if the tournaments held inthe bars do not involve money, but once every 3 months a seat is given away to a major poker tournament (valued at $6,000), is it still legal?
2006-11-03 18:37:23 · 3 answers · asked by smoee1026 1 in Games & Recreation ➔ Card Games
yes
2006-11-04 00:37:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a lawyer, I am a law student, I am not giving advice as a lawyer but merely as an observation....
At any rate, unless there is something specific in the Florida statutory language that prohibits playing cards or playing cards at a bar, then there really shouldn't be anything wrong with this. It is typically the gambling aspect that is prohibited by the states, and not the card playing. If there is nothing at stake, then there is no gambling.
As for giving away a seat to the World Series of Poker (or some other poker tournament), I believe that this would still work so long as no actual money was being wagered in the games. Also, depending on the statutory language, the bar might be able to charge an entry fee for the tournament (just like a cover charge to get into the bar) since the entry fee isn't what is actually being wagered.
One word of note though. Whoever wins the seat in the poker tournament might have to declare the value of the won prize on his or her taxes. (Section 74 of the tax code)
2006-11-05 04:16:40 · answer #2 · answered by Skelebone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have seen bars busted in Georgia and Texas that were free to enter and the only prise was gift certificates or house bucks. The reason they are busted is that even though the house is not making any money directly from the game, they are making money by hosting it, people come into play and then drink or eat. The bar would not have generated that revenue if it did not host the game so indirectly they are making money off of the game.
2006-11-06 06:59:07 · answer #3 · answered by Allinwiththenuts 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋