What can I be charged with if an illegal poker game is being played in my house without my permission?
Filed under: Gambling
09 April 2009
WhatdoIhave!? asked:
My room mate wants to start an illegal poker game, and being the apartment is in his name, is going to do it despite my protest. I was curious what kind of trouble I’m looking at if he gets in trouble.
My room mate wants to start an illegal poker game, and being the apartment is in his name, is going to do it despite my protest. I was curious what kind of trouble I’m looking at if he gets in trouble.
April 10th, 2009 at 4:03 am
Well how would you make it illegal
April 12th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Any monitary gambling games are illegal, but seriously, you won’t get caught. EVERYONE gambles. As long as you are keeping the money within general boundaries, and not planning to bet houses in the game ,don’t get your panties in a twist.
April 15th, 2009 at 2:50 am
If the apartment is in his name and you’re not participating, I don’t see how you could get in trouble.
It’s highly unlikely to get busted for a friendly game anyway, especially in a private home…I play with my friends from high school all the time in a lounge room of a dorm, we’ve had officers (both campus patrol and police) walk through without questioning it.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I wouldn’t worry too much about it. In most states poker home games are perfectly legal provided the people playing know each other and the ‘house’ does not take a rake from the pot.
Now if your friend is intending to invite strangers to his house and take a fee for hosting the game, that is illegal in most states. If the police find out and decide to raid the game you can expect them to take any money, chips, and poker paraphernalia in a raid. The severity of the punishment will be related to the state you live in and the stakes of the game.
I would avoid keeping large amounts of money on you or in the apartment, since these could be seized in a police raid.
Try and encourage your friend to limit people to people he knows and encourage him not to take a rake. Then you should be fine.
April 17th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
some gambling is illegal. for a house game to be illegal the host must take a cut of the action . the general rule is ignorance of the law is no excuse. most likely the only laws being broken are underage drinking and after the game breaks up driving under influence.
April 19th, 2009 at 12:08 am
If its just a home game it isn’t illegal.
If he is actively soliciting CUSTOMERs (not friends, friends of friends, family, etc) then it may be illegal. Is he oppening a poker parlour. Or is it just a home game with some friends or nieghbors?