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Safety in a University Home Game

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09-18-2009 , 05:04 PM

BigStack650

banned

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,148

At my school, there is a NL 1/2 game that runs by people sending out announcements over facebook inviting players. While I love playing live, this creates some safety concerns especially because people may show up uninvited and there is a lot of money on the table for a non-casino game.

Do you have any suggestions for trying to keep it safe? And seriously, please don't tell me to pack my glock or something else along those lines...

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09-18-2009 , 05:36 PM

GrooGrux King

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,361

I think you better pack your Glock...lol

Seriously though...it may be better to keep the invites to friends because the safety issue could be big.
That a lot of bones to be around a young mans dorm room.
Try to stay safe and GL...
pack a 9 and not the 9

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09-18-2009 , 06:11 PM

zepherox

banned

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 35

Only play with people you know (more or less).
People showing up unanounced is always a risk, especially if you dont know them.
Hopefully people in the game can vouch for the "unanounced" players.

keep it safe, GL!

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09-18-2009 , 09:36 PM

The Palimax

Livin' the dream as a Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8,637

There are several threads on safety for games in general -- mostly those dealing with protecting your chips and securing the cash-box. Search and you'll see a few good ones.

Keep your money AWAY from the game, locked, etc. Don't present the entire bank to someone cashing in or out there $20. At a minimum, you'll prevent a snatch-and-grab.

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09-18-2009 , 10:23 PM

Furiotoo

enthusiast

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 98

Bigstack650:

Not quite about safety, but something to consider:

Make sure you understand your university's student code of conduct. Depending on where you go to school, if your game is noticed by the powers that be, you could face serious academic repercussions. For example, it may be grounds for expulsion if you're caught playing a cash game in a dorm or on other university property. With invites going out all over the place on Facebook, you never know who hears about the game.

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09-19-2009 , 11:56 AM

BigStack650

banned

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,148

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furiotoo

Even if the game isn't raked??

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09-19-2009 , 12:22 PM

gedanken

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 6,283

it's a maybe.

They can probably kick you out for wearing the wrong color tie -- it doesn't have to make sense. I think in some states the game doesn't even have to be raked to be in seriously grey legal standing, but illegal and against the school's policy are completely independent.

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09-19-2009 , 12:39 PM

Furiotoo

enthusiast

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 98

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigStack650

Even if the game isn't raked??

Correct. It varies greatly from school to school and can be completely independent of whether or not the action is legal.

A few years ago, the Economics club at my alma matter had to jump through a bunch of hoops to host a poker tourny on campus as a fundraiser. These hoops were despite the support of several faculty members.

Not every school is so draconian, so just check it out before hand. After all, if the game is widely known, it's only (eg on Facebook), having a couple BIs stolen might be the least of your concerns.

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09-19-2009 , 03:45 PM

Lottery Larry

Home Poker Pimp

Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 19,603

Quote:

Originally Posted by gedanken

it's a maybe.

They can probably kick you out for wearing the wrong color tie -- it doesn't have to make sense.

I think gambling most likely falls under the average univ's Code of Conduct

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09-20-2009 , 10:03 PM

#10

BigStack650

banned

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,148

The game is not usually on campus as far as I am aware of...it is usually at someone's apartment off campus

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09-20-2009 , 11:30 PM

#11

Johnny Douglas

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8,479

Another potential risk of having that much cash on you (or on the table) is in the case of a raid. That money is going to seized along with all the "poker paraphernalia", your local laws will vary, but there could be more going on than just poker going on, and it would be an uphill battle to get that dough back.

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09-21-2009 , 09:48 AM

#12

OsTornado

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3,730

I doubt you have to worry about a raid, especially if there is no rake being taken. If this invite is going out to hundreds of people, I would be very worried about getting robbed. The more people that are invited, and the less people known, the higher your odds of finding someone who doesn't know anyone in the game that is down on their luck and thinks they can make some easy cash.

Basically, advertising on facebook is dumb.

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09-21-2009 , 12:43 PM

#13

SmokeyS

grinder

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 449

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsTornado

...

Basically, facebook is dumb.

FYP

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11-05-2009 , 05:04 PM

#14

PhiladelphiaPoker

enthusiast

Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 53

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigStack650

keep it small and private.

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11-06-2009 , 02:01 PM

#15

crazyvmars

banned

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 7

Hosting a home game on residence is most likely illegal (most schools made gambling illegal). However, if you decide to run a rake-free game off campus, there really isn't anything the school can do, as it's not on their premise.

The open Facebook invitations adds a safety concern, if almost everyone receives the mail.

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11-06-2009 , 02:32 PM

#16

Imagy

adept

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 954

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigStack650

I was a reg in these games in London Ontario - then a new game showed up - posted on its personal website/facebook and we got raided by the cops! yay!
Criminal chargers were dropped for the players for a charitable donation, but they took all the cash, chips and the table lol. Oh yea, serious **** if I got caught in such a game again.

I'd say if it's on FB don't go until the add is down.

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11-06-2009 , 02:34 PM

#17

crazyvmars

banned

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imagy

Was this a game on campus (i.e. in residence) or off campus?

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11-06-2009 , 02:37 PM

#18

Imagy

adept

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 954

It was in an appartment about 10 minutes off campus. All of the games were off campus except for one which was in an appartment held by the university.

Edit - -

If the owner of the other big game that ran twice a week wasnt present at the game that got busted.... then maybe all of the other games wouldnt have vanished, but this night killed poker at my school for years.

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11-06-2009 , 02:39 PM

#19

crazyvmars

banned

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imagy

It was in an appartment about 10 minutes off campus. All of the games were off campus except for one which was in an appartment held by the university.

If it was off campus and rake-free, the cops can't do anything.

The reason underground raked games are illegal is because the government want to get a piece of the rake that is made.

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11-06-2009 , 02:45 PM

#20

Imagy

adept

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 954

Ah I assumed the game was raked. Fwiw cops can still give you a hard time.

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11-06-2009 , 03:20 PM

#21

wonderwall

centurion

Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 174

easy steps to winning money:

1. Run a successful cash game near a university
2. advertise as much as possible and get maximum money on table
3. hire some goons to come rob your own game and take all the money and give everyone a cut
4. Bling blang blaow

From my experience this happens frequently.

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11-06-2009 , 03:30 PM

#22

peregrine1500

newbie

Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 39

A lot of these suggestions are good, but no one has suggested anything for self protection yet. Do not bring a gun. That is the stupidest idea I have ever heard. It is dangerous, obvious, most likely illegal(concealed weapons permit stuff), and will make other people uneasy. Instead, bring a small thing of pepper spray. They are small, easily hidden, easily maneuverable, legal, easily obtained, cheap, non-fatal, and can immobilize robbers in a matter of seconds. Just make sure that the robber doesn't have a gun before you spray.

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