[Bored]

In my area a lot of people love to play poker, but never have the time or the friends to set up a game. Plus it is a lot of work to organize and host a game at your own house. I want to create a business that organizes poker tournaments for you!

I will have a website that in it, you could simply tell me what schedule is right for you and according to your schedule (and others' schedules) I will organize a game.

I am thinking of renting out a room in an office complex close to my school to host my games. I will also buy a bunch of drinks and snacks to sell too. I will advertise at my college and at my old high school. I am also pretty sure people will be interested in this.

I have a couple of questions though:
1) I need money in order to rent out my room. Would it be possible to ask some restaurants down the street if they are willing to give me money in exchange for their advertising? As in, I would advertise their store to my customers.
2) I am not sure of what my rates should be. I was thinking of charging $1 + 15% of the pot size or 2$ and each additional hour would cost 1$. I think the first one is better because I want people to stay and enjoy themselves and not to try and hurry (I want them to buy candy too ).
3) Would I need a business license for this?
4) I am new to business and would like to know what I am missing or neglecting.

[marbalizer99]

I'm about 100% sure its ILLEGAL to host a poker game without a gambling license. It is also ILLEGAL to participate in the games.

Some guys at VaTech last year had the same idea as you. Unfortunetly for them, a few weeks into their apartment casino venture an undercover cop decided to come in and play a few hands and then bust everyone there.

[Bscivolette]

www.sportsvite.com allows you to organize teams for sports, including Poker

[akula]

Originally Posted by Bored

In my area a lot of people love to play poker, but never have the time or the friends to set up a game. Plus it is a lot of work to organize and host a game at your own house. I want to create a business that organizes poker tournaments for you!

I will have a website that in it, you could simply tell me what schedule is right for you and according to your schedule (and others' schedules) I will organize a game.

I am thinking of renting out a room in an office complex close to my school to host my games. I will also buy a bunch of drinks and snacks to sell too. I will advertise at my college and at my old high school. I am also pretty sure people will be interested in this.

I have a couple of questions though:
1) I need money in order to rent out my room. Would it be possible to ask some restaurants down the street if they are willing to give me money in exchange for their advertising? As in, I would advertise their store to my customers.
2) I am not sure of what my rates should be. I was thinking of charging $1 + 15% of the pot size or 2$ and each additional hour would cost 1$. I think the first one is better because I want people to stay and enjoy themselves and not to try and hurry (I want them to buy candy too ).
3) Would I need a business license for this?
4) I am new to business and would like to know what I am missing or neglecting.

You are asking questions about financing, pricing, legal issues and everything else in between. All of these things have procedures for resolving them selves.

You need to understand that if you want to run a business, you need to have the skills to answer these questions for your self. No one else can give you the right answers because the right answer varies from venture to venture. This is the essence of entrepreneurship as a skill. You have to know what you are doing. 'Duh!

[marbalizer99]

VA State Law:

§ 18.2-328. Conducting illegal gambling operation; penalties.

The operator of an illegal gambling enterprise, activity or operation shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. However, any such operator who engages in an illegal gambling operation which (i) has been or remains in substantially continuous operation for a period in excess of thirty days or (ii) has gross revenue of $2,000 or more in any single day shall be fined not more than $20,000 and imprisoned not less than one year nor more than ten years.
As used in this section, the term "gross revenue" means the total amount of illegal gambling transactions handled, dealt with, received by or placed with such operation, as distinguished from any net figure or amount from which deductions are taken, without regard to whether money or any other thing of value actually changes hands.

"Operator" includes any person, firm or association of persons, who conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs or owns all or part of an illegal gambling enterprise, activity or operation.



Of course, if you did decide to pursue this venture in VA then eventually you could start up something like www.prisonpoker.com Just an idea, I don't think I'll use it, so it's all yours

[Bored]

Sorry, I only thought about the legal issues after I posted and left my computer. I thought about having people play for free. My revenue will come from selling snacks, soda, and advertising.

[nado]

Why not online poker rather than organising physical poker?

Sure actually physically sitting down and playing would be more fun, but if you're targetting people who don't 'have enough time' wouldn't they rather just play online instead of having to get up and drive somewhere?

[Bored]

Originally Posted by nado

Why not online poker rather than organising physical poker?

Sure actually physically sitting down and playing would be more fun, but if you're targetting people who don't 'have enough time' wouldn't they rather just play online instead of having to get up and drive somewhere?

Well I know a lot of people who like to play that are around my area. Playing online and in person is completely different, gaming wise and entertainment wise. It is also something cool to do when you’re bored. My town is kinda dull in the evening; this would be a trendy place to hang out.

[waveformpc]

Heh... I got an idea. Why not setup a location where everyone brings some small computing device (i.e. small laptop), and then everyone hooks up and plays right there, kind of like a LAN party? It would be completely online, and the exchange of cash would be online. It would be no different than each person playing in their own home, or so I am guessing.

[Bored]

Originally Posted by waveformpc

Heh... I got an idea. Why not setup a location where everyone brings some small computing device (i.e. small laptop), and then everyone hooks up and plays right there, kind of like a LAN party? It would be completely online, and the exchange of cash would be online. It would be no different than each person playing in their own home, or so I am guessing.

Sounds to me like a LAN cafe. There was about 3-4 in my area, now all closed down except for one. I asked the owner of the succeeding cafe why the others closed down. He said none of them were able to keep their customers. So it is probably not a good idea to start one of those.

[waveformpc]

Originally Posted by Bored

Sounds to me like a LAN cafe. There was about 3-4 in my area, now all closed down except for one. I asked the owner of the succeeding cafe why the others closed down. He said none of them were able to keep their customers. So it is probably not a good idea to start one of those.

Not really a LAN cafe, but more of a LAN "party" for poker. Haven't you ever heard of all the geeks getting together and bringing their PC's to a persons house, then hooking up to a LAN (or internet) and playing a multiplayer game? In this case, the game would be poker...

Either way, I don't really think it's a good idea (illegal gambling OR LAN "cafes"). I was just throwing out ideas on how to make local poker potentially legal...

[Bored]

How can it be illegal if I organize games and let them play for free? My only revenue would be from selling stuff or advertising, which is completely independent from the gambling.