A guy I know has a two or three table NLHE tourney at his house a couple times a year. 50 dollar buy in. He gives himself a freeroll, presumably as a perk for hosting.

Is this at all common? At best it seems very odd to me. (At worst, kinda scummy). Anyone else heard of this?

I could maybe understand it if he was providing food and drink, but he doesn't.

Just wondering what people thought. Thanks.

Sounds shady to me. I don't believe in freerolls. I'm fine with tipping but something about hosts assuming they get a freeroll goes against my grain.

If the host takes a freeroll for the honor of hosting the tournament -- ask him who gets to host the next one.

If the guests give the host a freeroll as thanks for hosting -- that's a different story.

He might just as well announce that's he's taking a rake -- because he is.

People have suggested I should do that, but I don't feel that's fair. But as long as everybody knows going in that this is the situation, I don't see the problem. If you don't like it, don't play. I don't think it's all that common, and he better be providing a hell of a game in exchange.

yeah, its kind of scummy but its his house rules... if you dont like it dont play :P

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't play there with any regularity--even if he made it a monthly game--because of it. but to play there once a year I can ignore my principles about freerolls.

If he were a close friend, I'd advise him not to do it. but we're not close enough for that, so it would just be awkward and i'd be butting in.

thanks for the responses.

In my tournaments I provide all the food and drink for all 25- 30 players. And I'm talking about more than just a bag of chips and cup of water, so costs can easily run between $6-$10 per player, depending on the spread. I also have dedicated dealers (they play too) and a very well run game.

If I've managed to put out this type of spread for everyone to enjoy I doubt anyone would have a problem if I decided to freeroll rather than pay the $20 to play and tell everyone to bring their own food and drink.

The other option is to charge everyone. Which in effect is what the freeroll does anyways. $20 divided over 29 guys isn't much though. So again would the players rather divide up the actual costs or bring their own? Perhaps just charge for everything?

So my out of pocket expenses can either go into food or into the prize pool. And most never see the cash so they're +EV taking the food and drink.....lol

I think it's a little cheap to freeroll just because the game happens to be at your house without providing some other ammenities but thats my opinion. As long as it's out in the open then it is what it is.

Good Luck

If the host is up front about it, I don't see it as an issue. If he's doing it, and not making it common knowledge, then I see an issue in that.

its a rake, don t go

It's not common in my experience simply because the optics are bad. Basically, for a 25 man tourney with a $50 buyin, the rake is $2 per player. If he is providing $2 worth of goods and/or services (per player) then it's not that unreasonable.

Just off the top of my head, I wouldn't be that impressed with such a game.

It's a violation of home-game convention, so we think of it as "ewww."

Aside from that emotional reaction, it's entirely reasonable for an MTT.

If it is legal, I think it's a great way to get around the rake laws. Hosting is hard work...

Its not getting around the rake laws, it is a rake

This is pretty much my stance too... occasionally we'll let a gracious host freeroll in a small buy tourney. I think it's important though that either it's presented and OK'd ahead of time, or offered by the other players in return for his hospitality. But yeah... me getting free food and drinks in what equates to 5% buy in equity, I'll take that EV every time

I'm in favor of this. Except you're not charging, you're graciously accepting donations to help support the nice spread, and hey while you're here why not also play some cards?

My players are happy to contribute $15 on big tourney days because they understand how it's better for everybody, and appreciate the economy of scale. This covers meats, vegetables, breads, soda, alcohol, and whatever else fits into the budget. There are occasional grumbles, but most are glad to kick in. At least three full tables every tourney (more than we get for cash games), so if it's driving people away we sure don't notice it.

I deal at a weekly game with a host that freerolls. He has around 20 players and he says the buy in is $50 with a $10 dealers special but reguardless on the # of players he gives both the dealers $50 and takes out his buy in and then puts the remaining $ in the prize pool.

I think he used to tell people he played for free but know he invites new people who I don't think know he is taking money from the dealers pool. I think it hurts our tips because some think we are getting $10 per player to deal. Also his payout is very flat, top 30% get paid, so no one wins big except for the host...LOL

The Host does supply his place to play and he has Tables and chips , paid for by player donations, but the players are asked/volunteer to bring food and drinks every game.

Shaddy? But he still gets a big crowd every week...

We let our former host freeroll every time even ina short handed STT, mainly because he was out first everytime and he let us drink his beer.

ive seen 50% for host, never full freeroll.

I host my twice monthly NLHE neighborhood tourney and I would NEVER give myself a freeroll. Don't play in that game!

Does the $50 that represents his buyin get added to the prizepool, or is there a defecit. That seems like an issue to me.

How could it get added to the prizepool if he didn't pay?

I guess no one who plays there bothers to add up the prize pool.

If the host was spending $50 on food & drink then it could be considered an operating expense, but as it stands it's a rake, and I'd avoid it. Is this game extra donkish? There must be a decent reason to consider going, or are games scarce in your location?

I agree it's a rake but why not go? It's really cheap rake. The private clubs here in Toronto rake 15%-20% of tournament entry and only a few provide alcohol (most do food).

The guy provides nothing in return for running a game in his house. I can't past comment on private clubs in Toronto but atleast they have overhead, building and so on.

I mean, if the other players throw in a couple of extra dollars each to make up his buyin and add that to the prizepool. I'd be ok with that if he provided something worth $50.

If he just gave himself entry without there being a buyin added to the prizepool, I'd object. I can't really work out why this would annoy me, but it definitely would.

How about 'stealing'? Is that a good reason to annoy you?