Quote:
Originally Posted by BHDonkey
I've never played in raked home game, but have been invited...however, I live in LA which has (at least pre-pandemic) many, many home games.
Some have a rake to cover food/beverage/room...that's not really a rake.
Some have no rake, but tips are "suggested" and at the end of the evening winners are expected to tip out 10%...if they want to be invited back. The organizer/dealer of this game, who works for the home owner, probably makes 100K annually on a 5/10, 500 buyin game that runs once a week.
I only like playing in non-raked home games. Raked games, at least the ones I've heard of in LA, attract sharks and scammers. You know, the people who can't get invited to a non-raked home game!
If any contributions for food, beverage, or room are made by the players, that constitutes a rake and is illegal. Even if players are encouraged to bring food to share or whatever, technically illegal.
To host legally, you literally have to be providing everything to everyone with no expectation of reimbursement of any sort. It kinda sucks.