Quick question guys... Is it legal to gamble in Texas if the house pays off using gift certificates instead of cash? I have heard that from some people, but after reading through the gambling laws, I could not find such an exception.
My friend's parents frequented one of those game rooms and got a surround sound DVD system when it closed down. Every time I go into one of those places, they reek of cigarette smoke, so I'll save my gambling dollars for a real casino in Louisiana or Vegas...
If anyone here has a good knowledge of the gambling laws of Texas, please respond. One of my clients wants to start a website that gives out gift certificates for people correctly guessing the scores of NFL games. The users of the sites would then buy picks from the site, so the site can make money.
There's nothing illegal about giving prizes for scores-guessing. Games of Chance (gambling) and Games of Skill (what you describe) are defined differently. That's what makes fantasy sports or pick'em games or whatnot all legal, while poker or blackjack or slots are illegal.
Are you sure? I thought games of skills are classified the same. Take for example, the public hold'em tournament that the Susan Komen foundation threw about 4-5 months ago at Reliant Center was shut down. Unless Hold'em is classified as a game of chance as opposed to a game of skill. Also, if that is the case, are you 100% sure that score guessing is a game of skill and not a game of chance?
In most places its legal as long as the house doesn't take a cut...regardless of what the prizes are.
That is how I read the Texas rules a while back. Poker is legal as long as it is private and that no one profits off the game outside of any money won in the game. For instance, charging an entry fee, having a rack, selling food, and/or hiring a dealer would make the game illegal.
I wouldn't use my word as a final source, but I'm pretty sure this is the case. I don't know exactly why poker would be classified as a game of chance, though. But you'll notice that all the online sportsbooks or casinos (gambling) are overseas, while things like Fantasy Football or Survival Games (pick a winner each week) for prizes are hosted by major US sports companies like ESPN and such. Texas rules might be different for that type of thing, but I can't imagine why.
But ESPN and Yahoo! pick'ems and fantasy sports do not charge people to play. People might still have money on the line, but it is generally done under the table right?
Prizes for picking games is legal in TX. The Mens Club used to have a Pick and win game with prizes based on how many games you picked the winner of the line (10 games total).
Poker is classified as a game of chance, not skill, because it is viewed as predominantly chance. I just attended a conference about online gaming in Las Vegas where this was discussed extensively.
Depends on where you are: in California the Supreme Court ruled poker was a game of skill. If your friend is going to start a site/business revolving around the issue the best advice would be for them to call the state attorney general's office or hire a lawyer.
