Legality of Poker Tournaments

[Ricardov83]

Been lurking for some time with only a few posts to my name and I thought it time to come out of my shell so.......

After reading a few recent topics regarding the legality of poker clubs, I thought it best to ask the question "is my poker tournament legal"?

The details are:

- fundraiser for amateur football team
- tournament with 40-50 players
- being held in a local pub
- buy-in is 20 pounds (10 to the prizepool, 10 to club)

This is the first time I have ran the tourney and I am interested to hear your opinions on whether the 10 pounds 'donation' means we are breaking the law.

Thank you in advance.

[turny]

probably but who cares? 

[ifm]

Law wise i'd say yes - illegal but i'd also say that as these people entering the comp do so knowing full well it's a fundraiser for a cause they support it's fine, i won't report you.
You make me think about football, pool, darts, dominoes etc. teams that run cards in pubs, i have no doubt they break some sort of law or other but where is the harm, nobody is personally trying to gain.

[gatso]

I believe that the biggest tourney you can legally spread is £10+£1 but it's highly unlikely the GC are going to raid your game and close down your football.

if you get more than 25 runners you'll be breaking another law as the max prizepool is £250.

[ripple11]

 
Where and when?...sounds like a lot of fish!

probably but who cares? 

Enjoy

[Rotty]

in a pub it is a £5 max buy in , £100 total pot and the pub to take nothing

the £100 max pot is per day

[dik9]

Simple answer is, no it's not legal, but competitions like this are happening everywhere without any penalties to organizers or landlords. Eventually they will do something about it, but you will be bloody unlucky if yours is the first pub raided and licence taken off you, but thats in effect what you may be risking.

[boldie]

Simple answer is, no it's not legal, but competitions like this are happening everywhere without any penalties to organizers or landlords. Eventually they will do something about it, but you will be bloody unlucky if yours is the first pub raided and licence taken off you, but thats in effect what you may be risking.

indeed.

[Rotty]

We had a £30 buy in 3 table game going on in a pub near us, just as we were about to start o copper strolls in ( returning some evidence from a break in ) walks straight past the tables , bit of a glance but no real interest

[kinboshi]

We had a £30 buy in 3 table game going on in a pub near us, just as we were about to start o copper strolls in ( returning some evidence from a break in ) walks straight past the tables , bit of a glance but no real interest

You weren't speeding.

[Rotty]

We had a £30 buy in 3 table game going on in a pub near us, just as we were about to start o copper strolls in ( returning some evidence from a break in ) walks straight past the tables , bit of a glance but no real interest

You weren't speeding.

unfurtunately far too close to the truth

[boldie]

When cincin got raided there were off duty cops playing

[K9sixtwo]

Poker..very popular amongst members of the Constabulary... I know of one Police station where they had a massive Poker fundraiser a while ago and raised over a grand for charity.. and had about 50 runners..

Legally the whole thing is a total rats arse at the present.. and good luck to you in your venture...

Most Forces throughout the country are busy trying to catch real villains.. the only time this (poker) becomes a problem is when the punters get rolled as they try to leave or the venue becomes massive and causes issues.. I play in a number of ..ahem... home games but for real games its either a casino ..or my favourite... DTD