Legalities of starting a Holdem tournament at a Pennsylvania Bar.

#1 07-20-2005, 12:29 AM

Hello,
My Boss is interested in starting a weekly holdem tournament at his bar in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He wants to do everything by the book as he just wants to bring people in to make money off liquor, not poker. So, he asked me to look into all the legalities of the idea. So, i was wondering if you can charge some sort of buy-in for everyone and reward with a cash prize. Is it legal to reward with a cash prize. I just want to get this thing rolling and any information would be greatly appreciated.

mattw · #2 07-20-2005, 05:51 AM

I am not a lawyer but I do live in PA. It is my understanding that poker is illegal, period. Technically, even home games are illegal. I worked at a private country club while in HS and college. There was a poker room in the club house and prominate businessmen, including judges and lawyers played. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

To have a game in a public arena is trouble, IMHO. Consult an attorney who knows the gaming laws.

sekrah · #3 07-20-2005, 07:21 AM

I believe as long as all of the money goes back to the winning players, and the bar isn't profiting one ioda, you'll be clear.

I'm in PA and we had a local bar raided by the cops during the middle of a tournament. The buy-in was $50, but $5 was going to the house and they claimed it was for food, and they had a buffet out and everything, but it wasn't clean with the law I guess.

I've seen other tournaments with the buy-ins going completely back to the winners, and it never got raided.. So I'm assuming it's okay.

sekrah · #4 07-20-2005, 07:22 AM

See my other post..