambling, it states something about bets "over the wires". To date a case hasn't reached the courts that have ruled on that, so it's up in the air.

Live gambling: State laws, in my home state of Maryland it's illegal but the police's official policy is they don't enforce it unless there's a rake. In Ohio the actual law states that it's legal without a rake. Basically no one cares about home games for fun, if the house makes a profit they don't like it.
 
zachvac

zachvac

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 14, 2007
Total posts
7,832
Chips
0
Big brother is not here, so we can make little tourney with friends without any problems, cops dont care about this. But if we want to do something bigger, 20-30-50 people this is impossible, or too dangerous, even if we dont get a rake.

You know Flops'm&Bets'm, this paradox exists in every "democratic" country, in the USA, where liberty is so important, a democratic activist has been arrested in Florida after asking John Kerry why he didnt want to recount vote in Florida after the 2004 election... Paradox...Paradox, is the same thing everywhere.

I have a lunch with Shania next week end, i'll say hello for you dont worry lol

The kid was not arrested, he was hit by a taser. And the police did not arrest him, don't think he was charged with a crime. Also the police are under investigation and I hope they get fired.
 
nevadanick

nevadanick

Back to work ... zzzzz
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Total posts
8,477
Chips
0
I believe one of the most common things encountered in the U.S. is 'selective enforcement'. A $400 home cash game is likely illegal, but hardly worth $10,000+ taxpayer dollars to prosecute. A daily (or even weekly) cash game in the back room of a bar/tavern might be a higher profile target.

In most U.S. states, any type on unlicensed gaming is illegal and definitely illegal when a rake/profit for the house is derived.

Most poker players use 'chips' for the table action. The buy-in cash is never in sight and very difficult to bust and/or prosecute. Floating craps games are often busted because it is common for cash to be used on the table instead of chips.

Running a home game? Pay for the clay. It's a smart investment.
 
I

iamthepush

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 17, 2007
Total posts
93
Chips
0
i don't think it's "cops" job to enforce gaming laws. i think thats more along the lines of fbi and state task forces.

in texas you can play poker, for any stakes, as long as the house doesn't have a rake.
 
I

iamthepush

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 17, 2007
Total posts
93
Chips
0
The kid was not arrested, he was hit by a taser. And the police did not arrest him, don't think he was charged with a crime. Also the police are under investigation and I hope they get fired.


Don't taze me bro.

Man that's some funny shit right there. **** with the bull and get the horns.
 
Top