Legality of homegames..

Mr. Flibble

Are private games legal, does it matter if they are played at home or somewhere public?

Secondly, would it be legal to have a game and charge for entry?

gerire

Are you thinking of charging people 'on the door' money or entry fee which is then prize money to play in the tournament?

Mr. Flibble

Not really thinking about it, just wondering. Say charging for entry into a game like a casino would charge a fiver for a €50+5 game, or what about taking 10% from the pot?

gerire

if you charge a reg its not going to be the friendliest of home games really, i personally would have a sour taste in my mouth if a reg was charged unless the house and food was exceptional,
for example at the start of the summer a few of us went to mrpuddings house where he layed on a fantastic BBQ etc and some good poker, but instead of charging a reg he began him 'im mad for it' period and threw chips at us all.
Seriously tho, who would you invite into your home that you would want to charge in?

Mr. Flibble

I see your points, but I'm just wondering about the law.

Hectorjelly

There is nowhere in Dublin where I can play the type of game I want to (AFAIK), and I would be more than willing to play for the privledge of playing in proper No Limit Hold Em cash game, blinds of at least 1 2 and a minimum buyin of around 2/300 Euro's. I would have absolutely no objection to somebody charging a rake or a time charge, provided it was less than a similar game in a casino/online. It would have to be run pretty well, with excellent facilities and a good dealer. Snacks & Drinks would be a advantage!

Im not a lawyer, but Im fairly sure you would be breaking the law by running this, the important point is that you are charging a fee; and as such would be breaking all manner of rules. However, you would have to go out of your way to be prosecuted for something like this, it goes on all the time.

kleefarr

Are there still a couple of casinos in Dub? How do they get round the gaming laws?

Davey Devil

They are private members clubs - not stictly casino's.

kleefarr

Davey Devil wrote:

They are private members clubs - not stictly casino's.

Thanks Davey.
So I could open up a "private members club" and fill it with AR/BJ/CSP tables? Isn't there something about the staff payinig €5 to work there which is also some kind of loophole?

Mr. Flibble

Are home games legal if a rake isn't charged?

fintan

what kind of licence do the casinos / members clubs in dublin have? is there one needed?

Corben Dallas

Mr Flibble = Officer Dibble?
OK Jus j/k

But seriously Mr Fibble what is the "....but is it legal?" deal in every post???? if u want to check out the legality then i suggest u pay for/take legal advice on the matter.

Otherwise try not to let what a bunch of friends do for an evenings entertainment in someones home bother u too much. :rolleyes:

I suggest just get out there and start playing poker, its a great social friendly (most of the time) game

Lafortezza

I've heard of home games in the states being raided by the police. Usually they were semi-serious with hired dealers and official rakes and so on. But still held in someones gaff. Can't see your local gardai doing that though...

Mr. Flibble

You have me wrong Corben, it doesn't bother me in the least that people play. I host home games every week and play in them twice/week or more.

I would just, out of curiosity, like to know the law - I hate it when people (my folks included) ask me if its legal to have all these games and I don't know the answer. I think its odd that theres something so popular that people do day in day out and no one seems to know if its against the law or not. I'd also like to know what kind of liscensing if any the fitz etc have to circumvente these laws.