Playing a game of poker with your friends at home. It often occurs while enjoying a snack and a drink, but is it actually allowed? In some cases, it is not allowed to just organise a gambling evening at your home. The same goes for organising a lottery or otherwise hosting a gambling night. There are many strict rules around organising gambling activities. But if you want a fun evening with your friends, with no money to be made, you can generally organise a gambling evening with confidence. It's different if you choose to enable wagering, and set up a jackpot.
Organising your own games of chance
Basically, the law determines when you have organised a game of chance and therefore when you have to apply for a licence for it. One of the most popular casino games is poker. As a result, the game is also often played in friendly circles or with family. You can also buy the poker games in shops. But the games are meant for entertainment, not for winning money. In fact, the authorities do intervene if you organise an illegal poker night and offer the opportunity to win real money. Similar rules also apply to other games of chance.
When are you allowed to play poker at home?
If you want to play poker at home with your friends and family, this is not immediately prohibited. The ban only applies to playing poker for money. Since 1975, only one business and legal provider has allowed physical poker to be played. And that is a state-owned company. If you still want to play poker with your friends and win money, the best place to do so is at an online Afterpay casino. You can enter a live poker room together with your friends and try to win that way.
Of course, you are allowed to play poker in 'private circles'. This involves a group of people who know each other. So you don't have to be family. So a group of friends, a nursing home or a club are also allowed. The only condition is that there is absolutely no money to be made or other prizes to be won. So it is only about honour.
Organising other games of chance
The explicit ban only applies to poker. So in theory, you could play other games of chance at home with your friends and family. Even if there is a small prize to be won. But these too are subject to separate rules. For instance, you must always report to the authorities if you give away prizes worth more than 400 euros. So these are not just monetary rewards. For instance, if you win a laptop or tablet worth more than this amount, you have to apply for a licence.
Organising a bingo or wheel of fortune
Do you want to organise a bingo or other small game of chance as a club or at your home? This is allowed, as long as it is private. The purpose of the games is that you cannot win any prizes. The government then does not see this as a game of chance. But do you organise a bingo evening at your home where you can win prizes, where people you do not know also come to play or do you decide to move the game from your home to a clubhouse? Then it is often a game of chance and you need the necessary licences. You often cannot get that licence just like that and it is only issued if the club has been in existence for 3 years. Moreover, the condition is that you give away prizes that do not represent a value higher than 400 euros per prize.
Also bear in mind that you are often not allowed to organise games of chance in your home if unknown people drop by. The municipality may intervene on this. Generally, with this kind of gambling evenings, you are supposed to inform the municipality at least 14 days in advance. The municipality can then rule on it.
What happens if you do not comply with the rules?
Do you not abide by the rules around organising games of chance in your home? Then you can get into big trouble with the police. There have been previous stories of events where the police invaded. Moreover, you can expect a fine. If you rent your property, the housing association may intervene. So make sure you follow the rules if you organise a gambling night.