Acceptable Rake for Managed Home Games?

mike_scar · #1 07-15-2005, 01:07 PM

I know this has been covered somewhere, but didn't find it in the searches I performed.

I found a game in town that advertised on homepokergames.com. Got in touch with the guy, he said there was no fee but a small rake. When asked to elaborate, he said 'most are $2, the max is $4'. Buy-ins are $60-200, and the game is 1/2 NL. To me, this seems too much, but I haven't played a raked home game before. Seems like an easy way to make a few hundred dollars to me.

What kinds of levels are more acceptable for these kinds of situations?

PokerGoblin · #2 07-15-2005, 01:41 PM

I wouldn't play in a raked home game. If you want to pay rake, go to a casino or play online.

A sitting fee is a different story. I don't mind paying a few bucks up front as a sitting fee, as long as the game is ran professionally.

I personally don't charge any fees in my game, providing beer and such is part of running a game. Usually if someone drinks more than a couple beers or eats my food they'll drop a few bucks at the end of the night. That's especially nice if I am stuck for the night.

PG

Lottery Larry · #3 07-15-2005, 02:38 PM

I completely agree with this:
"I wouldn't play in a raked home game. If you want to pay rake, go to a casino or play online."

but I disagree with this:
" don't charge any fees in my game, providing beer and such is part of running a game"

We do enough unpaid work running a game, why should we also pay for the supplies and food? Those expenses should be shared- a per-game fee is completely fair as long as the host pays the same share.

If I have to make up $80-140 a night just to break even, then I would be better off driving to the casino and fighting the rake. It would cost me at most half of the lower amount, over four or five hours of play and I wouldn't have to do anything except drive, sit down, and leave.

PokerGoblin · #4 07-15-2005, 04:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
We do enough unpaid work running a game, why should we also pay for the supplies and food? Those expenses should be shared- a per-game fee is completely fair as long as the host pays the same share.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree in principle, but I run a game for the social benefits as well as to profit from playing.

I never drop more than $20 on supplies. A 12 pack of beer, bag of chips, maybe some pop, etc. thats about I provide. Players have made beer run in the middle of the game on occasion, but I feel obligated to keep guests in my house comfortable.

Just a personal opinion I guess. I've paid sitting fees before and I have no problem with that.

PG

Bulldog · #5 07-15-2005, 05:09 PM

Either way can work. No fee = nothing provided. They are welcome to help themselves to whatever happens to be in my fridge, but if they want something else, there is are two convenience stores and seven restaurants within a mile. For a bigger game in which significant investments are made into tables, chips, cards and the game is expected to go more than a few hours, a fee is reasonable, to cover food/drink and defray expenses.

ChewyMint · #6 07-15-2005, 09:47 PM

In the games around Orlando, the rake for most games is 10% up to $5, and $1 for each additional $50 with no cap. However, despite the fact that this amount is what is advertised, you will frequently win a pot that has $30-50 out of it. Many players still beat these games, as they are incredibly soft. Most are 1/2 or 2/5 Blind No Limit. Talk about ridiculous! As a player who picks up a lot of small pots, I take the brunt of it.

ChewyMint

tubalkain · #7 07-15-2005, 09:52 PM

$50 rake in one pot? Why the hell do people stand for that?

BigBaitsim (milo) · #8 07-15-2005, 11:24 PM

I played in a 5-10-10-20 home game that was raked $5 in any pot that was more than $100. Since there were always 5-8 in EVERY pot, it was always raked. I played because the players were godawful.

Also, the closest legal poker room to Farmville, VA was about 200 miles.

ChewyMint · #9 07-16-2005, 12:19 PM

[ QUOTE ]
$50 rake in one pot? Why the hell do people stand for that?

[/ QUOTE ]

People do it because the games are very soft, and there is no legal no limit poker in Florida, except on the boats. It is absolutely insane at the games though. You'll win a pot that should have $1850 in it, and get back $1725. Most people never even notice it seems, but I count each pot, and question the house if an insane amount is taken out.

ChewyMint

Lottery Larry · #10 07-16-2005, 04:39 PM

[ QUOTE ]
People do it because the games are very soft, and there is no legal no limit poker in Florida, except on the boats. It is absolutely insane at the games though. You'll win a pot that should have $1850 in it, and get back $1725. Most people never even notice it seems,

[/ QUOTE ]

"In the games around Orlando, the rake for most games is 10% up to $5, and $1 for each additional $50 with no cap. "

$1850/50 should be $36 +5 (horrible enough) and they take out a buck-twenty-five? How do I move down to Florida and mint THAT gold mine from the idiots?

I'd be screaming bloody murder