Info

[blakroz13]

Hi there, I am not sure if there has been a post about this before (sorry if there has). But like many of us I like playing poker but am not good (or dont have enough $$$) to go pro just yet. So thinking what was the next best thing? Running a card room - like a casino but only doing poker. Like tourneys and cash games etc... Does anyone have any info at all on the licences required and how much would be required as a start up. Im sure Im not the only one to have thought about this but think there may be a market for it up here in brissy. Any info would be great. cheers,Nick

[Dfer]

G'day Nick,In short, the answer is no. You cannot get a license, unless you're willing to takeover an existing Australian Casino, then you can screw the punters out of as much as you like.If your intention in running tourny's, is inorder to make a profit, take rakes, buy ins etcetera this is illegal.However, if you want to run private/home tourny's for merely the love of the game, concensus is you may, as Poker is a game of skill, and not chance.Many PNW'ers are well versed in this topic, and can debate and elaborate on this till the cows come home. mooo.... cheErs

[AussieAsh]

Off topic, but what is the law and chances regarding the state of Victoria ever getting a second casino? Is it unlikely Australia will ever get a new casino? How did Tasmania get two casinos?

[blakroz13]

Thanks for the info Dfer. Bit of a bummer as a pure poker room would be good anywho in regards to aussieash's post i think they have two because they were the first state to have a legal casino (so I have been told)...

[blakroz13]

Another question: anyone know if the APL or NPL are going to have any QLD (or in particular Brisbane) events? So far I have only noticed Vic and NSW events...

[AussieAsh]

Check APL Announcements forum. On 11/4: "The league is now played in both NSW and Victoria and soon the state of Queensland will offer Australian Poker League poker tournaments." Use their Contact Us form, see if you get a response.

[Fair Enough]

Casinos come under differing laws in different states.In most cases they have been established with 'monopoly' clauses meaning that a single operator has exclusive access in the state for a certain number of years (renewable).>Off topic, but what is the law and chances >regarding the state of Victoria ever getting a >second casino?Victoria? Next to none. The controversy, alleged back-door deals, and amazing complexity of the relevant legislation make it unlikely in our lifetimes.> Is it unlikely Australia will ever get a new >casino? Up to the individual states.>How did Tasmania get two casinos? Northern territory has two. Queensland has four ???( Jupiters, Treasury, Cairns, Townsville???)I think the ownership of the two in NT is the same, and similar in Tassie (Federal Casinos?).The possibility of 'poker rooms' like in some US states ever happening in this country is so close to zero you could write your own ticket. JK (frequent contributor to this site) has often expressed his views on Australian casinos and casino culture. Our profit margins and the means of attaining them are different to most of the world. Similarly, we have legislated award wages (and reasonably decent ones too) for casino staff; they do not rely on (or even are supposed to accept) tips. The combination of monopoly-casinos and floor staff who do not depend on tips creates a *completely* different culture compared to say, a US Indian reservation card room. Lower margins, tips, less constraining legislation, etc, can make such places profitable there.

[Dfer]

Only an act of state parliament can tender for a new license. As far as Crown opening, that was due to the states woeful economic position in the 80's, thanks mainly to an incompetent Cain/Kirner state Labor government.Pokies were only then introduced in the early 90's in order to reap gaming taxation revenue.Up until then, the TAB and licensed trackside bookies were the only legal place to make a wager. The liberal Kennett government was then elected, and tendered off a Casino license. MGM and others were skittled by a Melbourne businessman, Lloyd Williams, who funnily enough had Liberal Party connections.Tassie got their casino's in the 70's for tourism as well as tax revenue. Queensland because the Bjelke-Petersen state government was corrupt. Sydney 'cause Melbourne got one.Meanwhile, while Mr. Williams was busy racing overpriced donkeys, Kerry Packer knowing a good thing when he saw it, eventually bought out Lloyd Williams.So, the issues boil down to the following.A State government's financial incompetence, tax greed, corruption and the necessity and pragmatism in legalising it 'cause it happens underground anyway, so we might as well control and profit from it.As for new Casino's, it's inevitable as the population grows in the next 20-50 years. As well, as the reasons stated.Fair enough's on the money.

[phil markey]

gambling laws differ from state to state - i know of the law in 3 states and as it applies to poker the bit that creates the difficulty is similar - ie the acts prohibit the "house" taking a cutarguably there may be ways around such provisions - for example time charging rather than taking rake, or running sponsored tourneys that dont take any rakei have no clue what the law is in queenslandpersonally i find it offensive that state governments rush to provide detailed legisaltion to allow casinos or poker machines providing generally mindless and socially destructive gambling from which they derive large revenue yet they let a skillful competitive form of gambling with a rich culture to languishphil markey

[JK.]

Good posts Fair Enough and Dfer,but I think that you were a bit easy on the Crown situation Dfer.I don't give a damn for labour or the Liberals but in this case it was Kennetts doing.Williams,Kennett and the Special Events guy(I forgot his name)did one of the greatest scams of all time .The Williams team did not make the largest bid but were given the licence nevertheless.Packer was lurking in the background,waiting for the Williams/Kennett/Special Events guy,to intentionally run the casino down then sell it to him for a huge bargain.Labour promised to investigate the whole scam if they got into office.Guess what,once they got in all was forgiven.The whole casino set up in Australia stinks.Sydney,Melbourne,Tassie,Qld,were all results of corrupt deals by the rich and powerfull for the rich and powerfull.