Is it legal for me to play in a free roll tournament (I live in Illinois)? I know that it is illegal to bet my own money, but what if I am not putting forth my own money at all?
Poker Players Alliance Forums » Ask Skallagrim
Freeroll (Nowhere else to ask this)
(6 posts)-
Posted 3 months ago #
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Hello heathba, welcome to the forum.
You dont give me a lot of details, and details can often make a big difference in particular situations. That said, in general, a "free roll" is NOT gambling. Legally, "gambling" is made up of 3 elements: prize, chance, and consideration. In plain English, you put up something of value which you may lose (consideration) in hopes of winning something of value (prize) pursuant to a scheme or game that is not primarily based on skill (chance).
In a truly free "free roll" there is no consideration, so it is not gambling.
That does NOT guarantee that it is legal, however, many states, including Illinois, have certain restrictions on what kind of "free" contests or games can be offered, also when and where and by whom. These restrictions vary from state to state. So without the details I cannot say for certain whether your "free roll" is legal, but it is certainly not gambling.
Skallagrim
Posted 3 months ago # -
I am talking about a free online poker tournament (poker stars since that is where I play), where you can Satellite into a tournament that would cost everybody else a certain amount to play in. Meaning the prize is made up of peoples gambled money, but I am paying nothing in order to enter for a chance. Did I leave out any details?
Posted 3 months ago # -
Illinois, as I hope you know, is one of the bad states for online poker: playing online poker is a misdemeanor offense! Discussing the possible challenges to this law have occurred elsewhere on this forum.
But under normal circumstances, a free roll is not illegal gambling because in a free roll you risk nothing of tangible value, hence no consideration. This would not be the case if you are using player points or some similar promotion to enter, but in the typical anyone-can-sign-up-for-free free roll, no gambling has occurred.
Legally, a truly free roll is similar to a sweepstakes. There are laws that cover the legality of sweepstakes, but they don't concern themselves with the players, only the site/organizer, so I'll not look them up.
This is the same reason you can still play for play money on any site, even though some do give small prizes here and there for the "winners."
And this is also the premise of the "subscription" sites like SpadeClub (where the small print always lets you know how to enter for free).
Skallagrim
Posted 3 months ago # -
When you say playing online poker in Illinois is illegal, you do mean in a situation of putting forth your own money to play correct? And you say normal circumstances, and by that you mean outside of a state like Illinois?
Posted 3 months ago # -
The full discussion of Illinois Poker/gambling laws is here: http://pokerplayersalliance.org/forums/topic/170
It is "gambling" in Illinois to risk anything of value on playing a game of skill OR chance, hence ANY game.
By "normal circumstances" I meant circumstances where you do not risk ANYTHING. To some, a "free roll" might also include a tournament entered into by expending accumulated player points. In those instances, even though you are not spending money to enter the tournament, you have put "something of value" at risk.
Skallagrim
Posted 3 months ago #
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