Any Poker Players out there???

[tbeer22]

Anyone from New York here who has been to one of those underground card rooms?

What does everyone think about opening a "social" card club?

[soccer-boy]

illegal???

I read a book called swimming with the devilfish, about poker pro dave ulliot, in the early days he went to a lot of these places. They were frequently raided and preyed on weak players.

Recently, last month the Cincinatti club in scotland was raided and all cash was seized.

No doubt its a money making idea, but do you want a criminal record to go with it?

Excuses for taking rake money used in court are that players are paying for food and beverages, rather than the poker facilities.

[kbud124]

they are raiding these things left and right in nyc..secondly, if you were to do something like this, id avoid posting anything about in any type of public forum

[Lex]

Hmm what if players just paid a membership to a club, then they could play poker with no rakes?

[simplegreen]

it's not illegal unless the "house" profits from providing the place/means to play.

I.e. My grandfather owns a antiques shop they play poker pretty much all day for quarters nickles and dimes. But the shop doesnt charge people to play or take a cut, its just a bunch of old guys playing cards for money.

[Lex]

Ahh so if the establishment profits in some other way drinks/food then anyone can play poker.

[simplegreen]

well at least in the US im not really sure of the international laws certain places are allowed to freely gamble i.e. vegas, atlantic city. So I guess they kinda look at it as illegal gambling if there is a set structure. So i could see the law having an issue with charging for drinks too.