Playing poker for money with anyone at home

Question:

Is it legal to play poker for money in your home and allow anyone, not just friends, to play?

Answer:

1. It is unlikely that the Gaming Board or the Gambling Commission would wish to interfere with gaming on domestic occasions if the organiser of the game is not exploiting others or players are not being tempted to gamble beyond their means.

2. However, allowing anyone to participate in a game of poker may mean that it will not be classed as playing on a domestic occasion. It is possible that a small gathering of determined players in the home of one of their number could cease being a domestic occasion as a result of the attitude of the players and the size of the stakes. In the same way, allowing anyone into your home to play poker may mean that it is no longer a domestic occasion and would therefore not be exempt.

3. In addition, by allowing anyone to enter, access is granted to the public. As a general rule, gaming is not allowed in places to which the public have access.

Note:

If you are going to play poker online, please click on one of the links on the right or in our poker directory.

Please note, the information contained on this page is intended to provide a general guide to the law relating to poker as it applies in England and Wales.

It should not be relied upon as an authoritative statement of the law or as a source of legal advice. If you think you have a legal problem, you should obtain advice from a lawyer or adviser.

Take That Ltd will not be held liable for any loss, damage or inconvenience howsoever arising nor as a consequence of any use or the inability to use any of the information contained on this site. Visitors who use this website and rely on any information do so entirely at their own risk.

Take That Ltd also takes no responsibility for the contents of linked websites and as such any links should not be taken as an endorsement of any kind.

Back to Poker Law FAQ