Rake structure? (1 Viewer)

[cheque_raise]

Not much to add that others haven't already said. Rake is bad and makes your game illegal. Charging your players for the snacks/beer is a much better way to go if you are trying to cover expenses. When I used to have a kegerator, I just charged a flat $5 to any player for all you can drink keg beer. If they drink under $5 of beer, it's a win, and if they drink more than $5 in beer they're probably gonna end up donating a lot more in chips to the game haha!

You are right about that

 

[RudysNYC]

I'm not super up to date on the Illinois laws but locally our Eagles lodge and VFW hall host poker games under the premise of "charity poker" I'm not sure how much of the rake goes to charitable endeavors but they get away with it.

It's Illinois, as long as Don Pritzker gets his taste it's all kosher...

 

[Marhault]

It's Illinois, as long as Don Pritzker gets his taste it's all kosher...

Well unless he's been running shit behind the scenes for 20+ years it's been this way for a looooong time lol.

 

[RudysNYC]

Well unless he's been running shit behind the scenes for 20+ years it's been this way for a looooong time lol.

Before Pritzker was Blago and Ryan, and before them... a rich history haha

 

[riotouslevity]

I provide non alcoholic drinks and snacks. We split the check of we order food. BYOB for alcohol... Though I offer some of my stash is someone needs one. I ask them to help clean up before they leave..especially of they won.

I figure the guys are driving to the game, they are dumping their dough to the game, and they have to drive home. I just have to crawl into bed. So some chips , coffee and pops is a fair trade.

End of the day what ever the people can agree on works..but someone will have their nose bent out of shape about something

 

[Coyote]

My players want a nice game with dinner, snacks, drinks/booze etc and would rather have a small rake taken out of the pot to cover it than a donation jar or flat fee or some kind of pot luck. My player love to just show and play.

If everyone rotated hosting and provided similar amenities it would all work out even for everyone.

But hosting every game and supplying everything is a decent amount of cost and work. Every game is different. Some groups don’t want anything but the poker so offering more doesn’t make sense.

I know I would feel like a freeloaded if I showed up at someone’s house every week, ate their food and drank their beer and didn’t contribute.

When I am invited to dinner I bring dessert or wine to the host.

I charge a small blind per hand until midnight to covers most of the cost. Most nights I’m lucky if I break even.

I’m definitely not looking to profit from hosting, just offset some cost.

Pretty reasonable to share the cost, as a permanent host.
IMHO, just don't do it poker-dependent.
The farthest stretch I 'd go to would be "winning players (upon cash-out) just volunteer something for the food and fefreshments"

 

[upNdown]

Maybe I should have been more clear.. this game is hosted at a private club. Every single dollar that the game “profits” is re-invested in the game itself, in the form or royal flush jackpot, bad beat jack pot, high hand jack pot, added tournament money , cook-outs, cigars, security, and so fourth. Furthermore, this game is part of a circuit or games in which most of the players play.. all other hosts rake their games in some form, so I’d basically be paying the rake at their games and not charging one at mine. I was asking what type of take structures are common where you guys see them, not what your opinion on whether it is ethical to charge a rake.

I've only played in one home game that charged a rake, and that was to pay for the dealer. It was a $1/$1 game and they raked a buck out of every pot that saw a flop, to pay the dealer. It worked out to be like $100 per night, and that was fine.
You're taking $80 off the table each night from a quarters game? Seems high. Might as well just go to the casino.

 

[upNdown]

Pretty reasonable to share the cost, as a permanent host.
IMHO, just don't do it poker-dependent.
The farthest stretch I 'd go to would be "winning players (upon cash-out) just volunteer something for the food and fefreshments"

As you alluded to in your first post what if I don't want the food? Because I don't. I have no interest in eating food while I'm playing poker and I'm very happy to bring my own beer, because I'm cheap.

 

[Coyote]

As you alluded to in your first post what if I don't want the food? Because I don't. I have no interest in eating food while I'm playing poker and I'm very happy to bring my own beer, because I'm cheap.

Yeah, in strict Protestant lands, you eat or drink whatever you 've brought (ie nothing if you 've brought nothing).
It's very fair, but just can't be implemented in more civilised lands.

 

[Rhodeman77]

As you alluded to in your first post what if I don't want the food? Because I don't. I have no interest in eating food while I'm playing poker and I'm very happy to bring my own beer, because I'm cheap.

I don’t want to have an atmosphere of 8 people that are just grinding poker. We are getting together to have fun! We do shots of Irish car bombs, eat drink and be merry!

People who are having a good time don’t care as much if they are losing and will stick around longer even though they are losing.

I believe it was Mike Caro talked about one of the best games he ever played in was on New Years Eve.Everyone was having fun, drinks are flowing, chips are being tossed all over the table. Everyone is laughing and having a great time. He was making a ton of money. Then midnight hits. The ball drops and everyone got back to being focused on playing poker and the game sucked.

I want the fun game with the people that want to have fun. It will make the poker better by nature.

 

[Coyote]

If every player is awefully serious about poker and there is no social aspect, then, sure, everybody should bring their whatever shit they 'd like to consume along and there should be no house expenses.
Even so, the chips and cards belong to the host and are expensive, so I 'd like to have a say (as the host) on what snacks are available (ie preferably eaten with a fork or toothpick, rather than with bare fingers)

 

[DZPoker]

But were they’re hot dog sandwiches?

 

[allforcharity]

But were they’re hot dog sandwiches?

Then you use special hot dog chopsticks.

 

[Gobbs]

Sounds to me like these are games players may want to avoid from now on. Too many people in the know about them. (Assuming rakes are illegal in NC, which I'm pretty sure they are.)

 

[CraigT78]

I go against popular opinion here. When I was hosting live, I charge $20 a head. I take $20 from the tournament buy-in. It's required and baked into the cost of the tournament. $100 entry.

For the $20 the guys have access to two local craft beers on tap. A fridge full of other craft beer, Miller light, water, soda. Hot dogs and snacks. A shelf full of premium bourbon and scotch, and a second shelf full of regular booze for mixed drinks. Access to my humidor which is full of premium cigars. And coming after COVID, a premium espresso machine.

I've polled my players and overwhelmingly the consensus is that there is no objection to the entry fee, and most state that they would gladly pay more, and they do. The winners will typically toss me $20-$40 in tips at the end of the night.

I don't charge because I can't afford it. I charge in order to provide a premium experience. Sure I could ask the guys to BYOB, and BYOSnacks, but if they are willing to drop $20 to show up empty handed and leave with a pocket full of cash, I'll continue to charge the hospitality fee. It's the difference between smoking While Owl cigars and drinking Jack versus smoking Cohibas and sipping on a nice bottle of special sauce. I hosted 20 players with a wait list, and that's all the proof I need.

 

[Darthhoodie]

Rake is trouble, not even the very private Italian social club I occasional play at will risk it.

 

[LotsOfChips]

For the $20 the guys have access to two local craft beers on tap. A fridge full of other craft beer, Miller light, water, soda. Hot dogs and snacks. A shelf full of premium bourbon and scotch, and a second shelf full of regular booze for mixed drinks. Access to my humidor which is full of premium cigars. And coming after COVID, a premium espresso machine.

Hell, I'd come to your game for sure! Not sure how much poker I'd play, but I'm sure I'd get my $20 worth of craft beer and bourbon!

 

[CraigT78]

Hell, I'd come to your game for sure! Not sure how much poker I'd play, but I'm sure I'd get my $20 worth of craft beer and bourbon!

Unfortunately, there is no standing room - must be seated with chips to participate

 

[Josh Kifer]

Unfortunately, there is no standing room - must be seated with chips to participate

Challenge accepted.

 

[CraigT78]

Challenge accepted.

The seated part is only a suggestion. We've had players who ended up playing from the floor.

 

[Josh Kifer]

The seated part is only a suggestion. We've had players who ended up playing from the floor.

Depending on how much whiskey, you might need to tape me to the chair.....

 

[CraigT78]

Depending on how much whiskey, you might need to tape me to the chair.....

Restraints do cost extra.

 

[Josh Kifer]

Restraints do cost extra.

I'll leave 10 bucks in my wallet for such an occasion....

 

[Sea Vulture]

A couple of things to add here. Some advocate charging for each item a player eats/drinks. Two problems with that. First is a sales tax and health department issue, second is selling alcohol without a license. Frankly, I think you get in more trouble for that than taking a game.

Next, accepting tips may be illegal, depending on how it’s done.

Third, holding games at a private club where alcohol is served and any laws regarding gambling are being broken, puts their alcohol license in jeopardy.

I suggestjust asking for an upfront donation of $10/$20 to cover food and beverage. If they want to bring liquor, supply mixers.
Just my two cents.

 

[JustinInMN]

I go against popular opinion here. When I was hosting live, I charge $20 a head. I take $20 from the tournament buy-in. It's required and baked into the cost of the tournament. $100 entry.

For the $20 the guys have access to two local craft beers on tap. A fridge full of other craft beer, Miller light, water, soda. Hot dogs and snacks. A shelf full of premium bourbon and scotch, and a second shelf full of regular booze for mixed drinks. Access to my humidor which is full of premium cigars. And coming after COVID, a premium espresso machine.

I've polled my players and overwhelmingly the consensus is that there is no objection to the entry fee, and most state that they would gladly pay more, and they do. The winners will typically toss me $20-$40 in tips at the end of the night.

I don't charge because I can't afford it. I charge in order to provide a premium experience. Sure I could ask the guys to BYOB, and BYOSnacks, but if they are willing to drop $20 to show up empty handed and leave with a pocket full of cash, I'll continue to charge the hospitality fee. It's the difference between smoking While Owl cigars and drinking Jack versus smoking Cohibas and sipping on a nice bottle of special sauce. I hosted 20 players with a wait list, and that's all the proof I need.

Don't get me wrong. I personally don't have a problem with this approach, I am just cautious about the legal consequences of discussing this publicly. At the risk of delving into politics outside of the designated forum to say it, the government should not have any business in private arrangements in private homes.

Unfortunately, the reality is the gambling industry backs prosecutors and judges that will eventually raid anyone they deem a threat to their licenses.

 

[Goldfish]

All u need to do is charge for use of the bathroom. 10 bucks for number 1, 25 bucks for number 2.

 

[surfik]

When in club I was charging 2 bb per hour to cover cost of renting the table, at home there is no rake providing players cover cost of food and drinks.

 

[Gobbs]

All u need to do is charge for use of the bathroom. 10 bucks for number 1, 25 bucks for number 2.

I'd be broke within 3 hours!!!!

 

[CrazyEddie]

I wonder about the legality of rakes to fund jackpots that are 100% paid out to the players.

Jurisdictions vary, of course, so there's probably no single answer...

 

[madforpancakes]

I wonder about the legality of rakes to fund jackpots that are 100% paid out to the players.

Jurisdictions vary, of course, so there's probably no single answer...

Almost definitely depends on the state law, but at least in WA, I believe it to be legal. All players have an equal opportunity to hit something like a bad beat or a high hand, so as long as all the money is fully paid to players with the house taking nothing, I would think it would be legal in most places where social games are legal.