One of the nagging issues I have with hosting is that everybody buys in with $20, $50, and $100 bills and cashing out the odd dollars and cents is a hassle. I could get a bunch of small bills to facilitate cash outs, but that is an added hassle. What do you think about using Venmo/PayPal for home game buy-in/cash outs?

As a host, I consider it part of my job to keep a bunch of middling bills in my wallet for cashing out. As a player, I usually do the same. My buy ins are always with big bills but I can then get my correct change when I cash out.

Been hosting a weekly game for many years. Having enough small bills for players cashouts has been one of the very LEAST of my problems!! Sorry dmcoy87 , but I don't get your concern on this one !

I always have more than plenty of cash on hand to pay off players. No doubt my approach is overkill. However you could get a long ways to a solution by buying in for your first $100 with $20 in ones and $80 in fives. It is rare for a cash out to deplete that many small bills.

There are a host of potential problems with electronic cash outs. This has been discussed before. Don't do it. Use cash. If you have to visit a bank from time to time to restore your $100 in small bills, well that is part of the job as host.

DrStrange

It came up when I traveled to a friend's game, who doesn't normally host and wasn't prepared. Even though it's not my house, people generally defer to me on stuff and one player took the $3 he was shorted quite seriously....

Even when I host, a trip to the bank to get the necessary small bills is one added thing to take care of. I figured since the core group of guys all know each other, maybe electronic cashing would be simpler, but on second thought probably not. I'll just buy in with 5s and 1s when I travel.

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I've considered using electronic transactions for buyins and cashouts as well. Possibly exclusively. Seems simpler. Avoids the "do I have time to go to the ATM?" and "where is the nearest ATM?" talk and excuses. Can be used for cash games and tourneys.

Going cashless is going to be common someday very soon. I read an article yesterday that the latest generation carries no cash significantly lower than just a few years ago. Personally, I carry 1 credit card and 1 debit card and avoid cash and have a disdain for change and I'm over 50. I only have cash on hand for my poker playing.

And since there is no cash onsite, the security risk seems lower too.

What are the downsides these days?

This is valid, we use electronic means for fantasy football without issue. It might also keep games from breaking if someone only brought a few buyins and has gone busto early.

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idk about USA, but e transfers are seamless and free in Canada. But to the guy who was flipping out about $3, if he can't give the host a couple bucks for his trouble, I'd give him a fiver and tell him to not come back.

When I pick up snacks or drinks for the game I ask small bills. I also buy a few scratch lotto tickets (to splash pots with) and ask for small bills in change there too.
I prefer cash over electronic, however I use square and keep a few extra buyins on me. That way I can save a player a trip to the atm. I just pass on the “fee” to them. It ends up being between .75¢ and $1.50.


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I host a home game since 2015 or 2014, I do not remember, it has been a long time.

I agree to the ones above, it is up to the host to keep change. It should be as simple as possible for my guests with payouts, and buyins.

When it comes to my country (Sweden), e transfers are very simple and it is not dependent of what bank you use. There is an app for your phone and transfers are instant.
That is why I accept buyins both with cash and via e transfers. Simple for my guests.

However, I track all buyins in an Excel spread sheet since winners pay 10% of their winnings to a pot. This pot we use to send one or more players to a bigger tournament.

So, I, as a host, make sure everyone get their exact amout they should have when the night is over.
The one's that prefer cash get cash and the others get it on their bank account, instant.

All the best!

If someone trying to cash me out with Venmo or other online process, that would be the last time I played there. I bought in with cash and I expect to be paid out in cash. And nothing was more annoying at one place in Houston where I would buy in with hundred dollar bills and they never wanted to pay me back in hundreds...it was always a bunch of fives, tens or twenties.

I am confused by the loose change element though. There shouldn't be loose change.

A person running the game is expected to be able to address the cash-out issue. If it is too much trouble to have gone to the bank to have some singles available, then running a home game may simply be too complex for the individual to manage...

I know a simpleton like myself might not be able to grasp what your point is, but when some games are .10/.20 and some are .25/.50 or .50/1.00 then usually you need loose change to come out all square.

If you read the whole thread, you would notice that the issue came up at a friend's game and not my own. Having $1s and $5s isn't a big deal. I just wanted to know if electronic cashouts was feasible or something someone had experience with, not to have my intelligence insulted.

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You post and comment too well for anybody to seriously question your intelligence! Electronic cashouts are likely feasable enough , especially to younger players , but older , more conservative types (like me) will simply stick with cash. Comfort zone in action, I think!

The usual home game is full of... middle aged gentlemen, who buy in for cash and expect to be paid the same way. I was bringing my buy-in in mostly singles and fives to make it easier for the host to cash out, but recently I'm back to $20s, as players have at least started to bring enough change to get them up to the next $20.

As far as 'loose change' goes, there are 2 situations.

A) Home game - when someone asks "Who has xx?" or "Who needs xx?" my response is "Give it to the house (host)."

B) Local POFC game. All loose change is put into the middle for a winner take all 'throwdown' (7 cards dealt face up, best 5 card hand wins).



Regarding the player that was shorted $3. I assume the bank came out right, and it was just a matter of not having enough small bills. If so, I'll assume he was simply owed the $3 for next time, and not cheated out of it. Yes, venmo solves that problem.

This is the way we go. We don't have many players (typically the exact same 6-7 people) but this wprks for us. Even if you have to leave early, we'll save your change and put it in for you. Its bexome a fun tradition where we turn over cards slowly and sweat it all together.

Since I tend to see friends off the felt (or at work...or at the next game at the very latest) I'd just mark it down and pay them when I see them next.

If I can't trust the people I regularly play with then I shouldn't be playing with them anyhow.

Often enough we have a player leave 'mid-game' and have a throwdown when they leave. Then another at the end of the game. When you play for actual nickels, nobody sweats cards

I did talk one player into a heads up baseball throwdown... 3s and 9s wild, 4s get you another card... and the 2 is a rainout (your hand is dead). Naturally, the first card I dealt was the 2c, and we got a good laugh.

I have a regular cash box that I leave a bunch of quarters & 1/2 dollars and 1s, 5s, & 10s that total around $200. Never had a problem making change. The guys like getting the 50 cent pieces!