Suppose I were to start a social club. Suppose that social club held meetings a couple times a week in which members of the club played poker. There is no rake and no cover charge. It is open to members only. Would that be legal? Oh and it's in California.

Now, suppose that club charges member dues of $100 before every meeting and the poker games paid off in points. And those points can be exchanged by club members for cash at the end of every meeting. Would that be legal?

The club name should be " Global Poker meet up club"

Ya, same distinction without a difference argument Global Poker used.

Check your state laws.

California state law already allows "Games played with cards in private homes or residences, in which no person makes money for operating the game, except as a player," so I don't see the value in this social club "work around."

Further, if you are wanting this to be a money-making venture, California licenses poker rooms, though I'm sure the licenses are as hard to get as liquor licenses.

My understanding is even when state law prohibits private games of no rake, the police usually ignore those games. Your first scenario especially in Cali sounds fine.

2nd situation, no way that flies. You are not going to legally loophole taking money. If you took $5 a person to enter each game, and used the $5 from each person everytime to order a bunch of Pizza, Beer, Wings, etc, MAYBE you get away with it. But you are not going to be able to attempt to profit off the game in anyway outside of playing with no risks unless you have a license.

BTW there are people who I imagine won't join a poker game with a $5 entry fee but will play in a game with a $5 rake.