Homegame Host - how would you? (2 Viewers)

[Taghkanic]

I do have one delinquent friend who will raid my XO shelf if he gets knocked out early. Luckily he has nice booze at his house that I help myself to when I'm there

Same here... I’ve learned to stash anything especially good I don’t want that one guy to drink. (Learned the hard way after he downed about 1/3 of an $80 bottle of armagnac.) He does usually also bring some booze of his own and leave some behind, so I mostly tolerate his grazing.

 

[Old State]

I don’t mind giving out snacks and drinks because when I host I can drink without worrying about driving. The biggest problem is that usually casues me to play poorly compared to when I’m somewhere else.

As for people kicking in, several often do but I never ask for anything and it’s not a concern of mine. One guy who plays in my $.25/.50 game likes to drink whiskey. I have several nice bottles and always offer them up. The guy has sampled plenty but also has brought me WAY more nice bottles of booze than he ever drank. Three bottles worth about $150 total in the last three games! He probably only drank about 6 glasses of whiskey a few beers in that time.

Sometimes big winners throw me money even though I try to refuse it. They will sometimes leave it on the bar. At a $1/2 game I hosted a few years ago a guy won $1200 and left $100 in his cup holder ...which I thought at first was a single $20. Crazy thing was he brought and drank his own beer!

 

[2jzMk3]

Same here... I’ve learned to stash anything especially good I don’t want that one guy to drink. (Learned the hard way after he downed about 1/3 of an $80 bottle of armagnac.) He does usually also bring some booze of his own and leave some behind, so I mostly tolerate his grazing.

I have the opposite problem lol! The last home game I had, I was trying to give out pours of Yama18, Birthday Bourbon, RHF, Compass Box Flaming Heart, ect and everyone was too drunk to want any!

 

[abby99]

. . . everyone was too drunk to want any!

I didn't know it was possible to get that drunk without passing out!

 

[BonScot]

I have the opposite problem lol! The last home game I had, I was trying to give out pours of Yama18, Birthday Bourbon, RHF, Compass Box Flaming Heart, ect and everyone was too drunk to want any!

Now that’s what I call a game of poker!!

 

[2jzMk3]

Now that’s what I call a game of poker!!

‘Twas a profitable night...for me!

 

[BonScot]

‘Twas a profitable night...for me!

Get them so drunk that they don’t know what they’re doing. I like your style

 

[Gameface]

I'm a competitive (winning) home beer brewer. I usually have a few of my beers on tap. I have enjoyed being able to do that and as a home beer brewer it is very hard to get honest feedback from non-brewers. So I know if someone has six pints they liked it. But at the same time, it's like it is cheap beer to them (free actually) but the reality is that it isn't cheap for me, not even counting my time. That pint is usually a multiple award winning beer that cost me around $1 just in ingredients for that one beer. Not to mention that when I brew it is essentially an all-day affair, with plenty of other tasks and between brewing and having a finished beer. Not to mention my brewing equipment (if people think you're silly for what you've spent on chips you should see what I've spent on my brewery) So while I have been generous in the past I'm planning to tighten that up a bit.

I also usually provide a good deal of snacks. Several of my regular players also bring food to share. One guy brings a crock pot of habanero meatballs. Another guy would bring homemade brownies. So it was a team effort amongst a few of my favorite players and me. But the ones that don't bring anything, don't chip in and don't help out are the ones that seem to get trashed drinking 8 of my beers. Hard to figure out how to share with the appreciative ones while setting limits for the freeloaders.

 

[BonScot]

I'm a competitive (winning) home beer brewer. I usually have a few of my beers on tap. I have enjoyed being able to do that and as a home beer brewer it is very hard to get honest feedback from non-brewers. So I know if someone has six pints they liked it. But at the same time, it's like it is cheap beer to them (free actually) but the reality is that it isn't cheap for me, not even counting my time. That pint is usually a multiple award winning beer that cost me around $1 just in ingredients for that one beer. Not to mention that when I brew it is essentially an all-day affair, with plenty of other tasks and between brewing and having a finished beer. Not to mention my brewing equipment (if people think you're silly for what you've spent on chips you should see what I've spent on my brewery) So while I have been generous in the past I'm planning to tighten that up a bit.

I also usually provide a good deal of snacks. Several of my regular players also bring food to share. One guy brings a crock pot of habanero meatballs. Another guy would bring homemade brownies. So it was a team effort amongst a few of my favorite players and me. But the ones that don't bring anything, don't chip in and don't help out are the ones that seem to get trashed drinking 8 of my beers. Hard to figure out how to share with the appreciative ones while setting limits for the freeloaders.

Charge everyone a food and drink rake. That’s what I do. Also you could tell them to take turns buying snacks etc. If everyone takes a shot at hosting it works itself out. For my game I’m always the host and it’s a bit annoying when you go to the effort of giving guys a place to play poker, supply food and drink and guys turn up year after year and don’t even think about contributing so I feel your pain.

 

[ReallyGoodUsername]

Charge everyone a food and drink rake. That’s what I do. Also you could tell them to take turns buying snacks etc. If everyone takes a shot at hosting it works itself out. For my game I’m always the host and it’s a bit annoying when you go to the effort of giving guys a place to play poker, supply food and drink and guys turn up year after year and don’t even think about contributing so I feel your pain.

Rakes at a home game are a no no in the US unfortunately.

It’s always harder to start getting tips (or charging for premium stuff) than to stop but your players should be understanding as you’re hosting them.

 

[Gameface]

Charge everyone a food and drink rake. That’s what I do. Also you could tell them to take turns buying snacks etc. If everyone takes a shot at hosting it works itself out. For my game I’m always the host and it’s a bit annoying when you go to the effort of giving guys a place to play poker, supply food and drink and guys turn up year after year and don’t even think about contributing so I feel your pain.

The complications is that it is illegal to charge for homebrew in the U.S.. There's really no ifs ands or buts. Also, I live in a state where even having a friendly poker game is technically illegal, although if there is absolutely no host advantage it is the same "crime" for all players. But if I charge anything, take any kind of compensation at all, for anything while hosting a game it bumps it up and now I'm running an illegal gambling operation on top of illegally selling alcohol without a license.

 

[ReallyGoodUsername]

The complications is that it is illegial to charge for homebrew in the U.S.. There's really no ifs ands or buts. Also, I live in a state where even having a friendly poker game is technically illegal, although if there is absolutely no host advantage it is the same "crime" for all players. But if I charge anything, take any kind of compensation at all, for anything while hosting a game it bumps it up and now I'm running an illegal gambling operation on top of illegally selling alcohol without a license.

I don’t know state law and am not a lawyer but I always thought it was having a formal rake (part of the pot) that was the big issue because it’s mandatory.

 

[Gameface]

I don’t know state law and am not a lawyer but I always thought it was having a formal rake (part of the pot) that was the big issue because it’s mandatory.

I live in Utah...

A Super Bowl pool is technically illegal here.

There is a difference between being illegal and being something that would catch the attention of the authorities and in a friendly poker game all players are breaking the same rules and in reality no one cares. But here, if the host benefits at all in any way from hosting a poker game they have elevated the offense and are considered to be operating an illegal gambling operation. That means anything used in that operation is subject to confiscation, the cards, the tables the chips, THE HOUSE.

Same goes for homebrew. You cannot ask for compensation to help cover the cost of ingredients. You can share homebrew, but you CANNOT receive any kind of compensation for it.

As they say in the surprisingly good movie "Molly's Game" don't break the law when you're breaking the law.

I highly doubt anything I'd do would get any attention regardless, I've always err'd well on the side of caution.

 

[BonScot]

Can you not get around it by selling raffle tickets at $5 a go and the prize is an apple or a can of coke?

We just tell the guys it’s £3 for food and they give it to the guy who does the shopping run. To me it’s no different to asking someone to go to the shops for you and then giving them the money.

On saying that I don’t want anyone being given the shawshank treatment over a game of poker so maybe best to ignore my pearls of wisdom

The laws over here are so much more relaxed than you guys have it. I bought a set of PNYs recently and read up on @Irish history post. I had no idea that you couldn’t gamble in New York.

 

[ReallyGoodUsername]

Can you not get around it by selling raffle tickets at $5 a go and the prize is an apple or a can of coke?

We just tell the guys it’s £3 for food and they give it to the guy who does the shopping run. To me it’s no different to asking someone to go to the shops for you and then giving them the money.

On saying that I don’t want anyone being given the shawshank treatment over a game of poker so maybe best to ignore my pearls of wisdom

The laws over here are so much more relaxed than you guys have it. I bought a set of PNYs recently and read up on @Irish history post. I had no idea that you couldn’t gamble in New York.

The US is very odd and very strict when it relates to drugs, gambling or sex, the actual act or depiction of it (yet everything up to that point is everywhere). Violence (movies, video games, etc) and guns though are pretty much unlimited and promoted

 

[BonScot]

The US is very odd and very strict when it relates to drugs, gambling or sex, the actual act or depiction of it (yet everything up to that point is everywhere). Violence (movies, video games, etc) and guns though are pretty much unlimited and promoted

I could never understand that. Folks in the US get their knickers in a twist if a girl goes topless on a beach but if the same girl walks past carrying a bazooka and an assault rifle nobody bats an eye

 

[Gameface]

Can you not get around it by selling raffle tickets at $5 a go and the prize is an apple or a can of coke?

We just tell the guys it’s £3 for food and they give it to the guy who does the shopping run. To me it’s no different to asking someone to go to the shops for you and then giving them the money.

On saying that I don’t want anyone being given the shawshank treatment over a game of poker so maybe best to ignore my pearls of wisdom

The laws over here are so much more relaxed than you guys have it. I bought a set of PNYs recently and read up on @Irish history post. I had no idea that you couldn’t gamble in New York.

I live in a particularly regulated state. If you've ever herd of Mormons, or how they now want to be referred to, "The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," well they don't like drinking, they don't like gambling and I bet they'd outlaw the habanero meatballs if you gave them the chance. And I'm right here in their world wide HQ. They like this one place on earth where they can flex their muscle, and us non-Mormons in Utah like giving it right back to them.

 

[ReallyGoodUsername]

Ok thread jack over... back to hosting game etiquette .

I only host friends (actual friends not “work friends” or “poker friends”) and family so I don’t mind making food, buying craft beers, etc etc. usually it’s something simple like pulled pork sliders, hot dogs, or delivery pizza. While we only play .25/.50 the players are easy (poker enthusiasts) so I almost always make more than I spend.

 

[BonScot]

If you've ever herd of Mormons

What these guys?!?!

My mistake. They’re Moomins

Obviously if you never got “the Moomins” over in the US then this joke is wasted...

 

[BonScot]

Ok thread jack over... back to hosting game etiquette .

I only host friends (actual friends not “work friends” or “poker friends”) and family so I don’t mind making food, buying craft beers, etc etc. usually it’s something simple like pulled pork sliders, hot dogs, or delivery pizza. While we only play .25/.50 the players are easy (poker enthusiasts) so I almost always make more than I spend.

I’m much the same myself but there’s a couple of guys who are tighter than two coats of paint that really wind me up. They’ve been playing for years and never offer to chip in. A couple of the other guys suggested the £3 snack rake as it was annoying them as well.

 

[BGinGA]

Our group has hosted monthly -- sometimes more frequently -- two-table tournament dates with revolving location and host duties for nearly 15 years. Each event date consists of two tournaments plus a formal dinner break in-between, lasts around 11+ hours (roughly 1 p.m. to midnight), and costs $120 ($65 and $45 for the tournament entries, plus a $10 hopitality charge for the host).

I usually supply the equipment -- chips, cards, timer/tracking, occasionally a second portable table if needed -- while the hosts supply a wide variety of snacks, drinks, and serve a complete sit-down dinner including dessert. Menus include chili, spaghetti, lasagne, fried chicken, pizza, grilled hot dogs/hamburgers, BBQ pork and ribs, or whatever the host decides to make or have brought in. All alcohol is BYOB -- some players bring a six-pack or a bottle of wine, others don't. Nobody gets trashed.

First tournament runs about 5+ hours with an hour dinner break afterwards, followed by a second tournament lasting about 4+ hours. Great way to spend a Saturday with friends for $10/hour and a chance to score cash prizes.

 

[Taghkanic]

Curious why the second tourney is shorter. Different blinds/starting stacks?

 

[Old State]

It’s been 10 years since my old crew hosted any tourneys but when we did we collected $10 on top of the buyin for food and supplied beer and usually hoagie trays, tomatoes pies hotdogs, snacks, water, soda and a keg of beer. Eating was mostly done during breaks and no eating was allowed at the tables.

We never had less than 3 full tables and cash games would breakout as soon as there were enough people. It was usually a 12 noon start and the cash games went until 2am sometimes. We would easily blow through the food and drinks.

 

[BGinGA]

Curious why the second tourney is shorter. Different blinds/starting stacks?

Different format entirely, and usually the game, too.

First tourney is our longest-running deepstack NLHE league event (20k stacks with a modified 2007 WSOP ante structure), and the second event is usually smaller stacks (10k-15k) with game/format varying (but always geared to complete in around 4 hours).

 

[Old State]

I could never understand that. Folks in the US get their knickers in a twist if a girl goes topless on a beach but if the same girl walks past carrying a bazooka and an assault rifle nobody bats an eye

Stereotypes aside, you are probably 1000x more likely to see a woman topless on a US beach than anyone “walking around with a bazooka (which no one owns) and any type of rifle slung over there shoulder. Most people would most likely start taking iPhone pics of the former and call the police on the latter.

This is like saying every Scotsman wears a kilt all day with a leather satchel containing haggis.....on his way to the morning caber toss.

 

[Taghkanic]

This is like saying every Scotsman wears a kilt all day with a leather satchel containing haggis.....on his way to the morning caber toss.

You’re saying that’s not true?

 

[Old State]

You’re saying that’s not true?

No. And I hate to break it to you, but there is no such thing as Scotchtoberfest either

 

[BonScot]

Stereotypes aside, you are probably 1000x more likely to see a woman topless on a US beach than anyone “walking around with a bazooka (which no one owns) and any type of rifle slung over there shoulder. Most people would most likely start taking iPhone pics of the former and call the police on the latter.

This is like saying every Scotsman wears a kilt all day with a leather satchel containing haggis.....on his way to the morning caber toss.

I know I’ve been over a few times and still not been shot at - talk about disappointed

The leather satchel is called a sporran. The last time I wore one I was down in England at a beer festival and someone asked me what I kept in it. I showed them my iPhone and a cigar. My forefathers will be doing somersaults in their graves...

 

[BonScot]

No. And I hate to break it to you, but there is no such thing as Scotchtoberfest either

I’m going to start it

 

[Taghkanic]

No. And I hate to break it to you, but there is no such thing as Scotchtoberfest either

I once had to move out of an apartment because the Scottish neighbor across the airshaft liked to practice his bagpipes constantly. I have believed every stereotype about Scotsmen every since ;^)