Hold 'em tourney I attended tonight...Is it legal?

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International Playa
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Tonight I went to an Elks club for a hold 'em tourney. 90% of the buy in ($25)goes to 1-8th place, 10% goes towards the tourney of champions later next month. they sell beer, alcohol & soda & food. when people get knocked out they start up side games. went from 122 people to 3 people in just 3 hours (raising the blinds every so often) they run it every tuesday and thursday and have a tourney of champions every couple of months. from what i understand, these are pretty common all around. my question, is this legal? if so, is it because they don't take a rake? what stops someone like me running one?
 

International Playa
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it wasn't in a big town, pretty small, how do they continue to run it?
 

SportsOptions/Line up with the pros
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Most states it's illegal. Down in Florida you can actually play poker legally if the pot doesn't get over $10, LOL. Years ago they busted some 70 year old retirees playing quarter poker that prompted them to make it legal up to $10. Never forget the picture of these guys with handcuffs on being marched out the front door.

More times than not if you aren't bothering anyone (and none of the suckers wives complain) they aren't going to mess with you. I got popped once for it but we were big and took a rake on all the tables that were going. Some guy lost so much money he ended up telling his wife who dropped a dime on us.

:WTF:
 

New member
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In North Dakota you pretty much have to stay under $25 and no one will hassle you either. Tourneys are a great way to do this and still have a large payout.
 

Hard work never killed anyone, but why chance it?
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Texas

§ 47.02. Gambling

(a) A person commits an offense if he:

(1) makes a bet on the partial or final result of a game or contest or on the performance of a participant in a game or contest;

(2) makes a bet on the result of any political nomination, appointment, or election or on the degree of success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate; or

(3) plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, balls, or any other gambling device.

(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that:

(1) the actor engaged in gambling in a private place;

(2) no person received any economic benefit other than personal winnings; and

(3) except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risks of losing and the chances of winning were the same for all participants.

(like the wording, "It is a defense to prosecution..")

No rake, private games are allowed in Texas.

Still, Big Brother is going to save us. Not from homelessness, poverty or cancer. That would be a bit too tough. But still they want to be "do good'ers."

"Going after this gambling thing won't be too work intensive. Will look good on my resume. I saved the people from themselves. Where would they be without me?"

Worthless.
 
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Active member
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sherman said:
hard to believe they just don't care.

I would agree here...there are probably 100 games going on in your area at peoples houses and such where there is a rake....
 

Tireless Rebuttter
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The only way for these things to be legal is if the prize is RANDOMLY given to one of the contestants. That's the only way.
 

Rx God
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Sherman: Not legal in CT. I remember reading about a bunch of bars getting nabbed for it earlier. A place like Elks, or VFW ( private) may get away with it. Remember those pull-tab games they have ( had ?).
 

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