[Obfuscation]

I wouldn't pay a rake in a home game. I think it's pretty ridiculous.

I host a bi-weekly home game. Some of the other guys will also host the same basic group on occassion. It's byob although sometimes I will share my bourbon and buy a few bags of chips. It's not some absurd expense.

I spent probably close to $1,000 on awesome chips, good cards, chairs etc. but that's my own property which I will always have and those things give me pleasure. I would think it arrogant to expect someone else to pay for them.

If I'm paying a rake, I'd be expecting to be in a card club or a full on casino. One of the nice things about homegames is thier relaxed atmosphere, I feel a rake makes it a business operation.

This said, when I regularly attend a home game with a gracious host, I will often offer to chip in for snacks and have brought the host small gifts of appreciation for being kind enough to invite me into his house. i.e. I gave a buddy of mine a setup of Copags for the game. It's hardly a big deal.