? For Lawyers

[X-Longshot-X]

I live in Ohio, i dont know if you know what the legality og gambling is out here but here is my ?.....I know we cannot charge a door charge to get into a party at our home.....(We are hosting a huge BYOB poker game) we are having a $10 buy in tourney)....We still want people to chip in for food but we dont want to give them the option.....People out here are jerks and wont pay a dime but eat everything. Can we legally charge $12 for the tourney and take out $2 per person as long as they all know what it is for.....i know the legality can get hazy but any input would be greatly apprecaited

[Reel Deal]

Honestly, I don't think the legality of that is something you need to worry about... but you didn't hear that from me.

[X-Longshot-X]

I know its not that big of a deal but i live in a smaller town, and the police force is FINALLY at full strength and have nothing better to do than bust up parties and pull over teenage drivers to fish for probable cause to arrest them.....our police department is ghetto and lame

[Talking Poker]

It's not big deal (your $2 juice isn't going to hit the authorities radar), but it's also probably not legal. To do it legally, you'd need to ask for donations.

[Reel Deal]

Actually, I can't think of anything illegal about taking $ from people in exchange for providing them with some food... it's the running of a poker game where cash is being wagered that's probably not legal in your jurisdiction, that's what you need to worry about, not the $2 for chips and dip.

[eejit101]

thats fine. Just charge $10 + $2, or $3 if theres not many people. Noone will mind if your providing food. Whats 2 bucks between friends

EDIT - i love longshots new location bit

[X-Longshot-X]

The game is legal because it is recreational....i know that much.....it is in a home, for low limits therefore it is legal in ohio....however it is not the fact the cops will know about the $2 juice...but if there are drunk people, the cops come in....and find out we are charging....i dont know if we could be i trouble....i doubt it will be a problem but i like to be safe rather than srry

[Reel Deal]

You're "charging" them (I'd call it having them chip in) for food, nothing illegal about that... oh wait, I forgot, we're talking about Ohio. Nevermind.

[holdemstewart]

Your not in {Removed as Per Request} Anymore?

[holdemstewart]

I got your phone number too, need me to give ya a call sometime?

[holdemstewart]

{Phone Number Removed Too}

[eejit101]

thats the most unfunny thing ever

[holdemstewart]

figured id help him out. hes not as smart as he thinks he is eh?

[Talking Poker]

Charging $10+0 for poker and $2 for food is not the same thing as charging $10+2 for poker and food.

[eejit101]

boom, TP hits it on the head

[Reel Deal]

Don't think that matters since he said small stakes home games are not illegal in Ohio.