Rake/Time/Nothing?

[Smaegol]

Hello,
I live in Milwaukee and I have a very nice casino-quality table and alot of very nice chips. Im about to start a weekly game up and Im wondering if its taboo to take a rake or time payment to host a game with quality supplies? This will be either a 3/6 or 5/10 Holdem game.

[Easy E]

Check your local laws- the raking might make your home game fall afoul of the law.

but a collection to pay for particular items, with a capped amount, might work.

[Easy E]

who owns the supplies, once they are purchased? Cards are one thing, casino chips and such may be a point of contention.

[asdf1234]

I ran a small umm....let's say friendly blackjack game (real table, custom chips, etc.) for several months and somewhere in there I looked up the law. I'm pretty sure it's illegal, but I never took any heat for it. If you want professional interpretation of the law, definitely consult an attorney (I'm only an aspiring liar...er lawyer), but you can check it out online yourself. If you go to the Wisconsin statutes (http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/stats.html) you can look up chapter 945 for specifics.

In my estimation, it's almost certainly illegal to rake or charge a time fee, but you're not likely to stir up much attention if you do.

[Easy E]

someone gets pissed off after losing big, or thinking someone is cheating, or whatever... and decides to snitch.

[asdf1234]

True enough, but I'm pretty sure the cops knew about my place, they just didn't care, and this was in a relatively small town. I'm hoping that the police in Milwaukee have better things to do than break up a 5-10 Hold 'em game.

[Easy E]

[WizeGuy33]

I live in Wisconsin also and have spoken with state "experts" on Wisconsin statutes, because I host a weekly game myself in Madison.

Wisconsin laws are as follows:
1.) Any kind of bet is illegal.
2.) It is illegal to host for profit a game where bets are being made. Profit defined as rake, donation, tip (basically any money coming to you as the host).

It is illegal to gamble in Wisconsin, but it is completely legal to host a game as long as there is no rake. This means that everyone playing the game is guilty of gambling, but you as the host are not guilty of anything more than they are. As soon as you take in a rake or donation of any sort, you've crossed the line and are running a "casino."

Hope this helps.

[jackkingoffsuit]

I think this is Bill's question? If I'm right, you've been to both of my places and seen my setup! I got busted just over 4 months ago for bookmaking through Iowa. WI DCI arrested me, but they didn't press charges at all. I was running 2 blackjack games, and a couple poker games a week. I raked and that is defintley the way to go, because nobody likes to pay out of their pocket to play poker. They would rather pay out of their pot. My court date is Monday, wish me luck. If you have questions email me at my new "gambling only" address jackkingoffsuit@hotmail.com....

Later,
Sheck

[WizeGuy33]

You got busted for raking, but you're telling him that's the way to go?

[jackkingoffsuit]

I got arrested for Bookmaking, not raking! They said they don't care about poker, and never pressed any charges!

[lefty rosen]

If you have a full table you can make a gross of about 120 dollars an hour, now who can make that in the real world tax free? Gram dealers of crack, and other criminals, not too many working stiffs, thats why they bust raked games, I have been playing cards for years and in my city an underground will last upto 6 months before an undercover regular turns out to be a cop, by that time the operator can have grossed upwards of a hundred grand if he has a few tables going..........

[cferejohn]

Note to self: become underworld gambling host.

"Why its good old reliable Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Nathan Detroit!"