Social poker

​​​​​Generally, the game of poker is only permitted to be played in Tasmania in the casino.  However, this exemption allows certain kinds of social poker to be played, subject to conditions.

Tournaments

The game of social poker must be played in a tournament structure, with a single entry and a single re-entry fee, which does not exceed $250 each.  All players must receive an equal number and value of poker chips for their fee.  

The poker chips must be of no monetary value during the game, meaning that they cannot be “cashed in" during the game, and are only used for the purposes of determining the overall winner or winners of the tournament.  The prizes available for a tournament must be at least 70 percent of the value of the proceeds raised by the entry fees. 

Individuals under the age of 18 years must not participate in social poker tournaments.

A social poker tournament can only take place on a licensed premises, and the operators of social poker must undertake Responsible Conduct of Gambling training​​.  There are requirements about the information which must be provided to players, and the records which must be retained.​


Conditions

Social poker, subject to the following conditions:
  • social poker may only be played in a tournament structure under which the cost to participate must not exceed the value of a single entry fee and a single re-entry fee, and no further charges are levied on participants during the tournament;
  • all participants must pay the same entry fee, which must not exceed $250;
  • all participants must pay the same re-entry fee, which must be equal to the value of the original entry fee;
  • all participants must be given an equal number and value of poker chips per entry fee and re-entry fee, and no participant may purchase or otherwise be supplied with additional poker chips before or during the tournament;
  • the poker chips must have no monetary value during the tournament and must only be used to determine the overall winner or winners of the tournament, such that poker chips are not redeemable for monetary value or any other benefit;
  • the operators of a social poker tournament must make the rules of the tournament available to all participants, and those rules must include sufficient information to enable participants to reasonably understand the game;
  • the operators of a social poker tournament must reasonably make participants aware of the available prizes, and how the prizes will be distributed to the winner or winners of the tournament, in advance;
  • the value of the prizes in a social poker tournament must be determined before the completion of the tournament;
  • the cash value or equivalent retail value of all prizes for any social poker tournament must be no less than 70 per cent of the total proceeds generated from entry and re-entry fees;
  • a social poker tournament must only be conducted in a licensed premises;
  • the operators of a social poker tournament are required to undertake Responsible Conduct of Gambling training;
  • individuals under the age of 18 years must not participate in the game of social poker;
  • the operators of a social poker tournament must retain sufficient records to reasonably demonstrate compliance with these conditions.
F​or questions about players and tournaments, refer to FAQ: Conducting the game of social poker.​​

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