Quote:
Originally Posted by hkyref33
Lou,
I know of a few underground game sin H-Town, but I don't know of any that are operating out of clubs. Please share here or PM me details please.
keep in mind I have not played in the Houston rooms, but have talked to others who have.
maybe semantics but when I think "underground" games I think cavernous locations, not visible from street, location not advertised, but known to players. fully rake pots, tipped dealers, 100% illegally runs games , moves around a lot.
Legal "Clubs" can be run one of several ways in the U.S. These are typically in public locations (commercial retail space), viewable from street, public advertising. here are the more popular models.
Charity - Laws vary by state (fyi wont work in TX without legislative change)
Membership - Rake is replaced by "membership" thus nobody is raking pots so basically a home game in a really really nice location (funny factoid, NC still has a law on the books that actually makes any home games illegal if played for cash, whether its raked or not !!! )
Membership -
Quote:
Originally Posted by hERESY
They already have this in DFW at Big Slick
hmmm and a third business model develops. hadn't seen this one yet. raking pots is illegal, but providing education is certainly 100% legal.
very smart idea..
Id expect TX is going to see some hyper growth of clubs throughout the state using membership models. If just a few clubs opened they would probably operate forever.
Once 20+ clubs open things might change, as anti-gaming group will pressure for AG opinion on membership fee replacing rake.
Google "Michigan Charity Poker" and see what happened there over a 5 yr period (rags to riches to rags story). I think TX could experience similar or likely even more hyper growth. Though Michigan had another set of issues layered in, a similar movie script is developing in TX
To avoid the "Bust" part of the movie script in TX, club operators need to be smart and work together with a coordinated legislative strategy. Time to do that is now, not when the first Preacher calls his Deacon / State Senator and tells him of the evil that is growing in their community.