Underage pool gambling

I've been gambling since I was about 15-16. Made a couple of mistakes but luckily they were small and I learned from them.
 
laws

Laws vary state by state and even city by city. CYA is the only way to gamble, know the local customs. However gambling with a minor is always illegal if someone wants it to be. You are contributing to the delinquency of a minor, or at least that is the charge that will stick if anyone makes it.

I think I lost my first money on a pool table when I was six or eight and when I started gambling all the time at fifteen, I can't ever remember anyone being concerned about anything but the age of my money. It was of legal age and that is what counted.

These days I would play a minor but I wouldn't gamble with them. Play them in a tourney or gamble with an older guardian while playing them sure, but never directly with the kid. I have too much to lose, CMA.

Hu
 
Landon has played in nearly 450 tournaments to date. Only 30 of them have been on 9 foot tables with the remainder being on 7 footers. Landon has been playing 7 years now and has developed his skills to the point that he needs more 9 foot table play. Unfortunately, there are few good players that will just play.
I have discussed this at length with Landon. He is playing for skill development and not to win money. In nearly every case that he plays he has a very even game or preferrably a little the worst of it. He/We do not go looking for money games, we are just looking to practice with people that have the same objective. We turn down games that are for winning money. That's the wrong approach for him. In Kentucky, historically, the players that have developed have done so thru gambling. There are zero 9 foot table tourneys in Kentucky. Maybe that will change. The games he plays are back and forth and do little more than pay the time. We can't drive 400 miles every weekend to a tournament. Landon is an A student and excells in school and he will attend college. You will not see Landon seeking out money games, just practice games whether for the competition, the time or just cheap sets. There is only one objective and that is skill development, not winning money. Pool tourneys and calcuttas ae often defined as gambling. Pool is a game of skill.
Stan
 
A few years back, I walked into a St. Louis pool room at 3:00 a.m. in the morning. Right through the door, up walks this kid and asks me to play some one pocket, race to 3, for $200.

I mean we're talking a kid here. I asked him how old he was and whether his parents knew he was gambling.

He said he was 12, his parents had just left, knew he gambled, even backed him, and he lived right behind the pool room.

The next thing out of his mouth was that I would have to give him a ball since I was carrying such a nice case. LOL

I simply said, "Naw, I'd feel like I was stealing your lunch money!" He shook his head and wandered off.

I started gambling when I was 15-16. No one ever had a problem with it while they were taking the cash. Only when the rolls reversed. Got thrown out of a few rooms back then because "You're too young to be in here." They just left off the rest of the quote " to be taking our money."

Stones
 
Earn While You Learn.

Bob Jewett said:
My own feeling is that at 15 he is old enough to make that kind of decision for himself. That may or may not be what the law in your state says. But here is a move you can put on him: the next time he asks to play, say that you need to see a note from his mom first. This may or may not work, since my mom was one of my first backers. Really.

Bob
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That last line really made me laugh. I came from a VERY, VERY, poor family of 8 counting my Mom and Dad. I was 17 years old and could sneak into one of the pool halls in New Orleans without any trouble and "gamble" with the big boys.

Every Friday evening I would ask my Mom to lend me $3.00 to go to the pool hall and "play". The bus cost about $.10 to ride and it was an hour long trip which I made practically every weekend into the city to learn my trade. We would play 8 ball or 6 ball for $.25 a game like it was a hundred a game. A little Kelly pool was also played but only for a nickel and a dime. It was an unwritten between my Mom and I that I was expected to repay the loan. Through sheer determination I almost always managed to come home with a little more than the $3.00 I left with after getting a soft drink and maybe a candy bar out of the night's work. Sometimes I would win a few dollars extra. I gave mom the $3.00 back on Saturday morning after getting a few hours sleep, knowing that Mom's Window would be open next weekend. Every now and then when I won a few dollars extra, I would give her a little lagniappe. Actually it was seldom that I did part with the extra cash and we never really discussed my gambling. She only nodded, smiled, took the $3.00 knowing I would be back the next week. Those weekends when I did not make a score, I had to at least tell her a good story or she would show feigned anger.

God, I miss that woman.

JoeyA
 
Stan, are you so far away that you can't come to the tournaments at diamonds in louisville.

I know your pain, despite the reputation for banks and one pocket kentucky has there is relatively little competition on 9' tables. For whatever reason Kentucky seems to be one of the few places that have 8' tables that I've seen.
 
stan shuffett said:
Landon has played in nearly 450 tournaments to date. Only 30 of them have been on 9 foot tables with the remainder being on 7 footers. Landon has been playing 7 years now and has developed his skills to the point that he needs more 9 foot table play. Unfortunately, there are few good players that will just play.
I have discussed this at length with Landon. He is playing for skill development and not to win money. In nearly every case that he plays he has a very even game or preferrably a little the worst of it. He/We do not go looking for money games, we are just looking to practice with people that have the same objective. We turn down games that are for winning money. That's the wrong approach for him. In Kentucky, historically, the players that have developed have done so thru gambling. There are zero 9 foot table tourneys in Kentucky. Maybe that will change. The games he plays are back and forth and do little more than pay the time. We can't drive 400 miles every weekend to a tournament. Landon is an A student and excells in school and he will attend college. You will not see Landon seeking out money games, just practice games whether for the competition, the time or just cheap sets. There is only one objective and that is skill development, not winning money. Pool tourneys and calcuttas ae often defined as gambling. Pool is a game of skill.
Stan
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Stan, how many tournaments has Landon won out of the 450?

BTW, if you and Landon are ever down New Orleans way, I make a good sparring partner. :) After hearing how Landon man-handled Louis Ulrich, I will have to be prepared to take a whupping but just warn him, I don't go down easy. :D

Congratulations on being the complete DAD.

JoeyA (from the Big Easy)
 
Maxey, What tournaments at Diamonds? Barboxes- race to 3? or 2? Would love to bring Landon to any 9 ft. table events in Louisville.
Joey, Landon has won 72 tournaments. I started the stats when he was 6 and now I can't justify stopping as it seems like a good thing to be able to pass the records over to him at some point.
Joey, Landon did play very well with Louis...Louis was working on his game!
Stan
 
uwate said:
Landon Shuffett I heard is matching up and playing people. Im sure his Dad is involved so its probably a great way to improve for Landon. I still remember Tony Watson at 14 in Chicago with a 15-20k bankroll woofing at everyone. He beat Dennis hatch with the 8. He also got a gun stuck in his mouth later after he left Chicago and they took all his money.
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I played(donated) tony watson when he was around 14 or 15, action is action, win you collect lose you pay, anyone who is able to understand that is capable of gambling, i personally dont care about the laws or morality of it. Let the PC save the earth people argue about this one, I would rather get down and play.
 
stan shuffett said:
Landon has played in nearly 450 tournaments to date. Only 30 of them have been on 9 foot tables with the remainder being on 7 footers. Landon has been playing 7 years now and has developed his skills to the point that he needs more 9 foot table play. Unfortunately, there are few good players that will just play.
I have discussed this at length with Landon. He is playing for skill development and not to win money. In nearly every case that he plays he has a very even game or preferrably a little the worst of it. He/We do not go looking for money games, we are just looking to practice with people that have the same objective. We turn down games that are for winning money. That's the wrong approach for him. In Kentucky, historically, the players that have developed have done so thru gambling. There are zero 9 foot table tourneys in Kentucky. Maybe that will change. The games he plays are back and forth and do little more than pay the time. We can't drive 400 miles every weekend to a tournament. Landon is an A student and excells in school and he will attend college. You will not see Landon seeking out money games, just practice games whether for the competition, the time or just cheap sets. There is only one objective and that is skill development, not winning money. Pool tourneys and calcuttas ae often defined as gambling. Pool is a game of skill.
Stan
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You sound like an awesome Dad. Kudos on raising such a good kid!

Btw I heard that Landon beat a buddy of mine Gary Gentry a few sets. Cheese plays damn good (he was the only guy to beat Joyner at the DCC this year except for Efren) and I know that Cheese was playing because he enjoys playing Landon.
 
Gary Gentry is a super guy and I can't think of anyone better for Landon to spar with. Gary has a lot of Nick V. in him. Gary plays the game about as correctly as anyone and he just loves to play. They'll probably practice again soon. Gary was getting ready for the U.S. Amateurs. He placed 3rd last year.

Uwate, thanks for the nice remark!!
 
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i wouldnt encourage a kid to gamble who didnt want to, or if i saw a kid with a clear cut gambling problem then I wouldnt feed the fire, but it is very possible for kids to be good action and not be degenerate gamblers, most are. only a small % of gamblers have a problem. i live in vegas and have studied gambling behavior for years, its an interesting topic
 
Johnnyt said:
If I knew his age before hand I wouldn't play him. It's a lose lose deal. If his mom or dad called the law I'd be in trouble. But the real reason I wouldn't play him is I would feel like a fool if he was one of these up and coming pros that has been playing for 10 years and he beat my ass for money. I can take get hustled by a woman but NOT a 15 year old. Johnnyt.
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you seem to be a smart man to avoid being charged with `contributing to the delinquency of a minor`.
One time in the past I returned the money to a guy when I learned he was only 17 years old.
For MORAL REASONS I do not gamble with a minor even if he is a world champion.:cool:
 
Andrew Manning said:
So I played a guy a couple weeks ago some cheap 9-ball and 8-ball. We're on a tight table, he's a better shot-maker than me, but I'm holding on and keeping the sets close. I'm 26, I'm guessing he's 19 or 20. Neither of us stood to go up or down more than $20 at any time. At the end of 3 sets, 2 of which he won, he has to leave, and I pay him his $15 winnings. No sweat, I easily had $15 worth of enjoyable competition.

On his way out, I ask him how old he actually is. He says 15.

So here's my question: what would I have done if I had won $50 off him, and then found out he was 15? He had some cash in his pocket that I could have won if I'd beaten him, and it was straight-up fair dealings the whole way, but I don't know if I could have collected gambling winnings from a 15-year-old. I might have had to tell him keep his money or else risk feeling like a bully, taking money from a high school sophomore.

So if that's the case, was I really giving him 1:0 on his money? Just an interesting situation that I thought I'd post and see what comments you all had.

-Andrew
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old enough to bet it old enough to pay if he loses in my opinion. you said you were hittin 'em about the same so it wasn't taking advantage of him. probably did him a favor. he'll be a better player years form now and in a small way you're partialy to thank
 
Jack Madden said:
When I was 15, no one had any problems taking my $$ if they won:mad: And a lot of players like Keith McCready, Mike Zimmerman and Cole Dickson were driving all over the country when they were 15, 16, 17 years old playing anyone they could match up with:) . So, I wouldn't feel bad about it if I were you. He is just learning to match up and play better - cost of a pool lesson.
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Jack...That's for sure! I got a piece of Keith when he was 17, at a big 9-ball tournament in Burlington, IA. He had lost early in the tournament, but was KILLIN' everybody in the green room at the hotel downtown. I was lucky, and got away with the $$$, but Keith gave up big weight for $300/game. I got in a sixpack before he quit...but I think I was the only loser he booked for that whole week! Think I'd try that again now? NOPE! LOL :D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
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I usually approach it like this: old enough to work, can get played. They gotta know what it feels like to earn $ before they can win mine. I would play anyone for a max exposure of $15 tho...
 
Taking into account where the opening poster is from he could have ran into Adam or Marcus Pendley from NC and they have been gambling for years and are still kids. But there kids that win the cash.

Leonard
 
Bob Jewett said:
My own feeling is that at 15 he is old enough to make that kind of decision for himself. That may or may not be what the law in your state says. But here is a move you can put on him: the next time he asks to play, say that you need to see a note from his mom first. This may or may not work, since my mom was one of my first backers. Really.

Bob
Click to expand...

Now I'm off seymore - your MOM is my new hero.

Dale
 
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