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Randall Lucas
rlucas@tercent.com
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Fri, 26 Jan 2007

Playing Online Poker on non-Windows Platforms

I noticed today that I had a few people find my blog via Google with a search for, e.g. "ubuntu software install texas hold em." This is because I have some writings about poker and about Ubuntu Linux.

Well, I don't want to pass up the chance to give good, globally-utility-maximizing advice. The only place I've ever played real money online poker is PokerRoom.com, which has a cross-platform-friendly Java client. And while I haven't played since 2004, in 2003/2004 I can vouch for their legitimacy.

Of course, the recent round of corrupt, hypocritical legislation that has created a War on (some) Gambling has really eff'ed up the entire online poker scene, so YMMV.

$Id: ubuntu_software_install_texas_hold_em.txt 853 2007-05-08 19:48:28Z rlucas $

[category: /poker] [permalink]

Tue, 22 Mar 2005

Oregon State Laws Applicable to Bar Poker Nights

TITLE

Oregon State Laws Applicable to Bar Poker Nights

DISCLAIMER

This is not legal advice and the author is not a lawyer.

This document was originally prepared at the request of some friends in Portland who were considering running a poker night at a bar. It is provided here ``as-is'' in the hope that it will provide a headstart for someone researching the issue anew.

OBJECTIVE

Determine the ways in which a bar can run a Texas hold'em poker game legitimately under Oregon law.

STATE LAW

Oregon Revised Statutes, chapter 167, describes the state criminal law against gambling.

ORS 167.117(7)(b) specifically excludes from the definition of ``Gambling'':

Engaging in contests of chance under the following conditions:

(A) The contest is played for some token other than money;

(B) An individual contestant may not purchase more than $100 worth of tokens for use in the contest during any 24-hour period;

(C) The tokens may be exchanged only for property other than money;

(D) Except when the tokens are exchanged for a beverage or merchandise to be consumed on the premises, the tokens are not redeemable on the premises where the contest is conducted or within 50 miles thereof; and

(E) Except for charitable, fraternal or religious organizations, no person who conducts the contest as owner, agent or employee profits in any manner from operation of the contest.

It is my opinion, based upon anecdotal evidence of the game structures (no cash, prizes only) that the bars in the Portland area which are offering ``token game'' poker tournaments are relying upon the ORS 167.117(7)(b) exclusion.

There is another exclusion, namely for ``social games'' under ORS 167.121. This requires that a county or city may pass specific laws permitting social games, which are those between players for real money, even if held in private clubs or businesses. When I last researched this point (2004) there were only a couple of counties that permitted this, and generally for Elks-lodge type private clubs.

CITY LAW

The Portland City Code, Chapter 14A.70 describes the city ordinances against gambling. PCC 14A.70.010.C states that the City's definition of ``Gambling'' is the same as ORS 167.117(7). Therefore, we can assume that the same exclusion for ``token games'' applies.

PCC 14A.70.040 authorizes ``social games'' in the city of Portland only with a city-issued permit and certain other strictures, such as the maximum bet of $1 in any game. Especially tournament Texas hold'em, where one can go ``all-in'' at any point, would not fit under this limit. Therefore, the bar games in Portland proper are almost certainly not relying upon the ``social games'' authorization, and are probably relying upon the ORS 167.117(7) ``token game'' exclusion.

BUSINESS CASE

Spicing up a slow night at the bar with a ``token game'' could be beneficial and help to stimulate both attendance and per-patron sales. Here is one possible scenario:

Use word-of-mouth and print advertising to target a core.

Approximately 10 players would make for a ``full table'' of Texas hold'em, and while this would not be a huge number, it would make for a good addition to the Sunday night crowd, as well as form a solid core of players who would return and possibly spread the word amongst other players.

A good goal might be to start with 10 and work to an average of 20 players (two tables) over ten weeks.

Sell low buy-ins to encourage play and comply with the law.

A buy-in as low as $10, with possible rebuys, would encourage even non-poker-sharks to give it a try. Furthermore, a limit of e.g. $10 with 2 x $10 rebuys would make very little risk of ever going over the state law limit of $100 per 24 hours.

Run the game amongst the players, but print written rules.

Home and informal poker games commonly leave it to the players to rotate dealing; while a staff member would have to be ``banker'' at the bar to sell tokens and ensure compliance with limits, players could handle the process of the game mostly unaided. However, rules should be written by a knowledgable poker aficionado, in keeping with the business plan for the game, to make certain that the conduct of the game is unambiguous in the event of a question or uncertainty.

Accept tokens for drinks, or run a tournament game for gift certs.

Either way, the house would receive the money up front in the form of token buy-ins. The benefit of running a tournament game for gift certs is that in a tournament, the tokens have no value themselves and are merely a scorekeeping device to determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. If tokens are accepted for drinks, the possibility exists that a token supply will be floating in the public, which the bar will be obliged to honor in future. Although the bar has already taken money for the tokens, and so it would certainly not be financially harmful to have to honor them, it would require discipline and management buy-in to permit the circulation of ``checks'' on the bar's liquor stocks.

Care must be taken with either model to ensure that the total value of drink IOUs or of gift certificates is at least equal to the cash handle taken in. Alternatively, the house could ``sweeten the pot'' by adding some additional amount. However,

RECOMMENDATION

First, consult an attorney knowledgeable in this field.

I also recommend speaking with one or more bartenders / managers in the area who have run such a game.

AUTHOR

Randall Lucas <rlucas@tercent.com>

ID

$Id: laws_on_bar_poker.pod 631 2006-06-20 17:03:09Z rlucas $

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