Are poker games in bars/pool halls/bowling alleys legal?
Hello. This is my first post here and a serious one.
It seems like every bar I go to, I see people playing poker. But I find out it's not for money and it's for fun. Yesterday, I go into an establishment which will not be named, and find a well organized poker game being run. By well organized, I mean they have a host calling out open seats for new players. And to my surprise, I see money on the table. Not loonies or toonies or even $5. But I see $20's and $50's on some tables. They are all single table sit and go's with the buy in being either $20 or $50 from what I saw. I was shocked to see this and have heard they have done this for quite some time now. Also when I look around, I see a few underage teens which concerns me.
My first thoughts are "WOW!! I wonder how much I can rake in tonight... $500, $1000???" But my brain tells me something isn't right about this picture. I'm pretty sure playing poker for money in a public place is illegal in my province Ontario. Obviously, I have thought about playing in this establishment but I know I would be really sketchy everytime the door opened. I also see the problem of underage gambling and what that can do to a youth. Now, I'm not out to shut this place down or get this place in trouble but I would like to hear your opinions on this and hopefully answer some of my questions.
Questions
1. What do you think about it?
2. Would you play at this establishment?
3. Would you report them?
4. If I played at this establishment and the police raided it, could I get charged?
Maybe I'm just paranoid. I know I would make a killing in there although if things got ugly, an actual "killing" might happen. Your thoughts?
It seems like every bar I go to, I see people playing poker. But I find out it's not for money and it's for fun. Yesterday, I go into an establishment which will not be named, and find a well organized poker game being run. By well organized, I mean they have a host calling out open seats for new players. And to my surprise, I see money on the table. Not loonies or toonies or even $5. But I see $20's and $50's on some tables. They are all single table sit and go's with the buy in being either $20 or $50 from what I saw. I was shocked to see this and have heard they have done this for quite some time now. Also when I look around, I see a few underage teens which concerns me.
My first thoughts are "WOW!! I wonder how much I can rake in tonight... $500, $1000???" But my brain tells me something isn't right about this picture. I'm pretty sure playing poker for money in a public place is illegal in my province Ontario. Obviously, I have thought about playing in this establishment but I know I would be really sketchy everytime the door opened. I also see the problem of underage gambling and what that can do to a youth. Now, I'm not out to shut this place down or get this place in trouble but I would like to hear your opinions on this and hopefully answer some of my questions.
Questions
1. What do you think about it?
2. Would you play at this establishment?
3. Would you report them?
4. If I played at this establishment and the police raided it, could I get charged?
Maybe I'm just paranoid. I know I would make a killing in there although if things got ugly, an actual "killing" might happen. Your thoughts?
Comments
1. I have played in some of these tourneys. They can be very profitable, but you must realize the venue. If you haven't a problem with an excessive amount of alcohol available to the masses, then it is a good situation for you. However, with alcohol comes overly emotional people, and with poker comes bad beats. High emotions + bad beats = well, use your imagination. So, if you can keep your cool, there is lots of money.
2. No, I would not, because I can't take the highly emational atmosphere, and I also dislike the smell of bars and it is also very noisy and it makes it hard for me to concentrate. If you are on a higher intellectual plane than I, you maintain your advantage over the others.
3. No. What for? They have been doing this for a while, and if I don't want to play, it's live and let live. They'll go down eventually. All it takes is for the wrong person to take a bad beat or have a losing day, and all hell'll break loose. Seen it a few times.
4. No. There is no law against playing in these games, just running them. You might lose your buy-in though, if they keep the money for evidence.
These are my thoughts, take them as you like. If you can put your reading skills to good use, yo will find there are a lot of elaborate bluffs run, and a lot of calling everything down with middle pair.
Welome to the forum, may your posts be many and your home games be enjoyable.
I am not a lawyer.
I believe you can be charged as a "found in". There are numerous posts on this topic here. If my memory is correct, a "found in" can be fined up to $2K.
Canadian Criminal Code
Section 201.(2)(a)
Every one who if found, without lawful exuse, in a common gaming house or common betting house, is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
It's always good legal practice to be able to "squeeze" the players to get testimony against the "house". Past practice has shown that charges are generally dropped against players after they "co-operate".
YMMV
2. Would you play at this establishment? Absolutely!
3. Would you report them? Of course not, why would I? Why?
4. If I played at this establishment and the police raided it, could I get charged? Anything is possible but not likely.
1. From what you discribe the setup is doomed to be busted or robbed.
2. Been there done that, all my worst beats have been against drunks. (or maybe they were just pretending to be drunk to get my money)
3. Never have never will.
4. looks like that's been answered already.
This is my biggest concerned. Seems like the owner will be in enough trouble serving minors. On top of that he's involing them in gambling. This part, truly irks me. In my opinion, gambling with minors for serious money, equates to being a financial pedophile. Maybe kids now-a-days have alot of cash on hand, but 15 yr. old girls are also alot more advanced now, then when I was that age. Taking advantage of them is still wrong.