Post deleted by Mat Sklansky

[bravos1]

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Picture a Chess tournament with 16 players. Where I charge $110 to enter. There will be food, drinks and game clocks and seating will be slick. $1600 will be distributed in prize money between 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Where does the $160 difference go? In the supplies. understand?

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Sure, I understand, but understand this.... Charging for "supplies and services" is exactly what a casino does when it charges a rake. This IS illegal in a home game... whether you wish to follow this law or not is your choice. We all make choices like this everyday.

[King_Striker]

[RogerZBT]

[ QUOTE ]
What supplies and service? I don't get free food at my casino. The casino is possibly the biggest legal theft in the world... a business where you give them money, and they give you nothing in return. WHY do you have to pay a rake to play Texas Hold'em with someone? Because it's illegal to gamble between friends at one's house. But it's legal to gamble at the casinos. They make it so in order to keep them casino pockets filling and take their share of the pie.

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Casinos provide you with equipment, dealers, security and a LEGAL place for you to place.

Whether or not casinos are 'legal theft' is irrelevant to your question. What you are describing is an ilegal underground cardroom (In the US at least), and you could face arrest/fines/imprisonment.

[Lottery Larry]

The "I want to start a home business- underground card room" forum is on RGP, please.

[King_Striker]

[King_Striker]

[tylerdurden]

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I wouldn't call it an underground cardroom when a bunch of friends are playing cards with no money in sight. Remember you are innocent until proven guilty.

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I want to make some income, but I'm not doing it for the money, but there will be a add-on to the entry fee for expenses, but there's no money involved.

*** you are now ignoring this user. ***

[Thalum]

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Ok, listen carefully. Ten players will come to my house. They pay me $250+25= $275 each to enter the tournament. The prize pool is $2500 (redistributed among 1st 2nd and 3rd place). I will NOT be participating in the tournament. I charge the extra $25 for the food and the service I provide.

How is that "illegal"? Where is the money? We are friends playing for fun. What is "gambling"? My religion forbids me to gamble, how dare you! Do you have a warrant?

Picture a Chess tournament with 16 players. Where I charge $110 to enter. There will be food, drinks and game clocks and seating will be slick. $1600 will be distributed in prize money between 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Where does the $160 difference go? In the supplies. understand?

[/ QUOTE ]

You can debate whether or not the law is good/bad/just etc, but that fact of the matter is, what you propose to do is ILLEGAL, even in Canada, and no debating/whining will change that.

However, go ahead and have your tournament, and best of luck to you. If I knew everyone involved, I'd probably throw it anyways as well, just realize that you are breaking the law, however slim the chance of getting caught is.

[2planka]

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Would there be any difference if I replaced the word "Poker" by "Chess" in that context?

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No. Nor would there be a difference if you replaced "poker" with baseball, midget-tossing, or roulette. You are profiting on a contest of skill or a game of chance without risk. Moreover, your chips, cards, tables, racks, dealer button, (or chess pieces, if you prefer) are "gambling paraphenalia" and your establishment is unlicensed to operate.

Is the service your "bookie" provides legal?

[RogerZBT]

You can call it Never Neverland if you like. The law will call it an illegal cardroom. Just because you don't think you'll get caught, it doesn't mean it is not illegal.