So you have watched poker on TV, maybe even played on the internet. Now you and a group of friends want to have your own tournament. Before the cards hit the table, there are several things you can do to insure everybody has a good time and your tournament runs smoothly. The first thing you should do before planning a home poker tournament is to check the laws in your area. Each state and in some places, even the county you live in have laws regarding gambling. In most cases the laws restrict anyone from making a profit from the tournament. This means you can't charge an extra fee for entering the tournament. Any money collected for entering the tournament should be added to the prize pool and distributed to the winners. Your local laws may differ.