There are articles talking about doing play money home games but the games are really for real money, people settle up via Venmo, Apple Pay, etc. So, these are really online poker games for real money. Isn't that illegal? Could the players face legal trouble? Could the organizer face legal trouble?

Hello, There are many tournaments in play money homegames, and they give you cash prizes, sometimes they give tickets, or they make payments in Skirll for example.

But what you say, it would be better if you contact support so they can confirm you.

Did you see "Molly's game"? Only taking a rake breaks the law.

In most places, it is the raking of a real money home cash game that makes it illegal. Here in the UK, you can play in a home game all you want, as long as it is unraked and among "friends", whatever that means.

Make sure you trust them, otherwise you might never get Venmo'd.

It's not illegal

Im pretty sure its all legit here in Canada

I remember the first tournament I won was at poker stars, and it was badugi. I was surprised when I realized that I was playing for play chips, but despite this, I was happy as a donkey.
It's a shame that now even big wins don't bring a semblance of that feeling.