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Whatever you do don't do what Casino Arizona has done: Install betting lines that are not betting lines.

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I like to view these as "don't be a douche, put your bets in where the dealer can reach them" line. There's probably some OSHA thing associated with it, too. I like them.

I run a home game with several tables and people coming from various levels of poker experience. We have no lines. People cut out chips in front of their cards sometimes, and even occasionally leave them sitting there why thinking about action. In two years it has not been a problem for people to rub two brain cells together to either: understand through body language and facial expression and hand movement; or simply ask what the other player is doing.

I work in a room with the line, but it's not an official betting line. Again, so far there has been no confusion. Other regional rooms use it as a line, but those who travel between casinos don't seem confused. I, as a dealer, run my game well. I understand and respect the game of poker. I can tell when others may be confused by their perceived ambiguity and I nip situations before they occur.

Encourage those who play in your room to announce all action and train your dealers to run the game, and it will never matter. But put in the line so your dealers have something to point to for the a-hole customers, and support your dealers when they insist a-hole players in the outlying seats push their bets forward. I think using the line as a guide is good, but giving it magical properties leads to nittitude of extreme proportions.

WHATEVER you do, DO NOT have the air space above the line be included in whatever. I've been in places that ruled (in limit) that if you had enough chips in your hand for a raise, it's a raise, regardless of how many you released. I can understand how these silly policies came into being, but there are other, saner solutions.