FAQ Category: USA Home Poker Law
Michigan does not condone home poker games. Social gambling, for the most part, is illegal in Michigan. There is an exception, however, for senior citizens within a senior citizen housing facility, where there are at least 15 members age 60+. There may not be more “guest” participants than resident/club member senior citizens, and it must be a “recreational” poker game, meaning no more than $0.25 per bet, and no single-hand pot exceeding $5. [Reference: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/PA69_56070_7.pdf; Link 2]
It is not clear whether home poker games are considered “unlawful gambling” in the state of Pennsylvania. According to current legislation, a person may not do the following: …allow persons to collect and assemble for the purpose of unlawful gambling at any place under his control …solicit or invite any person to visit any unlawful gambling place for the purpose of gambling; or …be the owner, tenant, lessee or occupant of any premises, knowingly permits or suffers the same, or any part thereof, to be used for the purpose of unlawful…
Connecticut outlaws poker games in most instances, but makes an exception for home poker games that fall into the category of “social gambling”, where no player or other person has an advantage over another, or profits in any way, monetary or otherwise, for hosting such a poker game. The participants must have a “bona fide social relationship”, meaning they have something in common outside of the home poker game. [Reference: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0495.htm]
In the state of Minnesota, home poker games are an accepted form of gambling. Minnesota state law specifies that “Social bets are allowed only if they are done in a private social setting”. Social gambling is only illegal when it pertains to “organized, commercialized, or systematic gambling”, or when the owner/host of the residence profits in some way from the home poker game other than actual gambling profits from playing the card game. [Reference: http://www.gcb.state.mn.us/PDF_Files/Illegal%20gambling.pdf]
No, home poker games are not legal in Rhode Island. No form of social gambling is permitted. After researching the lengthy (and by that we mean wordy) statues referring to unlawful gambling, we can shorten the whole thing into this simple statement. You may not provide a poker game without first getting permission from the state, and you may not participate in a poker game that has not been approved by the state.
The state of Delaware does not have any laws that strictly prohibit home poker games or private, social gambling of any kind. However, the state does not legalize such acts either. The only reference to the legality of home poker games in Delaware is found in Section 17 of Article II, Legislature, which states: "All forms of gambling are prohibited in this State except the following:” “…Lotteries under State control…” “Lotteries … provided under Section 17B…” “…pari-mutuel machines or totalizators on horse races conducted at racetracks…” “Bingo games as conducted under…
Home poker games are illegal in Mississippi. The current laws, as they were written in 1972, are somewhat disconcerting in fact, when you read them over. All forms of illegal gambling and wagering are listed, stating each unlawful activity, followed by the sole exception of “other than a fight or fighting match between dogs”. This appears more than once in the documentation. Apparently it is better to place wagers on the life of two or more traditionally domesticated animals than to play a quiet game of poker among friends in the…
Home poker games are currently illegal in South Carolina, however, there is an amendment working its way through legislation that would allow for home poker games as “recreational activity”. The definition of recreational activity has yet to be given, since the amendment has yet to be approved. [Reference H 3201, to Amend Section 16-19-40, Code of Laws, South Carolina: Link 1]
Home poker games are permitted in Florida so long as they fall under a few strict guidelines. The game must be held in a residential dwelling, and must be defined, by law, as a “penny-ante” game. The owner of the dwelling, nor any player, may profit from the holding of the game outside of any equal-opportunity winnings derived from the game. All participants must be 18+ years of age. The home poker game cannot be advertised in any way. The “penny-ante” rules states that the pot in a single hand of…
In the state of Missouri, home poker games are illegal by omission. State law provides parameters for all legal forms of gambling, leaving all other forms as criminal activity. Unlawful forms of gambling are considered a class C misdemeanor in Missouri, unless the player qualifies, under law, as a “professional gambler”, in which case it is moved to a class D misdemeanor. [Reference: http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/chapters/chap572.htm]
