Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Is it legal for me to wager money on a game of pool w/ my friend?
I live in Indiana. Like many states, it seems to me that Indiana defines "gambling" in terms of games of chance, but not in contests of skill or ability. I have noticed that local pubs often have pool or dart tournaments where contestants pay to enter and can win the pot. Am I correct in concluding that these tournaments are allowed in these games because they are games of skill? So, if this is allowed on a tournament level, then it should be allowed for an individual contest as well, correct?
I understand that it would be difficult to enforce, but in a public place, one could be overseen exchanging money, etc. That was not really my point.
My point has to do with the distinction between games of chance, such as poker, and games of skill, such as pool. I began to look into it after a guy in the UK tried to defend an illegal gambling charge by saying it was a game of skill and was therefore not "gambling". I came to find that in my own state, there was a distinction between games of chance and contests of skill.
Even in my example of the local pubs in my area, they do offer poker tournaments, but there is no entry fee - so this is technically not gambling because you are not risking anything. It is done just to promote the bar and get more customers. But that same bar has weekly pool tournaments where you pay a fee to enter. But pool is a game of skill.
The tournament is run by some dude. I don't think he has any regulatory authority!
6 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
In most states, games of chance are illegal or highly regulated. However, WAGERING, can be illegal regardless of whether you are wagering on a game of skill or of chance.
For example: Running a roulette wheel is obviously illegal, but so is calling a"bookie" and wagering on a game of skill, such as football.
The "catch" is usually whether or not an individual or establishment is benefiting from the wagering of others. For example: I can play poker for money with my friends in my house, and not receive any legal consequences. But, if I am collecting a "rake" or fees from having a card game at my house, then I am running an illegal betting establishment and I am benefiting financially from the card game whether I win or lose.
To sum it up,a wager between 2 people, might be slightly illegal, if at all, but not enforceable, so you won't get in trouble.
- Anonymous5 years ago
Key word being "wager", yes. Say you're playing pool with your buddy, the two of you could play for a wager. If someone not in the game "bets" on one of you two, that is illegal. Same thing in sports, not that anyone around the country seems to care.
- robert mLv 71 decade ago
Technically illegal yet so much of it goes on at small levels they don't bother with it in most places.
- How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- lou bLv 61 decade ago
Who is going to know unless you broadcast it? Can't you and your friend keep it between yourselves?
