Can I add casino style games to my membership site legally?

12 replies
I am starting my own membership site and wanted games for members to play. I thought it would be great to add Texas Holdem or slots...but will that make it a gambling site? Thank you for any and all comments!!
#add #casino #games #legally #membership #site #style
  • Profile picture of the author Angela27
    Anybody? Please?
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      You don't have a country of residence listed - so any answer would be a guess.
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      • Profile picture of the author Angela27
        Sorry, I fixed it. I live in Maine in the US.
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    • Profile picture of the author Angela27
      Thank you...I will check it out. I just don't understand what the difference is between card games and any other games if I am not charging to play them. Very frustrating.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nanaswhimsy
      I think it would depend on how you planned to use those games. If they are strictly for entertainment. You shouldn't have a problem. I know Zen Gaming, has a site that is all about texas holdem and has games that pay real money but they have the site set up as a membership site and your membership got you in the games, you did not deposit any money to play. You got 1K chips at the beginning of any tournament and if you won, you won the prize offered for winning. But you never had to pay to play which put it under sweepstakes laws I think, so you might want to look into those in your state.
      Hope that helps!
      Suzanne
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      • Profile picture of the author Angela27
        That is what I was hoping...I do have the question asked in the lawyers forum that was referred earlier but I do not plan on charging anything once they are in the site...and it isn't even what the site is about...I thought it would just be fun and may help keep members coming back.
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        • Profile picture of the author Nanaswhimsy
          Facebook has slots and texas holdem on their site so why should your site be any different?
          Suzanne
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  • Profile picture of the author webapex
    Yea if there is any payout, worst cash, but even negotiable credits might the smell of a real gaming site, which are banned in the U.S. I believe just recreational game simulations is OK, check your hosts terms.

    I am very hazy as to the legal implications of linking to an offshore casino in an advertisement, I have to guess anything advertised on TV is OK for web sites to promote too.
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  • Profile picture of the author laustinseo
    If there is no charge in the game then i am 99% sure that it will be fine
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Wilhelm
    For legal information to your question, I'd visit Local Lawyer Guide where you can also find a lawyer if necessary.
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  • Profile picture of the author rakhwas
    I'm nearly sure that, if its just a flash game, with no deposit / withdraw option you should be fine, just research it if you want to include money in it, i'm pretty sure you need a license for that.
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