Home Poker Rake

I am wondering if anyone has ever been busted for taking a rake at a home poker game? If you use chips how the heck can they prove anything, I mean other than questioning other players or actually witnessing it I don't see any other way to prove it (I mix the chips in with the chips used for buyins and change just like at the casino, but I know where they are). I live in a small town and have ran a game for over a year and take $1 pot rake to pay for food, electricity, cards, chips, etc. etc. My players never want for anything, they have all they can eat, all the drinks they want (no alcohol unless they bring their own), and I play until the last one leaves. Someone has told a family member of mine that I am being watched by ATF, it is a small town and not sure whether to beleive it or ignore it and right it off as a rumor. I know the local police chief personally as a friend and have asked him if I need to "cool" it and he laughed at me and told me I was pretty much paranoid and that the least of his worries was a poker game, if the ATF was involved wouldn't he know? The players at my game have been playing together for several years and I don't see any of them turning on me as they don't have anywhere else to play like they have at my home poker game. The only thing I can figure is all the cars parked at my house 2 or 3 nights per week. I dunno, maybe I am just paranoid but I would sure like some input and thoughts from you guys.

if you are taking a rake at your games, then i would be carefull and not let just anybody in to play. only allow people that you trust. i live in a town that sounds pretty similar to yours and we just had a well respected lawyer get busted for an illegal game.

the thing is, he had the dime dropped on him by a guy that was busted for drugs. then he started getting monitored, then he got raided. word travels fast in small towns. just take caution.

I agree with Chief....You leave yourself open for busts wheen you let anyone play. We have something similar here. You could find a local charity and do a poker run once a month and if any one pokes around you can say that you are playing a "practice tourney". Works well here as the 'game' I mentioned got broke up a few times by local police that had received "complaints" (usually a scorned player who busted out), but in the end they couldn't touch them.

2 or 3 nights a week...$1/pot....You're not just covering expenses you're running an illegal room. Just admit to this fact and get on with it. If you get busted hire an attorney and get through it, but don't kid yourself saying you're just trying to cover expenses for a friendly home game.

Electricity....lol. gl

I have been hearing so many news stories of games getting busted. Figure out how to do what you are doing legally or stop what you are doing.

Here are the laws in the states:
State Gambling Laws

You are getting a snowjob. The ATF has no jurisdiction over gambling at all. If you spoke to the local police (who DO have jurisdiction) and they don't care, then don't worry about it.

The local game I play in twice a month takes a 0.50 a hand rake to pay for the beer, which is all you can drink.

Did you see that Chuck?

All you can drink

1. just do it
2. ???
3. prophet
4. sex

Do a google search on busted poker game, you will see many. Here's on that was raided by ATF and others:
Another Home Game Raided, Twenty Four Arrested | Poker News

If the cops don't bust you, they could always rob you:
Delaware Trooper Arrested Following Poker Game Robbery | Poker News

Evidently you have not ran a home poker game if you think I am making money at $1 pot. Add it up, we cook a meal every night, have all and every kind of soda, snacks, candy, popcorn, cookies, and the like that you would ever want, increased utility bills, Copag cards that stay in new condition, clay poker chips, nice tables, nice comfortable chairs, etc. etc. You add up the expenses and I'm not getting rich here.

As to everyones elses replies thank you for the input. I would assume that if this was not a rumor then my local police chief would be aware of the situation and according to him would tell me. Heck he wants to play but thinks it would look bad since he is the chief in the bible belt.

The Georgia game bust is no suprise as Georgia is very strict on gambling in general, you can't even have a home slot or video poker machine, which in alot of states is perfectly legal.

Keep up the comments and suggestions and THANX IN ADVANCE!

cut away the candy/soda its bad for people's health anyways. then u can save and then cut away some rake.