Hosting Public Tourneys in the UK |
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Posted Thu Jun 22, 2006 2:25 pm GMT by Muck
Can anyone fill me in on the current legal state of these in the UK please.
Some friends wanted to use the back room of a pub and open the entry up to anyone who was interested.
Sounds illegal but I wanted to know for sure.
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Posted Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:57 pm GMT by MasterShake
| Muck wrote: | Can anyone fill me in on the current legal state of these in the UK please.
Some friends wanted to use the back room of a pub and open the entry up to anyone who was interested.
Sounds illegal but I wanted to know for sure. |
Will there be a rake? I don't know UK law, but that would probably make a big difference.
Posted Sat Jun 24, 2006 6:41 am GMT by Muck
| MasterShake wrote: | | Muck wrote: | Can anyone fill me in on the current legal state of these in the UK please.
Some friends wanted to use the back room of a pub and open the entry up to anyone who was interested.
Sounds illegal but I wanted to know for sure. |
Will there be a rake? I don't know UK law, but that would probably make a big difference. |
Sorry I should have said the plan was to run MMTs or SSTs depending on numbers.
There might be a small charge on the first buy in, e.g. £5-£0.50. Or we might just put everything into the prize fun and take a % of the bar.
Posted Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:28 am GMT by Pokerdealz
I too have often wondered about setting this up.
I strongly suspect that the pub would need a gambling licence.
I know the casinos need a specific license to hold poker games, which is why most dont, as they can make more profitable use of the floor space.
I was wondering about the legal issues with holding a MTT at my home, amongst friends, and friends of friends.
Posted Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:20 am GMT by wEbMaStEr
The law regarding poker and the running of poker gams in the UK at the moment is at best sketchy. New gambling legislation is currently being fased in, however it contains no specific reference to poker.
However, recent events have shown that police are more than willing to take action aganst even private, members only poker clubs under the old 1963 Gambling act.
The Gutshot Club in London has been raided and it's owners are currently awaiting a courts decision, if found guilty they could go to jail.
The Cavendish Club in Belfast was raided (by heavily armed police in full riot gear) All monies were confiscated, a sum of about 25,000 quid, but were later returned when a judge ruled that the money was not "proceeds of crime" Altho he did also rule that the club be shut down.
Cincinatti's in Glasgow was raided recently, all money and poker equipment, chips, tables, etc were seized. I've not heard how legal proceedings have gone on this but they did re-open.
I would imagine that your landlord's alcohol license specifically prohibits "games of chance" from his premises, now you may be willing to argue that poker is not a game of chance, but would he be willing to lose his license while legal proceedings took place?
In short... It's not looking great 
Posted Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:34 pm GMT by Muck
Funnily enough :D I saw mention of this on The Beeb a couple of days ago:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5171696.stm
| BBC News wrote: |
Pub poker boom forces crackdown
Criminals could be holding all the aces, the watchdog fears
Poker players are increasingly being lured into illegal high-stakes games in pubs and clubs, the government's gambling watchdog fears.
The Gambling Commission is launching a crackdown amid fears criminals are attempting to cash-in on the internet-driven boom in poker.
Landlords have been warned they could lose their licence if they allow poker to be played on their premises.
It comes amid US moves to rein in the booming online gambling market.
The US House of Representatives has backed a bill limiting internet gaming by making it illegal for US-based banks and credit card firms to make payments to online gambling sites.
Online gambling has taken off in the past two years, with the global market thought to be worth £827m.
Complex rules
In the UK, the Gambling Commission fears criminals are cashing-in on the boom.
It says a big increase in unregulated poker games in pubs and clubs could lead to a rise in violence - and unwary punters being cheated out of large amounts of cash.
It has written to police forces, local authorities and the licensing trade associations throughout the country as part of a clampdown.
"Poker has become increasingly popular in the last 12 months and a number of people are seeking to cash in on the demand to play," said Phil Brear, the Gambling Commission's director of operations.
"The law is complex but we have two simple messages: First under the existing law many of these games are illegal or are likely to lead to illegal games being played.
"Secondly, illegal poker games can lead to people being cheated into losing very substantial sums of money, and we are concerned that people will be exploited if games are not properly supervised."
Small stake gambling - such as on cribbage or dominoes - is allowed in pubs and clubs under the 1968 Gaming Act, the commission says in its guidelines.
But any game which involves high stakes or betting against the bank or house, such as pontoon, blackjack, roulette, poker or brag, is outlawed, it warns.
The rules are complicated, however.
Bingo allowed
Some traditional games, such as bridge, solo, whist and rummy are allowed in pubs provided the winner walks away with no more than the price of a round of drinks.
Bingo is also allowed - provided it is an "incidental activity" and the stakes are not too high.
Poker leagues - where players compete for points rather than cash - are a legal grey area, the commission admits, as the organisers often offer prizes in the later stages.
But it is illegal to play any game in a pub where the host takes a percentage of the "pot", the commission warns.
And landlords who use poker to lure punters into their premises also face prosecution or losing their licence.
Charity poker
Poker is a "great game", said Mr Brear, but it should only be played in licensed casinos or card rooms, with properly-trained dealers and supervisors, CCTV and other safeguards.
"Our overarching objectives are to keep crime out of gambling, protect players and make sure that the games are run fairly and openly.
"The Gambling Commission has significant powers at its disposal to crack down on those breaking the law and we won't hesitate to use those powers," he added.
Charity poker tournaments and other fund raising events may be allowed by the licensing authorities, the Gambling Commission guidelines say, provided the landlord does not make substantial amounts of extra cash from the sale of food and drink.
The 2005 Gambling Act - due to come into force in September 2007 - will include a new definition of "non-commercial gaming", including limits on stakes and prizes.
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Posted Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:18 pm GMT by Pokerdealz
Well, looks like its that idea swiftly knocked on the head.
What I would like to know is why such a huge percentage of the UK population can "gamble" in there own homes on the National lottery TWICE a week, but you can not hold a competition of "skill" when you feel like it.
Oh yeah.......the government doesnt get its cut.
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