That poker is a very popular game is something that catches no one by surprise, but what you may not know is that there are very specific rules about the places where you can play with friends.
Although homes are private spaces, the law is clear and we will tell you from now on: it is not allowed to play at home, since it is a game where chance has something to do and where money moves in bets and, therefore, it must be carried out in a space 100% enabled for that purpose.
But let’s develop this aspect a little more.
Can you play poker at home with friends?
In Spain, the legal framework tends to be more restrictive and specific than in other territories. The Gambling Law, which regulates gambling activities in our country, establishes that gambling at home, whether in private or with friends, is not legal in most cases.
Article 4 of the Spanish Gaming Law defines what is considered as gambling, and section C includes “private gaming activities”, which includes poker games at home with friends.
The law establishes that for a gambling activity to be legal, it must be carried out in authorized casinos or on duly regulated online gambling platforms. This means that playing poker at home with friends does not comply with the legal requirements established in Spain.
In short, playing poker at home with friends is not allowed in Spain, as current legislation requires any gambling activity to be carried out in clearly authorized and regulated places, such as casinos or online gambling platforms with licenses granted by the relevant authorities.
But, is it legal to play poker at home?
Is it legal to play poker at home? No, it is not. Or not as it appears from the current Gambling Law. Because, as mentioned above, the legality of playing poker at home in Spain is not contemplated in any section.
The Gambling Law establishes that gambling activities, including poker games, must be carried out in authorized and regulated establishments, under the supervision of the competent authorities.
The purpose behind this regulation is to ensure that gambling activities are carried out in a transparent and fair manner, and that players are protected against possible fraud or manipulation.
Casinos and authorized online gaming platforms are subject to strict controls and regulations, which provide greater security to players.
In the absence of such protection framework at home, the aim is to avoid exposing the player to fraud or illicit or ethically reprehensible activities. That is why it is decided to set up exclusive spaces where the control is absolute, guaranteeing the transparency of the games.
How to legally play poker at home?
Given the prohibition to play poker at home in Spain, there is no way to do it legally in any private home. The options to play poker legally in the country are limited to duly authorized physical casinos and online gaming platforms with licenses granted by the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gaming (DGOJ).
Casinos in Spain offer a wide range of poker options, from tournaments to regular games, and provide a safe and regulated environment for players. On the other hand, online gaming platforms licensed by the DGOJ also allow players to enjoy online poker with guarantees of security and fairness.
So, can you play poker at home? Clearly, the authorities do not monitor house to house to check what happens in homes, but you should know what is said in the Gambling Law and where is the limit of what is strictly legal. Therefore, our recommendation is that you choose to enjoy poker in transparent environments, 100% safe and with everything you need to enjoy poker safely.
So, is it illegal to play poker at home? Yes, the Spanish laws are clear about this. It is forbidden to play any poker game at home, because it has no regulations nor guarantees that protect players from unethical aspects of that party.
Both games, cash games and poker games without money, are forbidden games if they are played outside a casino, online or not. So, is it illegal to play poker for money at home? Yes, it clearly is. And you should not break the rules if you want to enjoy poker safely.
And you can only do that on platforms where all the tools are in place to make the experience safe, transparent and authentic, and Pokerhub has all of that.
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