I still need more help on PTM!

Ok, please start a new thread/support call on our forums and give us the following information so we can help you as quickly as possible!

I can't download/install PTM - it's NOT WORKING!

Ok, firstly, in the words of the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy; "DON'T PANIC"! PTM works on thousands of computers and has been used for many poker games - I'm sure we can fix your problem! So, firstly, we need to identify the actual problem- A) Is PokerDIY Tourney Manager loading or do you see the "Silverlight Required" screen here? If you can see PTM then that's good - Right-click on the background and see if you get the option to "Install onto this Computer". If you do and you click it and it does not install, please contact us. If you do not have this option then your computer thinks that PTM is already installed for some reason. The easiest way to check is to go to Add/Remove programs in Windows XP (Programs and Features in Win 7). If you have PokerDIY Tourney Manager already listed then you can uninstall it by double-clicking on it and then refresh the web page and right-click to install it. If you do not have it listed then please read the other options below and contact us if you still have problems using PTM. B) Some people have said that it loads to 100% and then gets stuck. If this is the case, please try the following: Clear your browsers cache completely. Here are instructions on how to do this depending on what browser you are using to view this site. Refresh the page (Ctrl-F5 or Ctrl-R) and see if the problem still occurs. If it does, please try a different browser to the one you are using. For example, if you are using Internet Explorer, please try Firefox or Chrome. Is there still a problem? Lastly, if you have installed PTM before, please uninstall it completely (Add Remove Programs in Windows XP or Programs and Features in Windows 7) and reinstall it from here. Let us know if you still have problems! C) If you do not see PTM at all, it could be a browser/system/Silverlight issue - we need to work out why it's not working. Firstly - go to the Microsoft Silverlight page and see if it thinks you have the latest version of Silverlight installed. Make sure you have the latest version before trying to run PTM. Now please contact us and tell us the following: What is the actual problem? Have you got the latest version of Silverlight installed? Are you running PTM online on PokerDIY or have you installed it and running it locally? What's your operating system version (e.g. Windows XP Service Pack 3 or Mac OS 10) What browser are you using? (e.g. Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox etc.) and what version. Please be as descriptive as possible and send a screenshot to support at pokerdiy.com (replace the word "at" with "@"). We'll have you up and running in no time!

I deleted the PTM icon from my desktop and now can't start PTM

If you accidentally erase (not uninstall) the PTM icon and can't load it, you will need to uinstall and reinstall PTM (you will unfortunately lose your saved configurations - please contact us if this is a real problem). Your computer sometimes gets into a muddle and you may not see the "Install onto this computer" option on the PokerDIY Tourney Manager web version whilst right-clicking. In this case your computer thinks that PTM is installed and hence does not show you the option, so you need to uninstall it from your computer first. To do this, uninstall it completely (Add Remove Programs in Windows XP or Programs and Features in Windows 7) and reinstall it from here. Let us know if you still have problems.

No Home Poker Laws for your country?

If your country or region is not listed here let us know on our Home Poker Law forums and we'll do the research for you! Remember! We are not official legal advice - we are only trying to help guide you - please consult your local authority for more legal advice and you gamble at home at your own risk. Good luck! Here are some other links that may help you: http://www.gambling-law-us.com/

I didn't find what I was looking for!

Have you seen the other FAQs on the top right of this page? Have a read of those and if you are still stuck then let us know on our forums! We love to help and love good feedback! You can also try some of the links on the right hand side of this page under the "Still Stuck?" section.

I have a suggestion/feature request for PTM...

Great - please post it here and we can get votes on it to see if it will add value to PTM. If it does then we can discuss it and get it into an upcoming version. There is a slight chance that PTM can already do what you need - we aimed to make it as customizable as possible, but easy to use, so a lot of functionality is hidden behind menus etc. Lets discuss your requirement and see how we can help. For the record, we LOVE hearing feedback - this improves our product for everyone and will one day hopefully make us rich! You can dicuss our poker software on the poker forums too...

Can I find and post home poker games on my mobile/iPhone?

Not at the moment but this is something we are working on! Please be patient and check back shortly... There are lots of other things that you CAN do on your phone with PokerDIY Mobile - have a read of our mobile/iPhone FAQs to find out more!

I have more questions

Contact us if you want to discuss anything with a human.

Why does PTM need to use the internet for some features (and what are they?)

Some of the more advanced features in PTM need internet access. For example, the default backgrounds are not all shipped in the download when you install PTM on your own computer. This is to make it a smaller and quicker install (we assume that you have internet if you are installing it!). When you first access a new background it will download it from the pokerdiy.com server (all in the background, you may not even notice). Another example are the talking announcements. If you are connected to the internet then PTM will announce dynamic messages like "The blinds have gone up to 150 / 300" (or any amount you have specified). This is because it is hitting an online web service (Microsoft Translator in this case) to translate and encode the text. We could not store every possible variant of blinds/break durations of course! If you don't have internet access then it will just say "The blinds have gone up". So if PokerDIY asks your Firewall to use your internet connection, don't be scared - we are not doing anything dodgy - it's just trying to access advanced features for your benefit.

How do I uninstall PTM?

If you are running PTM on your own computer and would like to uninstall it, right-click on the top menu bar and choose "Remove this application". This will uninstall the application and remove the PokerDIY Tourney Manager icons from your start-menu or desktop. If you are running PTM on a Windows-based machine you can also uninstall it via the Windows Control Panel -> Programs (Windows 7 - "Programs and Features") or "Add/Remove Programs" (Windows XP). Find PokerDIY Tourney Manager in the list and uninstall it. This process will not uninstall Microsoft Silverlight as other applications may depend on it. Note: When you uninstall PTM you will lose any Blinds/Chipset changes that you have saved. You can always re-install the latest by going to PokerDIY Tourney Manager online, right-clicking on the main background and choosing "Install on this Computer".

How do I download and install Microsoft Silverlight?

If you need to install Microsoft Silverlight (ie. if you cannot use PTM immediately and you get a message saying that you need to install Silverlight), just follow the instructions on the PTM page to download it. You can always get the latest here too. Remember that you'll only have to do this procedure once (it auto updates after this) and this is as tricky as it gets, so bear with us please. Depending on your operating system and browser it may download a file called "Silverlight.exe" or it may install it directly (which is a lot easier). If it downloads the "Silverlight.exe" file you will then need to run it once it has finished downloading. This is as simple as finding the "Silverlight.exe" file once it has downloaded (you can choose where to put it when you stadownloading or it will go into your "My Downloads" folder if you have that set up by default. Then you need to double-click on this file to start the Silverlight installation. Follow the instructions and at the end you'll be good to go (you may have to close and restart your browser). Go back to the PokerDIY Tourney Manager page and you should see PTM loading. This is as tricky as it gets but if you have any problems let us know and we'll sort it out! Troubleshooting: If your browser is not recognizing Silverlight then make sure you have the Silverlight browser plug in enabled in your particular browser.

What is Microsoft Silverlight and why do I need it?

MS Silverlight is a browser plugin for Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari etc. It was developed by the clever folks at Microsoft and works the same way as Flash, which you may have seen on the web. It allows feature-rich internet applications (a lot smoother and more powerful than normal web applications) in the web browser. It also means that any device that has a compatible browser can run Silverlight and therefore could run PokerDIY Tourney Manager. PTM is written in Silverlight which means we can take advantage of this web platform and create a great online app that can also be downloaded with ease. You can read more about MS Silverlight here and check if you have a compatible computer/device here. If you are running the latest version of Silverlight then you should be able to run PTM.

USA - Wyoming Home Poker Law

Wyoming home poker games are legally acceptable by Wyoming Statues definition of Gambling, which provides exceptions for “any game, wager or transaction which is incidental to a bona fide social relationship, is participated in by natural persons only, and in which no person is participating, directly or indirectly, in professional gambling.” Professional gambling would require someone to profit indirectly from the actual game, by charging an admission fee, taking a portion of the pot(s), etc. [Reference: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/statutes/statutes.aspx?file=titles/Title6/T6CH7.htm]

What are the hardware/software requirements to run PTM on my own computer?

PTM runs on Microsoft Silverlight, which is a browser plugin to allow feature-rich internet applications and cool programs online such as PokerDIY Tourney Manager! Silverlight is an exciting technology from Microsoft which is a lot like Flash, which you may have seen on the internet. You can read more about it here. Once you have installed the Microsoft Silverlight plugin (you probably already have it installed as it is all over the web already) then PTM will load up automatically and you're good to go. This means that any computer, laptop or device (like an XBOX!) that can run a browser (like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome etc) can run PokerDIY Tourney Manager. Of course, not EVERY computer can run Silverlight, which means it can't run PokerDIY Tourney Manager. The easiest way to find out is to go to the PTM page and try and install Silverlight (if you can see PTM then it means you CAN run it offline) - the Microsoft Silverlight site will tell you if you have a compatible computer or not. You can also see a Silverlight Requirements matrix here on Microsoft- this will tell you if your computer can handle Silverlight. If you cannot run it, please let us know. We can't promise we can help but maybe we can..

USA - Wisconsin Home Poker Law

In the state of Wisconsin, home poker games are illegal by default. The law states all forms of betting that are permitted, prohibiting all other forms of gambling. The only permitted wagers are those placed on publically licensed contests, bingo, raffles, pari-mutuel wagering and lotteries. [Reference: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/statutes/Stat0945.pdf]

Is there a Blinds Timer on PokerDIY?

Yes,here is a free web-based Blinds Timer that you can use to time the blinds. There are many free ones available and loads of different mobiles and cell-phones.

USA - West Virginia Home Poker Law

Home poker games are considered unlawful gambling in West Virginia. The law states that any person, at any place, public or private, is guilty of a misdemeanor for betting or waging anything of value on any game that involves chance. The penalty is a fine between $5 and $300, with a possibility of up to 1 year probation. [Reference 61-10-5: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/Code.cfm?chap=61&art=10]

USA - Washington Home Poker Law

The state of Washington has invoked laws that permit legal home poker games, defined as “social card games” in RCW 9.46.0282 (see Reference). So long as the players follow the basic guidelines of social gambling, meaning no player or host profits in any way aside from the gamble, the game is not promoted and all players have an equal chance, no crime is being committed. There are also laws in place to allow social card games within certain business establishments. [Reference Social Card Games: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.46.0282; Reference 9.46.070: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.46.070; Reference Social card Games in Business Establishments: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.46.0325]

USA - Virginia Home Poker Law

You are allowed to play home poker games in Virginia thanks to an exception to the definition “illegal gambling” that states, “Nothing in this article shall be construed to make it illegal to participate in a game of chance conducted in a private residence, provided such private residence is not commonly used for such games of chance and there is no operator…” (an operator being the home owner or host of the game who profits from proprietorship or hosting of the game).

USA - Vermont Home Poker Law

Home poker games are not legal in Vermont, but they do carry a very lenient penalty. The law states, “A person who wins or loses money or other valuable thing by play or hazard at any game, or by betting on such play or hazard, or sharing in a stake wagered by others on such play or hazard, shall be fined not more than $200.00 nor less than $10.00.” [Reference: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/sections.cfm?Title=13&Chapter=051]

USA - Utah Home Poker Law

Utah is another state where home poker games are considered unlawful gambling. There are no exceptions for private dwellings or equal opportunity gains. As defined by the Utah Code, all forms of gambling are illegal except amusement devices. This law dates all the way back 1953. [Reference Utah Code 76-10-11: http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/reports/ut.pdf]

USA - Texas Home Poker Law

In Texas, home poker games are legalized by specific exceptions in the unlawful gambling laws. The Texas Statues clearly indicates that social games are legal if a player “engaged in gambling in a private place”; “no person received any economic benefit other than personal winnings”; and “except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risks of losing and the chances of winning were the same for all participants”. [Reference: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/PE/10/47/47.02]

USA - Tennessee Home Poker Law

In Tennessee, home poker games are outlawed by default, as they are not specifically mentioned anywhere in the state’s legislation. The Tennessee Code only proffers legal gambling venues, which include approved, state-issued lotteries and annual, authorized charitable gambling events. Every other form of gambling is restricted.

USA - South Dakota Home Poker Law

South Dakota documents its unlawful gambling statutes in a very vague way, as to include all forms of gambling without actually stating each and every type of gambling prohibited. Because of this, home poker games are included as unlawful gambling activities in South Dakota. [Reference: http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=22-25-1]

USA - South Carolina Home Poker Law

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]

USA - Rhode Island Home Poker Law

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.

USA - Pennsylvania Home Poker Law

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 gambling. However, there is no published definition of “unlawful gambling”. Pennsylvania does not provide its statues online for viewing, therefore we cannot properly reference with 100% accuracy. Please be advised that our reference source cannot be guaranteed accurate at this time, and may or may not be complete. [Reference: http://law.onecle.com/pennsylvania/crimes-and-offenses/00.055.013.000.html]

USA - Oregon Home Poker Law

In the state of Oregon, home poker games are classified as “social games”, which are legal according to the provisions of the Oregon Revised Statues. Home poker games are permitted so long as all players qualify as “a person who engages in any form of gambling solely as a contestant or bettor, without receiving or becoming entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than personal gambling winnings…” [Reference ORS Gambling Offenses Chapters 161 and 167: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/167.html]

USA - Oklahoma Home Poker Law

Oklahoma does not allow home poker games. The law specifically prohibits all forms of gambling, in or outside of a private residence. If convicted, a player is subject to a fine of $25-$100, or 1-30 days in jail. [Reference OS §21941: http://law.justia.com/oklahoma/codes/os21.html]

USA - Ohio Home Poker Law

It is perfectly legal to play home poker games in Ohio so long as no person is profiting from ownership of the residence, or hosting of the game. The only time players are committing a crime is if they are considered professional gamblers, which basically means they are profiting more from home poker games than they are from any other source of income. [Reference: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2915]

USA - North Dakota Home Poker Law

North Dakota home poker games are perfectly legal. There is only one stipulation regarding home poker games and social gambling conducted within a private residence, found in Chapter 12.1-82-02, Classification of Gambling Related Offenses; “It is an infraction to engage in gambling on private premises where the total amount wagered by an individual player exceeds twenty-five dollars per individual hand, game, or event.” In short, no hand can exceed a maximum pot of $25.

USA - North Carolina Home Poker Law

Home poker games are not legal in North Carolina. The state’s statutes provide legalization of state-approved lotteries, gaming, bingo and raffles, outlawing all other forms of gambling. Chapter 14-292 states that “any person… who plays at or bets in any game at which any money, property or other thing of value is bet, whether the same be in stake or not, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.” The chapter provides an exception from Chapter 18C, which regards legal lotteries. We’ve referenced both sections below. [Reference Chapter 14-292: http://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_14/gs_14-292.html; Reference Chapter 18C: http://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_18c/gs_18c-130.html]

USA - New York Home Poker Law

Social gambling is just as illegal in New York as professional (criminal) gambling. The only difference between the two is the severity of penalties, particularly for those hosting home poker games, versus illegal professional gambling. According to New York state law, a the definition of a “player” under gambling offenses includes a “person who gambles at a social game of chance on equal terms with the other participants”. [Reference: http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article225.htm]

USA - New Mexico Home Poker Law

Home poker games are considered unlawful by New Mexico state law. Article 19, Section 30-19-2 of New Mexico Criminal Law clearly states that “whoever commits gambling is guilty of a petty misdemeanor”. Jumping back to Section 30-19-1, the law defines all gambling as placing a “bet”, which is thereby defined as “a bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, even though accompanied by some skill, one stands to win or lose anything of value specified in the agreement”. End result, social gambling is illegal in New Mexico. [Reference: Article 19, Section 30-19-1 http://law.justia.com/newmexico/codes/nmrc/jd_30-19-1-c8e1.html; Article 19, Section 30-19-2 http://law.justia.com/newmexico/codes/nmrc/jd_30-19-2-c8e3.html]

USA - New Jersey Home Poker Law

The criminal law statues of New Jersey prohibit home poker games and all other forms of social gambling that are not licensed or approved by the state. According to New Jersey Criminal Law, 2A: 40-1, “All wagers, bets or stakes made to depend upon any race or game, or upon any gaming by lot or chance, or upon any lot, chance, casualty or unknown or contingent event, shall be unlawful”. [Reference: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/S1000/746_I1.HTM]

USA - New Hampshire Home Poker Law

Social gambling and home poker games are not legal in New Hampshire. The gambling laws specifically state that “A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if such person knowingly and unlawfully… permits gambling in any place under the person's control”, which eliminates the legality of playing in a home. Only licensed games, such as horse racing, boxing and raffles, are legal gambling activities within the state. [Reference: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LXII/647/647-2.htm]

USA - Nevada Home Poker Law

Home poker games are perfectly legal in Nevada. State law defines all unlawful gambling activities, but specifically excludes “games played with cards in private homes or residences in which no person makes money for operating the game, except as a player…” [Reference: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-463.html#NRS463Sec0152 (specifically NRS 463-0152)]

USA - Nebraska Home Poker Law

The only forms of gambling permitted by Nebraska state law are bingo games, lotteries and raffles designated or licensed by the state. Therefore all social gambling, including home poker games, are outlawed.

USA - Montana Home Poker Law

In terms of unlawful gambling definitions, Montana law is opposed to any game of skill where one player or operator is given a distinct advantage over another. Therefore a social gambling game, such as a home poker game, is permitted so long as no player, host or proprietor is profiting in any way outside of participation in the game that results in winnings from the gamble itself.

USA - Missouri Home Poker Law

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]

USA - Mississippi Home Poker Law

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 comfort of your own home. [Reference: http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/97/033/0001.htm]

USA - Minnesota Home Poker Law

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]

USA - Massachusetts Home Poker Law

The laws of Massachusetts are not clearly defined pertaining to social gambling situations. It is clear that a player who loses any money or thing of value may reclaim that loss, by law, within three months, but the actual legality of playing home poker games is not referenced in Massachusetts General Law. [Reference, MGL Chapter 137 Sections 1-7: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-137-toc.htm]

USA - Michigan 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]

USA - Maryland Home Poker Law

The state of Maryland does not allow for home poker games according to the Maryland Code, section 12 on forms of legal gambling. Pari-mutuel gambling and some instances of charitable raffles are the only legal forms of gambling in Maryland. Any other form of gambling, including social gambling, is punishable as a misdemeanor with a minimum/maximum fine of $200-$1,000.

USA - Maine Home Poker Law

Home poker games are legal in Maine so long as they standard rules of “social gambling” are upheld. No player or other person may benefit from hosting the event. All profits must come from actual winnings from the poker game. No player may have an advantage over another. Etc, etc, etc… Maine does have strict regulations that prohibit unlawful gambling, but an exception is made for “players” in a “social gambling” situation. [Reference: http://mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/17-A/title17-Ach39.pdf]

USA - Louisiana Home Poker Law

In the state of Louisiana, unlawful gambling is defined as “the intentional conducting, or directly assisting in the conducting, as a business, of any game, contest, lottery, or contrivance whereby a person risks the loss of anything of value in order to realize a profit.” A home poker game, where there is no profit made by any player or host of the game, aside from actual winnings derived from the poker game, does not qualify as a business. Therefore, yes, home poker games are legal in Louisiana.

USA - Kentucky Home Poker Law

The legality of home poker games in Kentucky is somewhat confusing. When you read over the gambling laws, it specifically states that yes, gambling is illegal, but it also makes an exception for games in which the “ultimate winner is determined by skill”. Kentucky law does not define poker as a game of chance or skill; does not define the game at all. It depends on the interpretation of “skill”, and the “ultimate winner” being determined by skill. [Reference: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/KRS/528-00/010.PDF]

USA - Kansas Home Poker Law

By definition, “gambling” is against the law in Kansas, including home poker games. The only forms of betting permitted in the state are licensed bingo games, state lotteries and pari-mutuel. All other forms of gambling, social or commercial, are strictly prohibited. [Reference: http://kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_21/Article_43/21-4302.html]

USA - Iowa Home Poker Law

Home poker games are illegal in Iowa, restricting all forms of social gambling within the state’s borders. The only forms of gambling allowed in Iowa are charitable bingo and legitimate racetrack betting. [Reference: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/2001/725/7.html; Reference to legal forms of gambling in chapters 99B (bingo) and 99D (racetrack): http://www.legis.state.ia.us/lsadocs/Legis_Guide/2009/LGLSL008.PDF]

USA - Indiana Home Poker Law

Home poker games are not legal in Indiana. The Indiana Code defines ‘Unlawful Gambling’ as anyone who engages in gambling, where ‘gambling’ is defined as risking anything of value on a lot, chance or operation of a gambling device. There is an exemption for skill games, but Indiana does not see poker as a game of skill. [Reference: http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title35/ar45/ch5.html]

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