Staying Safe: Protecting Your Home Poker Game and Players
Recent news of the daring robbery at the European Poker Tour event in Berlin garnered worldwide headlines. Four bandits stormed the Grand Hyatt Berlin with guns and machetes and stole nearly US$500,000 in cash as hotel surveillance and live-streaming internet video cameras rolled.
A few weeks later, robbers pulled a similar smash-and-grab robbery at a poker home game in Austin, Texas. Police reports stated that the robbers climbed a back fence to reach the house, as the rear of the house did not have security cameras.
News of these robberies has come to the attention of security personnel at major poker rooms and casinos around the country. A Harrah’s spokesman said they would step up security efforts at the upcoming World Series of Poker, and the officials at other top poker events are expected to follow suit.
Players in casino poker rooms often enjoy many of the amenities of the environment, including trained, professional, and armed security guards. However, for players who may not have ready access to a plush casino poker room, the local home game is their main poker destination. How can players in a poker home game guard themselves against robberies and assaults inside and outside the game?
Protecting Your Home Game: Host’s Responsibility
Rules on hosting a home poker game vary from state to state and country to country, but the restrictions on allowing a stranger into your home should be the same, regardless of the legal niceties surrounding the game. Poker players considering hosting their home games should take extra precautions when recruiting players, bringing in new faces, and protecting their lives and property.
Play with Familiar Faces
While this may seem the simplest idea, some poker hosts, eager for more players and action, may ignore this rule to liven up the poker game. The safer route is to bring in non-players the host already knows and teach them how to play poker rather than invite a stranger who may present himself as an “action” player. The educational experience for the rookie poker player will help him grow in the game while maintaining a safe environment for everyone else.
Pre-screen New Players
If a regular player wants to bring a friend, the host should meet the new player face-to-face before inviting him to the poker game. Some hosts forget that a home game is just like a game at home. Most hosts would not allow a stranger to come into their home without meeting them under other circumstances, and a home game should not be different. A home game is a private party, unlike a casino, where anyone with cash can sit at the table.
Invest in Security Measures
With so many home invasion robberies of home poker games making the news, this investment can pay off in many other ways. Locked gates, keypads, and cameras will provide a safer setting for the players, which will help them concentrate on their hands instead of any odd noises outside. Some players may resent the idea of playing in a setting that could remind them of the potential dangers, but the host should remind them that casinos provide at least as much security at a much higher cost than a six-pack or a pizza.
Safety Tips for Visitors
As the host, the player has much more control over the playing environment. As a visitor to another player’s home game, most control is taken out of his hands. However, the visiting poker player can maintain personal safety before putting money on a stranger’s table.
Play with People You Know
The reason that this idea is here twice is not for redundancy but for emphasis on personal security. Most poker players would not walk into a stranger’s house, put their money down, and expect to feel safe. Just as the host should screen players for their home games, visiting players should get to know the host outside the game to judge the safety and comfort level with the environment, the fun, and the other players.
Evaluate the Host’s Safety Measures
When a visiting player meets the host, he should determine what steps the host has in place to ensure the players’ safety. Also, the player should check out the surrounding neighborhood, in both daylight and at night, to get a feel for the protection of the general area, especially when he’s getting into his car late at night with a wad of cash from his winnings.
The player should remember that a “nice neighborhood” does not always equal a “safe environment.” Most poker robberies in recent months in Texas have been in what the victims described as “nice neighborhoods.”
Limit Cash and Cards
Most robberies at home poker games are strictly amateur-level “smash and grab”; police typically don’t find a sophisticated, “Ocean’s 11”-style elaborately planned heist in these instances. A good way to limit the physical and financial damage is to bring as little cash and as few credit cards to the game as possible. Not only can a small poker bankroll serve as a preventative measure, but it can also be a “stop-loss” method in some aggressive games.
Should Players Carry Guns For Protection?
Poker, especially Texas Hold ’em, has a reputation for gun violence. Nicknames for hands include “bullets” and “dead man’s hand.” In the “bad old days,” many Texas rounders carried guns to protect themselves from robberies and hijackings. Even in the seemingly trigger-happy United States, gun laws vary from city to city and state to state.
In jurisdictions that allow citizens to carry concealed weapons, the decision is a matter of personal choice. Players hosting their games can decide whether to use a gun to protect their homes. Poker players visiting a home game should tell their hosts if they plan to carry before they come to the game, or they can find out if the host is having.
One undeniable fact is that wherever a lot of loose cash is available, such a site makes a tempting target for would-be thieves. Any steps players can take to protect themselves, their homes, and their bankrolls will help their game.
Conclusion
In the world of home poker games, where camaraderie and competition converge, safety should always be a top priority. Whether you’re the host or a visitor, taking precautions, playing with familiar faces, and evaluating security measures can help ensure that your poker night remains a fun and secure experience. While the decision to carry firearms for protection is personal, it’s essential to weigh the risks and benefits carefully. Ultimately, safeguarding your home game, fellow players, and bankroll should be paramount, allowing you to focus on what truly matters—enjoying the game of poker.
