Is it legal to hold a cash poker game in a bar IL?

Question

Is it legal to hold a cash poker game in a bar IL?

Answer 1

you can have poker tournaments but the bar cannot make money from them

Answer 2

some bars

Answer 3

Don't know....but in TEXAS you can have a cash game anywhere that liquor is NOT being sold as long as the owner of the establishment is NOT taking any payment/rake.  Call you local Sheriff's Office or District Attorney, they are usually pretty cool about helping you not break the law.

Answer 4

Who cares if its legal or not **** the law

Answer 5

Not a lot of very helpful answers here, so here it goes...

It is illegal to hold private poker games in bars in Illinois, which is not to say they don't happen all the time anyway.

What police will normally do when busting a game is hold and then release the participants but keep the money under the so-called "criminal gains" laws.  It is virtually impossible to recover money taken by police in this fashion.

If you want to hold a game the police couldn't do much about, have a central "banker" sell chips, keep ALL money off of the tables, store the cash somewhere that the police couldn't get to without a warrant (in a safe, cash register or in a non-player's posession,) and only cash out at the end of the night.  If you are busted during such a game you can simply argue that it was only a "chip" play-money game.

Finally, don't publicize the game except by word of mouth to known friends.  The only way the police could bust a game under the conditions above is if they have a "narc" directly involved in the game.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

no idea sorry

Answer 7

In most states, gambling is illegal, except when it is licensed by the state. Exceptions for church hall bingo and other charity events exist. But just like brewing booze for sale, the state demands its cut of all gambling for profit.

Answer 8

It differs by state and city.  Don't forget the city code.  In Oregon for example it's okay so long as an individual doesn't lose more than $100 in a 24 hour period and there is no rake (no organizer making a direct profit from the game).  In Portland I believe it's a limitation of less than a $1 in a public place.

Also you can't use cash, has to be something like chips.

My recommendation is to avoid all the potential legal hassle and have customers sign up for a texas hold'em no limit poker night.  The customers don't paying anything, but the winners get some kind of prize.  The bar can make a profit just from the crowd drinking, and because the players aren't putting up their own money it's probably legal and the prize doesn't have to be all that big.  Just make sure it's not a cash prize.

In Oregon at least the government is very jealous when it comes to making money off gambling.  But doing it the way I described wouldn't threaten them too much.  Maybe it would be the same in IL.

Answer 9

After reading this article..I will put link in source below, the way it reads, sounds like gambling in bars there has been going on for years ? Hmmm? Read it for yourself.

If you want a legal answer I suppose you would have to look up the legal laws for this in the area that you live.

Answer 10

Yes!

Answer 11

yes

Answer 12

It sure is illegal and I know a whole big group that used to play all the time and they all got busted, fined and had to go to court.  Not very pretty.

Play at home!

Answer 13

Dont expect the swat team to come crashing through the

doors its not that big of  deal, especially if its just a one time

thing

Answer 14

I think is Illegal to have cash games anywhere, other than a casino or something

best bet is to have everyone pay X amount of dollars and get some chips have some T-shirts and other stuff around in case the cops come so you can say just playing for prizes.  then divide the money up or have a winner take all and hand the money out afterwards.

Answer 15

You can go to jail?????????