Illegal Vs Legal poker

Couple quick questions I have for the experienced players. I live in the great state of Indiana... ( At least I think its great ).. except for beer sales but thats another area.

I was thinking about starting up a poker room in the area. However, I know that if you take a rake you can also take home a pair of nice shiny bracelets if you catch my drift. There are several area poker rooms but all are at least 45 to and hour away from my location.

What can you or what can you NOT do with regards to poker.. Is it illegal in your guestimation that you hold a poker room ?? can you have a poker room just not have a rake ? could you start a poker room and not have a rake and maybe just charge a membership fee ?? I know its a grey area and to be honest I know a LOT about the law but I have never come across this or have been exposed to it other than reading or hearing from some friends that an " illegal " poker room was raided.

If you have a regular commercial game within 90 miles of Chicago, the police will be the least of your worries. You might have to make a donation to the local wiseguys.

LOL.. I am a little further away near Ft Wayne.. and the COPS did shut down a couple " illegal " rooms here awhile back...

i dunno about indiana, but in virginia you can play poker in your own home with friends for money as long as you don't take a rake. it's when you start taking rake that it becomes illegal.

Each state has its own laws regarding poker. You should consult an attorney.

the great USA land of the free. you can buy an ak47 over the counter. but you can,t play a game of poker. pmsl u guys kill me.

slimline said:

the great USA land of the free. you can buy an ak47 over the counter. but you can,t play a game of poker. pmsl u guys kill me.

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It is not YOU GUYS... Its the Politicians but I am not getting into that with anyone here. I am sure I could pick apart some of your countries laws but I am not here to do that.

slimline said:

the great USA land of the free. you can buy an ak47 over the counter. but you can,t play a game of poker. pmsl u guys kill me.

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The legal situation regarding live poker in the USA is actually very similar to the one in lots of other countries around the world. You're typically allowed to play poker, for real money, you're just not allowed to charge people a rake for playing in the game.

I know that's pretty much exactly the situation in Australia, with the exception that there's some additional restrictions on what you can do on a liquor licensed / commercial premises.

Regarding OP's original question, Charade has the right answer. If you're serious about opening a serious poker room, then you seriously, SERIOUSLY need to consult a serious attorney. Seriously. Advice from random people on an internet forum just won't cut it.

ferratus said:

except for beer sales but thats another area.

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Being as much a beer fan as a poker fan, this piques my interest. Do you mind telling the other story??

And, I agree, just ask someone who know - attorney, some state office who has knowledge of state laws etc.

slimline said:

the great USA land of the free. you can buy an ak47 over the counter. but you can,t play a game of poker. pmsl u guys kill me.

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^^^^^ Giving new meanings to "unnecessary" (being nice here)

ferratus said:

It is not YOU GUYS... Its the Politicians but I am not getting into that with anyone here. I am sure I could pick apart some of your countries laws but I am not here to do that.

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accepted no offence ment. it,s not easy for americans online atm of course its the politicians. im from northern ireland. so have to operate under uk laws. so far online is not a problem. then again with no american,the french gone the italian,s gone and i think the belguims,all gone online poker needs somrthing positive to happen.

I also live in the land of the we don't want to progress Indiana, I migrated here for spouse, but anyways, poker is allowed here about 20 miles away and the state loves it because it gets a portion of your rake. As long as they can put their hands in it (govt) then its fine. We have 2 land casino's/horsetracks one in indianapolis and one in anderson, they both offer poker but thier are no live dealers so its just like playing online. You face the same all inner with 23 off and they hit an look at you an say WOW.

slimline said:

accepted no offence ment. it,s not easy for americans online atm of course its the politicians. im from northern ireland. so have to operate under uk laws. so far online is not a problem. then again with no american,the french gone the italian,s gone and i think the belguims,all gone online poker needs somrthing positive to happen.

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Thanks for the post. It is ironic that you can obtain a handgun so much easier then playing a game of online poker. Or perhaps ridiculous is a better word... I know my location says Germany, where I now live, but I grew up in Houston Texas, and Texas is a weird fkn place when it comes to guns and attitudes on "home defense" among other things, believe me.

Lets hope the future has some balance in store for the online poker world.

I too find it a tragedy that a card game can be against the law, but so many things worse are either legal or rarely enforced. Yes, definitely consult an attorney beforehand, but I wager (rake or not) that if you are proposing a card room that is open on regular hours it will eventually be raided. This is quite different than friends getting together for a friendly game.

LarryT503 said:

I too find it a tragedy that a card game can be against the law, but so many things worse are either legal or rarely enforced. Yes, definitely consult an attorney beforehand, but I wager (rake or not) that if you are proposing a card room that is open on regular hours it will eventually be raided. This is quite different than friends getting together for a friendly game.

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I just read Indiana's gambling law-and found myself amazed that people can actually write these things and take themselves seriously. Kind of the GAMBLING IS BAD EXCEPT FOR ............, ............., ................, ........., ..........., and .......... And Online Gambling is WORSE except for lotteries, and fantasy leagues and OTB and the stock market and commodity trading and hedgefunds and short sales.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't understand hypocrisy.

Charade You Are said:

I just read Indiana's gambling law-and found myself amazed that people can actually write these things and take themselves seriously. Kind of the GAMBLING IS BAD EXCEPT FOR ............, ............., ................, ........., ..........., and .......... And Online Gambling is WORSE except for lotteries, and fantasy leagues and OTB and the stock market and commodity trading and hedgefunds and short sales.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't understand hypocrisy.

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AH HA !!!!!!!.........

all great questions.. Does anyone know of a poker club where a membership fee is charged on monthly system?