The state of Oregon, although not a well known gambling destination actually has a pretty flexible set of laws. It has fully licensed and regulated casino, home games can be enjoyed and it's OK to jump online to throw a few cards around on the virtual felt too and many residents of Oregon do just that at great sites such as BetOnline Poker. Keep reading for the ins and outs of where you stand when playing poker in the great state of Oregon.
Playing a Home Game in Oregon
Social gambling is legal in Oregon and that's the category that playing a game of poker at home falls into. By definition, social gambling in Oregon is, “A game, other than a lottery, between players in a private home where no house player, house bank or house odds exist and there is no house income from the operation of the social game”. This means that, like many states, as long as no-one is raking the pot or charging a fee to play the game then you will be well within the law. There is a slight twist to the law however and the onus is put onto each county or city within the state to define what is and isn't legal. Section 167.121 states that, “Counties and cities may, by ordinance, authorize the playing or conducting of a social game in a private business, private club or in a place of public accommodation. Such ordinances may provide for regulation or licensing of the social games authorized”. As you can see it is a decision for each county and therefore it's best to check with yours, however we are pretty sure you will be fine.
Playing Poker Online in Oregon
Oregon, unlike most states, does actually mention online gambling in its penal code. However there's no need to panic as it is clear that the laws do not target players who wish to enjoy a game, they refer to the operation of an online poker room. It is a Class C felony to accept payments such as credit cards and bank transfers via financial institutions but there is absolutely no mention of players, or in fact playing. This, combined with the lack of a federal law against online poker means that many residents of Oregon enjoy a game online. There are plenty of good online poker rooms that service them too such as Carbon Poker, Americas Cardroom and BetOnline Poker.
Playing Poker in an Oregon Casino
Oregon has full scale casino resorts offering fantastic hotels, restaurants and are in fact major tourist attractions. Most will have their own poker rooms as well as all other types of games you would expect to find such as roulette, blackjack and slots. They are owned and run by the local Indian tribes and are fully regulated, contributing massively to local economies.
