Lol, you'd have to go rummage through the kids rooms for any hope of that swill.
Do you take rake when hosting a game? (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Ghostpoker
- Start date
I would never play in a home game raked by the hand.
I am still happy to contribute some money for food and for a dedicated dealer paid by the hour (if ever found), and, of course, I always BMyOB.
As a host in Greece, you 're only supposed to get gifts in the form of bottles.
Being a regular host, I appreciate the BYOB (I still offer some booze to start with) and I buy the losers' share of food. I only ask for winners' share of food (only because I host very frequently - otherwise I would offer that too).
I would also ask for every player's contribution (out of principle) if we ever got to have a professional dealer, paid strictly by the hour.
Hosting is an expense even if you 're a frequent winner, within reasonable limits.
Apparently, I host 'cause that makes me happy and I don't like playing with dice chips on fuggly tables.
I am still happy to contribute some money for food and for a dedicated dealer paid by the hour (if ever found), and, of course, I always BMyOB.
As a host in Greece, you 're only supposed to get gifts in the form of bottles.
Being a regular host, I appreciate the BYOB (I still offer some booze to start with) and I buy the losers' share of food. I only ask for winners' share of food (only because I host very frequently - otherwise I would offer that too).
I would also ask for every player's contribution (out of principle) if we ever got to have a professional dealer, paid strictly by the hour.
Hosting is an expense even if you 're a frequent winner, within reasonable limits.
Apparently, I host 'cause that makes me happy and I don't like playing with dice chips on fuggly tables.
Yamas!
I’d have to dig into the legal nuances of “commonly,” but I suspect they’re looking for folks running a casino, not periodic amazing tournaments and card games.
trever
Flush
Based on the guys I play with, you are under-charging
Is this true? Wtf? People can’t agree to play a game together? No way. Can I play basketball for money? Is that illegal?
NotRealNameNoSir
4 of a Kind
I am not a lawyer, none of this is legal advice, but this is what I've found:
"Can I Play Home Poker Games in Georgia?
The State of Georgia maintains that playing poker is illegal, and they make no exception for private games. In some states, if the host does not charge the players or rake the pot, then a private poker game is legal, but Georgia does not make that same distinction."
We can all say they wont actually enforce it buuut lets not give them a reason, eh? Dont love the idea that my microstakes game can end in a civil servant visiting.
merkong
Flush
I’m softening my position on food being served at my games at the end of the summer.
I already spread plenty of water and soft drinks and a couple dozen Dunkin’ Donuts at each session. Going to expand at the end of the summer to sloppy joes, hot dogs, and tacos etc. Rotating. All eating away of the table.
Be a friend of the game or the food stops.
Oh, and I’ve never played a game without friending the game at least $5. Always more if they have a spread and/or if I play ahead.
I was brought up right.
No rake. Raking is not good.
I already spread plenty of water and soft drinks and a couple dozen Dunkin’ Donuts at each session. Going to expand at the end of the summer to sloppy joes, hot dogs, and tacos etc. Rotating. All eating away of the table.
Be a friend of the game or the food stops.
Oh, and I’ve never played a game without friending the game at least $5. Always more if they have a spread and/or if I play ahead.
I was brought up right.
No rake. Raking is not good.
Legend5555
Full House
Where I live, it's illegal. Technically, it's illegal to play poker for money no matter what.
I play in SEVERAL raked games around my area. But no higher than $2/$5. Any higher than that and you do run a big risk. More of getting robbed/cheated than of the cops. And rake around here isn't small either. 10% max $10, sometimes with a jackpot drop of $1-2.
My own opinion... yes I would rake, but not like this. In my small friendly games of .25/.50 or small tournaments, no rake. We won't even ask for food money or anything. But we only do games like this every couple of months. We just look at it as an entertainment expense.
Now when we officially start our recurring 6/12+ mix game, we will be charging a food fee and $10/hr seat charge. But even that is just enough to cover food and alcohol, and repair/replacement of decks etc. If there is a little bit leftover, or we start making more than I think we will, we might adjust it down, or put the money towards money added tournaments or something. Basically, if I'm going to run a regular game as a service to the local poker crowd, especially something that doesn't get done elsewhere like mixed, then I want to make a little/break even on the time and effort.
If I raked like the other games, I'd be making around $200/hr and that money would be coming off the table. At this structure, money stays on the table, and I'm only making at most $80/hr.
I play in SEVERAL raked games around my area. But no higher than $2/$5. Any higher than that and you do run a big risk. More of getting robbed/cheated than of the cops. And rake around here isn't small either. 10% max $10, sometimes with a jackpot drop of $1-2.
My own opinion... yes I would rake, but not like this. In my small friendly games of .25/.50 or small tournaments, no rake. We won't even ask for food money or anything. But we only do games like this every couple of months. We just look at it as an entertainment expense.
Now when we officially start our recurring 6/12+ mix game, we will be charging a food fee and $10/hr seat charge. But even that is just enough to cover food and alcohol, and repair/replacement of decks etc. If there is a little bit leftover, or we start making more than I think we will, we might adjust it down, or put the money towards money added tournaments or something. Basically, if I'm going to run a regular game as a service to the local poker crowd, especially something that doesn't get done elsewhere like mixed, then I want to make a little/break even on the time and effort.
If I raked like the other games, I'd be making around $200/hr and that money would be coming off the table. At this structure, money stays on the table, and I'm only making at most $80/hr.
Okay. Well, let it be known I have never played poker in Georgia. I do however, play card games with friends that have cool chips. Just never poker.
Moxie Mike
Full House
In tournaments there's a $5 house fee for consumables.
In cash games, our dedicated dealer rakes $1 per pot as compensation. Other than that there's no rake.
In cash games, our dedicated dealer rakes $1 per pot as compensation. Other than that there's no rake.
Are you going to be playing in the raked games that you are hosting?
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Legend5555
Full House
Possibly, but it wouldn't be a regular occurrence. It's also VERY common for the house to play in their own games around here. No one cares. I understand the sentiment you are getting at though. But you have to understand, I live in a place with no better options. People can't afford to be picky around here. I play in several games where the host might play in the game. I don't care. I'm still winning in all the games I go to, even with the crazy rake.
20+ years now of hosting tourneys/cash games in GA.
Never a "rake" in terms of money that never will be seen again by any player.
My tourney series has always held back 10% of total entry pool for regular season champion (10%) and then end-of-season game (remaining 90%).
Starting my 5th season of WSOP satellites, I'm changing format. We used to have every player that wasn't a season-long dealer bring food at least once. I've ditched that and am now taking a fee from each player and providing food/ NA beverages for the entire season. Less hassle of players having to bring crockpots/instapots, and I (and my wife) enjoy cooking.
Never a "rake" in terms of money that never will be seen again by any player.
My tourney series has always held back 10% of total entry pool for regular season champion (10%) and then end-of-season game (remaining 90%).
Starting my 5th season of WSOP satellites, I'm changing format. We used to have every player that wasn't a season-long dealer bring food at least once. I've ditched that and am now taking a fee from each player and providing food/ NA beverages for the entire season. Less hassle of players having to bring crockpots/instapots, and I (and my wife) enjoy cooking.
Preditor
Pair
Californian here hosting a home tourney once a month, and I'm still fairly confused by this.
Our tourney is low stakes, $30, but we also charge $8 for food/drinks. It never occurred to me until recently that the food fee might be considered a rake, but I can't really seem to find any info on it.
That charge is clearly dileniated though in the invites we send to people (BUY IN: $30 / FOOD: $8). It doesn't come out of the main pot, and we still take a loss on the pizza/drinks.
Is that technically considered a rake? Or as long as you keep it a separate, dedicated fee, is that just dinner with friends?
I doubt Johnny Law is gonna knock on my door for an $8 pizza fee, but I find it curious/confusing, and want to be on the up-and-up.
Seeking Alpha Social Club
4 of a Kind
It depends on where you live. I don't know about CA, but VA has some ridiculous laws that give them the ability to raid your game if you take money for anything. I get around this by doing everything potluck style or just offering it up. My wife was initially concerned that I would be spending a ton of money since I also have an open bar, but what you find is that you end up with more alcohol and food than you know what to do with if you surround youraelf with the right peeps. Nearly all of this was donated by players.
Edit: Also, I had a kegerator at my old house, as did two of my other neighbors. They had tip jars, but I refused to use one. Low and behold, for Christmas I started receiving hundreds in gift cards to Total Wine (where I ordered my kegs from). Good peeps step up, so don't worry about the cost.
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I'm never ever hosting or playing in a raked home game as long as I live!
Legend5555
Full House
Yeah.... it happens.
But when you live in an area that has basically no choices, you do what you gotta do to get your poker fix.
The stakes my friends and I play at wouldn’t support a rake.
noeaga
Waiting List
If you're a winning player the rake is tolerable. If not, I can see where that could cause pause.
Oh trust me, I grew up in areas where all the local card clubs took a rake. I grew up in poverty so I remember going to peoples homes where they were playing .25/.50 deuces wild draw poker and they’d “cut” as it was called around here. People easily making 300-400/night. Sometimes it was friends, sometimes it was family. It was a celebration type of thing here too. If “cousin whoever” was graduating, they would “throw said person a card game” and the cut was the gift. You could also buy good and liquor while playing.
Basically, imagine DiD, but you paid for your food by the plate as well as your liquor.
Old State
Full House
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Not sure if I’m misinterpreting the latest dialogue here about State laws, but isn’t raking a game against Federal Law?
Legend5555
Full House
The games I play in, all the food and alcohol is free. So we are getting something for our money.
I'm not gonna dump on anyone that refuses to play on a raked underground game. People have their own risk tolerance. But in my state, it's illegal regardless of the rake. And there are VERY few unraked games. One of which is run by a former cop who still takes a lot of precautions. I want to play, I want to make money by playing, so I play in what's available.
Samuel
Straight
a few links:
https://www.egattorneys.com/illegal... 330 PC,strategy that involve individual bets.
https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/defense/penal-code/330/
https://www.losangelescriminallawyer.pro/california-penal-code-section-330-pc-gaming.html
https://www.calcriminaldefenselawyers.com/illegal-gambling-gaming-pc-330-337a
ngmcs8203
Flush
From one of your links “Social poker games may be permissible as long as there is no “rake” that is taken from a percentage of the bets placed. If this exists, the game would be considered a percentage game and thus impermissible under California Penal Code Section 330 PC.”
Preditor
Pair
Thanks so much for these. Good info, though the first article confused me. It says, "A banking game occurs when a house collects money from people who lose and then pays the winners."
Not sure that is actually the definition of a banking game (as opposed to Blackjack where the house is a player in the game). But even if it is, how else can you do payouts without doing that? People paying you money for chips?
The picture I am getting from all of my reading is "The law is vague. Just don't go into 4 figures or invite the district attorney to your game, and you're likely to be fine."
The "bank" can keep a ledger and at the end of the game instruct individual losing players to pay individual winning players to zero out...?
Pretty much my attitude, but the other way.
I'm not a fan of home games that are raked for profit, but I've played in them with no regrets and would do so again.
I don't ask for anything to cover food and drink when I host, but I have no issue with those who do. I take tips when they're offered - it's how some players say "thank you for hosting."
Different games, different situations, different expectations. Play the games you enjoy and avoid the ones you don't.
Preditor
Pair
Random question about this (again). Californian here.
For those who don't rake because of legal/moral issues (which I am 100% in agreement with), do you also avoid season-long rolling pots? Like Bad-Beat Pots, High Hands, or End Of Year Freeroll Tournaments?
I am considering keeping track of league points culminating in a final table. Idea is to let the rebuy money from the season roll into a final Championship prize pool for the year. Something like $30-50 a night culminating into $3-500 over the year.
The California statute is vague on this. It says it is illegal for the house to "make money." While I would be holding money for 10 months or so, it would be with the purpose of distributing it back, and I would not be taking a percentage to keep as the house (just winnings like any other player).
How do the "no rake" people feel about this? It seems a rather vague and grey area in my state's statute. Just wondering how people feel.
For those who don't rake because of legal/moral issues (which I am 100% in agreement with), do you also avoid season-long rolling pots? Like Bad-Beat Pots, High Hands, or End Of Year Freeroll Tournaments?
I am considering keeping track of league points culminating in a final table. Idea is to let the rebuy money from the season roll into a final Championship prize pool for the year. Something like $30-50 a night culminating into $3-500 over the year.
The California statute is vague on this. It says it is illegal for the house to "make money." While I would be holding money for 10 months or so, it would be with the purpose of distributing it back, and I would not be taking a percentage to keep as the house (just winnings like any other player).
How do the "no rake" people feel about this? It seems a rather vague and grey area in my state's statute. Just wondering how people feel.
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