[123Law]

Ok, I know this is a legal question, but I am curious to hear from you all to see if you all have anything like this where you all are.

In the paper this weekend was a write up on a poker league here in town where they play freeroll tournaments. Ok, I am thinking, "no big deal, a bunch of bars do this to gather people at whatever bar, no biggie - there are a bunch of poker leagues in town." Then I read that this isnt the normal free tournament at some bar (Non-free = illegal), this is a poker club here in town that is advertising free tournaments (no bar, just poker tables with dealers and the whole 9 yards). They have membership fees of 100 dollars a month, but advertise that this is ONLY for statistical tracking used to give the member a break-down of how they are playing in order to make them a better player.

For those of us in non-gambling states,,,, have you all ever heard of something like this? Still smells like gambling to me... I like the idea though.

[TriptreysNJ]

I have never heard of anything like that. But I would most definately be interested in participating in some underground poker league. I don't see it being any different then a cash money bowling league. Theres all kinds of money flying around during one of those. They should just make poker alleys.

[123Law]

Whats odd is that this is not "underground" or anything like this. They are advertising, getting sponsors, and have many big name financial backers. If I understand it right, they are charging a "membership fee" and not a buy-in. What I dont know is whether they offer any of their services for free, and whether that membership fee is optional. They say its only for statistical tracking, so it seems that to get around the law, that has to be optional.

[track1697]

So how do they explain the pay outs? I get the membership fees and such, but there must be payouts for winners or since the events are free they are allowed to pay out cash?

[123Law]

So how do they explain the pay outs? I get the membership fees and such, but there must be payouts for winners or since the events are free they are allowed to pay out cash?

Thats the big question... and I think they are paying out because the events are "free". The question I have (which has not been answered yet) is whether these "free" tournaments are limited to those who are members. If thats the case, then they are treating the membership fee as a buyin, and paying out from that. Cant imagine that scheme wouldnt get busted.

[ILLINI1A]

I dont see why not... I dont think its considered gambling because the people that are playing arent paying money to participate...it would be like you showing up for a free drawing fo anything. I dont see how that could be considered gambling...

around here last week, they have a free poker tourny where the winner recieved a custom Poker Table free from a guy around her that builds them value up to 2000.00 on the table....

[checkRaiseFold]

I think the membership piece you mentioned is an interesting point. I've played in a couple of free tournaments where you can win prizes, never cash. I imagine that it would be considered the same thing. My question is would you have to claim your winnings on your taxes?

[ssmooth8]

Well isn't gambling as a home game suspected as illegal as well? i know the poes don't really trip off that and i don't see why it would be a big deal to them. but, who knows about these cops these days, most of em are punks anyways and would like to see the young behind bars. They will definitely rob u for what u got if they had the chance. that's why i don't respect the police.

I am a canadian so things are a little layed back but it is still iliegal to have poker games for real money. But i think you can now get licences to gamble but most of the proceeds go to the government " this is Ontario Canada" or there is another trick and you call it charity. But if they ever find out you arnt giving alot of the proceeds to charity you are in BIG trouble. I dont recomend the charity one.... its to sleeezy. Or there is the good old fasion way of game hopping. Where you move locations when you think you might get cought.

I might be helping a friend start a poker club in my area so i will find out more details soon on how the laws can be bent here.

P.S that is also why i have a Toronto and Area thread for ppl in the area interested in playing some live poker.

[elon05]

I could have been told wrong but I have always been told that as long as you dont have actual money on the table then it is not illegal. When I was in college the school would host poker games and they said it was fine because we had chips on the table and not real money. This could be wrong but its what I was told.