Clearly having solved all other higher priority issues on their to-do list, sheriff's deputies in San Mateo county raided a home game and arrested two people and took a 13 year old away from his parents. According to the complaints, the tournament proceeds were being skimmed by the organizer (he denies this), and a "refreshment fee" was charged the participants, which amounts to an illegal rake for a home game.
Congratulations, super cops, you've clearly made the world a better place by not allowing our neighbors to play poker at home for low stakes.
There is, however, a lesson to be learned. If you want to advertise a home game outside of a circle of personal friends, take some time to familiarize yourself with the law. If you don't want to be stuck with the bill for refreshments, make a point of describing the event as BYOB. Never ever rake the pot in any way, don't open the game to minors, and do whatever you have to do to make sure that the game is completely honest (if someone catches someone cheating, the cheater can ruin your life if they claim you were in cahoots with them).
The cops will have a much, much harder time justifying wasting the courts' and DAs' time with your home game if there are no grey areas they can use to hassle you.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
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3 comments:
Hmmm..waste of time eh? Sorry that your local government makes laws and requires the police to enforce them. Perhaps you should petition the state and change the gambling laws. Don't hate on those doing what the people of the state want to do.
Oh...advertising a game on-line. Hmm..perfect opportunity for a home invasion robbery, perhaps a rape, or murder or two. Every think about that while you are stupid enough to advertise in such a way? Instead of dissing, learn bro. The deputies just might have prevented a very bad day of poker for you and the guests....
You contradict yourself, troll.
If there are still gangs of home invasion robbers still working in San Mateo county, then don't you think that capturing them should be a higher priority for the police than busting home poker tournaments?
My point isn't that the gambling laws need to be changed (they do, but that's a separate issue). My point is that the people of San Mateo County could be better served if their sheriff's department didn't waste their time on raiding home poker tournaments while higher priority crimes are being committed in the county.
If every other crime has been solved and this one was next on the list, then I take it all back and apologize, but I'm thinking that's probably not the case.
I'm with you Nick. However, I think busting home Poker generate revenue easier for the state beside traffic ticket. They are some smart *** ppl.
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