Raking a home game in Illinois

Snarf · #1 01-10-2007, 11:41 PM

A guy I know hosts a home game every so often is considering applying a rake in exchange for upgrading the quality of his hosting.

(Adding tables, TVs, maybe dealers, etc...)

Having done some research

http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Laws/Illinois/

I can't find anything that says a raked game is MORE illegal than a NON-raked game.

However, I do tend to believe/think that the police would care about a raked game, while they wouldn't care about a non-raked game.

What LEGAL advice can I give this guy?

What ETHICAL implications does raking have?

SwordFish · #2 01-11-2007, 04:36 AM

Snarf -

Legally, I don't think one is more illegal than the other. However, as you stated, I think it is much more likely that a home would be raided and the owner charged with "Keeping a Gambling Place" if it became know that he was charging rake, using paid dealers etc.

In either case, police in Illinois have shown very little interest in breaking up home games.

Ethically, if your friend wants to charge rake to improve the game and/or recoup expenses, then no big deal. If he is doing it to bleed money from his friends then it could be a problem.

In our home games (regardless of who is hosting that night), we rake each pot $1 until the food and drinks are paid for, the rest of the night is rake free.

SF

duvvard · #3 01-11-2007, 10:47 AM

My old roommate ran a game twice a week, 2-4 or 3-6 NL...usually about 12 hr sessions, made about 800 a week w/ a max rake of 2$. This is extremely illegal, but it was all the same people every week so there was little worry. All dealers were very fast, drinks were provided, smoking in the house since most players smoked, TV's up in the corners of the room, casino quality table, nice padded chairs, etc etc. Nobody minded the rake since it was the only NL game in town.

Home games for money w/ no rake = 100 % legal
Home games w/ rake = very illegal

StellarWind · #4 01-12-2007, 08:08 PM

[ QUOTE ]
In our home games (regardless of who is hosting that night), we rake each pot $1 until the food and drinks are paid for, the rest of the night is rake free.

[/ QUOTE ]
Why don't you just split the tab and collect directly instead of raking? It will speed the game up and it's a lot safer for the host.