Local Poker Problem

My friend made a Facebook group for local poker players. It gets hard to find games because we don't have connections to each other. I thought this was a good idea.

The problem, I'm not sure to what extent is poker considered illegal. I heard stories of cops busting into houses and arresting people for playing poker.

So on the group, I suggested this be posted:

Disclaimer: All events held are strictly for social enjoyment. Events are not run commercially and no rake is collected. The host does not have an advantage and and ensures that every player has an equal chance of winning. The host also does not derive any economic gain other than personal winnings.

I need some help from people that know what they're talking about. I don't want anyone getting in trouble. Thanks guys.

your disclaimer is smart and to the point. however, if local law enforcement feel like making an example out of someone, i dont think theyd be deterred by it.

The legalities depend on location. I'm pretty certain rake is a no-no everywhere. I know in some locations the deck must be passed with the dealer button, no fixed dealer, so no letting your busted buddy take over dealing. In some places playing at all no matter the precautions is illegal, in some a tourney can be acceptable as long as a certain portion of the money goes to a charity. Sadly, the rules vary by state and even town. Have to check up on your area.

Yeah, you really need to check your local laws. Get to know them well so that you can cover your ass. A disclaimer is never a bad idea, but you definitely need to know the legalities.

Using a site like Facebook to organize a poker game is not a good idea.

It leaves you open to legal problems and alerts thieves to the game's location.

I just contacted my local police department. No one there has any idea about the law of "gambling". The officer, who is a patrol man, told me the only people that would bust me are the ones from the drug and narcotics division. WTF? How does poker = drugs? Damn, I feel like some dirty criminal. Anyways, he told me to contact the guy who is in charge of the whole town's laws. The officer was a funny guy cause he knew how much bs this poker thing is. He was like, "yeah, I gotta keep my job, so I can't tell you can run this, but if I was to do this, not that I do , I would keep it on the low and between friends."

This is true. Also, check your local laws to be sure.

You know what? I can't really argue with this logic.

Pretty sure I actually read an article about some home game getting robbed by someone who found it being advertised on facebook. They're just monetizing their skill set, you're good at poker, they're good at wearing panty hose on their heads and still successfully being intimidating. Really I think theirs is the harder task.

HA HA HA, yes!

In a lot of places, playing the game is fine as long as all money being wagered is kept amongst those gambling. This means, as 0uts said, no rake, no tourny fees, etc. I'm sure there are lots of ways to get around this, like hosting a party poker at your house with refreshments and sell tickets for $X, and just happen to have a poker game going that anyone can play in. Ya know?

That robbing poker players via facebook is just solid. Lol, must've been one helluva home game, cuz most wouldn't have enough money to be worth it. That being said, not posting the address for just anyone to come play is probably a great idea.

seriously you must be kidding. you asked for advice. no one here wants to deter you from your home game, but use your head. best of luck with your venture

Actually it was JEP712 asking for advice...

True, it wasn't me, and I wasn't joking. Definitely read an article somewhere about that. And it wasn't to deter home gaming, just a funny anectdote and cautionary tale rolled into one delightful package.

So it wasn't facebook, but the same warning applies.
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/10/post_95.html

Take a gander at this article.

BIG reason why you don't advertise your game on the internet!!!!!!!!

im going to go to sleep now.....verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry tired. and embarressed

Meh, don't worry about it. Happens to the best of us.

Dang Gross, that's crazy. That's a serious sick beat.

What you gotta do, see, is buy a bunch of guns. Then set traps. "High stakes poker game at my place." Then you and your friends all take ambush positions around the house, see. Then every thirty minutes, the decoy goes out to have a cigarrette, see. When he comes back, one knock = all clear, two knocks = 'help I'm being robbed hahahaha', then you have an epic gunbattle.

Rinse and repeat until robbers stop showing up, then have a poker game.

Works 70% of the time, every time.

Shit, you must be Einsteins' father.

I guess you gotta play with the right people, anyone trying to rob my local poker room would be in for a world of hurt Course it'd be awfully -EV to be in the crossfire.

You need to check your state laws for gaming. In mo. 3 things need to be present for gambling to exist. 1. The element of chance must exist and be the predominat factor. 2. there must be a condsidertation. ie cash. 3 there iust be a benefit. winning. There are other tests in other states so check your state laws.

I know in my state you can have games if part of the money is going towards charity, and you cannot have a dealer, a friend of mine had one but he told me there's a ton of paper work and the person that has the game can't play in the tourny, but told me he had to hire dealers. but I'm in a freeroll league,at a local bar, there are no dealers and the winners just get a gift card for the bar, it has a restaurant also,I know a few of the people there have home games but for me the buyins are a little to much,I think they just invite friends and those friends invite their friends, if they ever decide to have a 25 to 50 dollar buyins I might think about it but 100 bucks with 50 dollar rebuys are still a little out of my league, but I think it's pretty much to just keep it under your hat at least that's the feeling I get when they ask me.I know I read sometime back that a VFW was closed down because they had holdem tourny's if I remember it was in Dallas, they were keeping some of the money from the buyin's to pay some of the bill's !!! but we also have casino's here and they have dealers and the casino keeps a rack on each hand?so if your a little confused so am I seem's like my state can't quite make up it's mind on what it wants to do oh but it is illeagle to play online here that I do know lol!!!

OMG roflmao o i haven't laughed that hard in a long time.An the works 70% of the time,every time.......this is epic. Just heard this was ftp robbing found out some one was running a game an not giveing them 10%.My quess e-dog, ferguson an durrr.

I lol'd.