Need help/advice on starting a local game

I am a college student and want to start dealing once or twice a week to some kids here. Have a few questions:

If the minimum bet is going to be $2, and max $40, what is a good amount of money for me to have on site for backing purposes? Probably will have 6-8 players at the table.

Also, I have heard using regular chips is not a good idea, reason being they are easy to duplicate (unless of course you have custom chips, which I do not want to invest in just yet).

I have heard that buying washers and spray painting them a certain color and using just one chip denomination is one way to combat that (change the color each week). Any other suggestions?

I am planning on dealing 6 decks, dealer hits on soft 17, allowing DD on any 2 cards.

Let me know what you think and any suggestions/comments are appreciated. Shoot me an email if you want to speak privately.

for legal expenses since your "game" could be questioned as to legality - there are fine distinctions between a legal "friendly" game and operating an illegal casino, even under Texas law (which is where I presume you will be offering your wares from the handle you used)- not to mention the "security" issues you need to consider if you keep a large cash bank around - final word of advice, avoid dealing to any MIT nerds

Email me directly....

If you�re in Texas it is illegal! It isn't worth getting busted for a $2-$40 game, (at least not for me). Also the house doesn't always win in a home game. Remember the house at a casino has about 10 - 30 tables going 24/7 all year, your talking about a one time, one table game a week I assume. Also if caught dealing at your home the DA's office will file organized crime against you and put your home in as a gambling place. You then have to deal with the I.R.S. for undeclared income etc. Are you sure it would be worth it to you? If your in the D/FW Metorplex leave me a post so I can contact you and tell you other reasons hat to watch out for.

To be quite honest with you, I am not worried about the legality issues. I live in a large house, and it is not unusual to have lots of cars on my street, etc... The place is not going to be some huge frenzy...it is going to be my friends and their friends who are playing, not just some random game open to the public. The police would have NO suspicions to come inside the house, in fact I will probably not allow any drinking or smoking (which will also help bring in more civilized people).

What do you mean by don't forget to budget...budget for what?

+ "money plays"

Real chips from the nearest casino!? I don't want to spend that much money on chips, nor are there any casinos close enough for me to even consider that.

The site below does personalized, quality chips. I have done business with them twice, and I have been quite please with the product and service level. You can sometimes get a set of 50 customized dice chips for $30.00 from them; I'm not sure if this price makes it reasonable for you or not. I enjoy using my set for small, private gatherings like bachelor party tournaments, etc.; strictly for "entertainment" purposes of course. ;)

10Splitter

you could get chips from the gamblers general store (http://www.gamblersgeneralstore.com/) they are a great place to visit if you ever go to Vegas. Any local deck of cards you might want is probably there. Let's see, you could use crappy plastic chips (thrift stores are good for cheap used ones) and modify them with a rubber stamp. More than that you could use odd color inks that aren't readily availiable like metalic red.

You'll often see clubs use stamps and they have a large collection of them and change the entrance stamp daily. I went to a lesbian concert and got stamped with "you go girl" once. Anyway then next week you need to wash the ink off and start again. Might have a problem with people that have sweaty hands. You could use black light reactive ink and mark all of "your" chips and no one would know, just check them under the light under a table or something and you get a security feature.

You could lower the stakes to 5 cents to $1 and use coins. If this is just a "friendly game" is there a reason that you need such security measures? If someone is going to try to steal from you why wouldn't they call the cops on you? Anyway just some ideas.

I forgot the three "I's" of youth - you are all Infallible, Immortal, and Infertile - I hope that they hold you in good stead in this endeavor should you choose to pursue it - but, don't be surprised if word leaks out and your actions are questioned by the authorities - hence budgeting for legal expenses to contest any charges that might be brought should you be so unlucky

...the point is mute, but...

Real chips from the nearest casino!? I don't want to spend that much money on chips

...you wouldn't be spending any money on casino chips. You would just be making the casino a no-interest loan. The chips would be fully redeemable back at the casino after your game.

a "contribution" to the local constable. Please note, however, that this is not meant to be a recommendation to actually make a "contribution". (how is that for a disclaimer, counsellor?)

"it is going to be my friends and their friends who are playing"

It will take one disgruntled friend-of-a-friend who doesn't understand negative SD to figure you're cheating and rat you out.

i know a guy who did exactly what your talking about. he had a lot of fun and made some pretty good money. for supplies, he bought a felt layout, 6D shoe, and discard tray for like 50 bucks, and he made that back in one night easily. because it was just friends and their friends, there was no problem at all with the law, just be smart with who you tell. as for the chips, regular chips were used. he just made a few simple rules like, keep all your chips on the table and visible at all times, no cashing out until you leave for good, etc. hope this helps, let me know how it goes.

though word is that the local constabulatory always appreciates contributions to worthy causes

I think I would set the rules to as close a no edge game as possible or barel for the player. Technically speaking, none of the players would be at a disadvantage except for their lack of skill. Then it could be argued that the house didnt cause the player to lose money, it was the player's fault.

I know that in a lot of states certain types of friendly gambling is allowed. Many employees of businesses will partake in an "office pool" for the various sporting events. Often, this is legal so long as the winners take all and there is no house commission so to speak. So, in that sense, I would try to get all the players to mutually fund the bank, and each player would be allowed a certain split of the take each month. You can make this split a percentage of each players contribution to the total. If "A" contributes 40 to a 100 dollar pot, he would be entitled to 40% of the profits.

As far as sufficient bank goes, I would look at it in terms of advantage play. You said your max bet allowed would be $40. I would have at least 150 times this amount. Of course, consider even more. It would not be difficult to get this amount if you had the players contributing to the pot.

BTW: if you set the rules to barely favor the player, can us card counters from this board be invited to play?

answers to these questions you have no business operating games. There will be enough "sharp" college students out there who will find ways to beat your brains out. That said, with typical players you should expect to lose 4 nights out of 10 and lose BIG one night in 10. You will have a losing week probably 1 week in 4 and if you are offering a fairly even game off the top someone spreading $1 to $40 on two hands can probably take $30 per hour off your hands. Not to mention other advanced opportunites, cheating, and the law...all said if you run an honest game you probably won't have an edge.

YOu need a much bigger edge to make it worthwhile.

... and there is some good stuff in there. The employees there are friendly, and the cat roaming around the store is too. I've put the link to their website below; you'll want to do your shopping on the website if you're allergic to cats.

10Splitter