Starting a home game...?

Johny_Whiteshoes · #1 02-01-2007, 02:33 PM

I have been throwing biweekly NL games at my new house for about three months now with friends and friends of friends (without dealers). I want to make some money while hosting. I would say 80% of the time we play cash games and the other just tourneys. At any given time, I have 10-25 players.

Questions:
1) Should I just charge a fee? (i.e. $20+2 and $30+3) If so, what is a good structure? If I charge should I supply food and beer? (I have been buying snacks but without charging) If I charge, should I prepare myself to make change for the larger bills?
2) Should I have dealers or one player deal and play while moving the button?

I am up for any ideas.

Thank you,
Johny [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

nowags · #2 02-01-2007, 02:40 PM

Check your local laws. Charging a fee/ rake is illegal in a lot of places. It's a felony here in Colorado. See what the risk is then decide.

If you charge a fee, do provide at least snacks and sodas, and beer would be nice. Provide dealers too. Ive played in raked games where the guys running it had competent friends deal for tips. You're charging rake like a casino, treat people like a casino, to an extent.

If you decide to not charge a fee, just ask people to pitch in for snacks once in a while. They wont mind.

Johny_Whiteshoes · #3 02-01-2007, 03:14 PM

I am pretty sure a lot of things we do are illegal including gambling online, lol. But it is just friends and friends of friends. The fact is, cleaning up after everyone sucks and last time I bought snacks I mention a little kick back and only two people chipped in. So I dont want to get burnt but I also want to make money.

Lottery Larry · #4 02-01-2007, 03:51 PM

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The fact is, cleaning up after everyone sucks and last time I bought snacks I mention a little kick back and only two people chipped in.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're not going to get a lot of sympathy from we saints who have been cleaning up for free already.

I'm not giving you help on running an underground card room. If you want to share expenses, check with your local and state laws on the restrictions. If you can't share, make everyone bring something (or rotate the snack buying responsibilities) and make people kick in when you need to replace card decks.

If you want people to help clean up, end the game at a certain time and have everyone clean up. Those who don't can stay at home and play Solitare.

jzpiano · #5 02-01-2007, 04:21 PM

tworooks?

pfapfap · #6 02-01-2007, 05:03 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I dont want to get burnt but I also want to make money.

[/ QUOTE ]

Throwing a party costs money and requires clean-up. That's all there is to it. If you want to make money, become a better player.

I run a weekly game with 15-30 people, and especially at first, clean-up was a pain. But as I've been doing it I've gotten better at cleaning as we go and keeping on people to clean up after themselves. Provide more waste/recycle bins. Remind people that it's your home. Lately a couple people have suggested a "tip jar" to keep a fund to refelt tables, so I may start doing that, but it still seem a little weird to me.

I've stopped providing food during my cash games except for the occasional bottle of hooch (which is +EV, but -cleanliness). People know to BYOB, and lately we've been getting someone who leaves early to grab us all a bunch of burgers before heading home. I do charge a fee during my monthly tournaments, but that's to cover the pile of pizzas and extensive beverage selection I provide for those. I end up losing a little there, too.

At the level you're at, charging a fee would be more hassle than it's worth. Aside from the legality aspect, you'll piss off your friends, and it will require you to do even more (ie, food and beer), which leads to even more cleanup. Just run a solid, fun game and let your friends know that they should be cleaning up after themselves.

nowags · #7 02-01-2007, 05:12 PM

Well said, pfappfap

Johny_Whiteshoes · #8 02-01-2007, 05:35 PM

A better player, nice information. I am not worried about my play, I make money there. It was just a couple of simple questions to answer and I will ask some other forums. I have been to bunk games before and just wanted to be different.

Johny_Whiteshoes · #9 02-01-2007, 05:38 PM

I settled the debate. I will have two dealers that will be paid (including tips) and will clean up after the game is done.

pfapfap · #10 02-01-2007, 05:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
A better player, nice information.

[/ QUOTE ]

Heh, sorry. That's a bit of a side joke with some friends of mine, I forget that things don't translate in text to strangers. Cuz, you know, we could all always stand to be better players, so it's a kind of joke non-answer.

But dude, really, I answered your questions earnestly and at length. Chill out.

Out of curiosity, how much are you paying dealers and how much do you plan to tip in a $20 game? I can't imagine this will allow anybody to ever end up with profit.