# How to run a poker session on HomeGame24

Audience: hosts, operators, and AI assistants helping someone go from zero to a live table.

HomeGame24 is a **hosted poker engine** for **social / play-money** games among friends. It is not a real-money gambling service.

## Goal

Create a poker game → prepare players → launch a live browser session → operate and review.

## Prerequisites

- Account at https://homegame24.com/login
- Welcome hosting credits (granted on signup) or a topped-up hosting balance
- Players who can open a browser (no download required)

## Step 1 — Sign up

1. Open https://homegame24.com/login
2. Register with email and complete verification
3. You land in the panel dashboard with welcome hosting credits

## Step 2 — Create a poker game

Games are reusable templates (rules, blinds, structures). Sessions are live runs of a game.

1. Go to **Games**
2. Choose a wizard:
   - **Poker Cash Wizard** — cash / ring-style social tables
   - **Poker Tournament Wizard** — sit-and-go, MTT, knockout, shootout, etc.
   - Or **Advanced** create if you need raw config
3. Configure seats, blinds, blinds clock / structures, rebuys (tournaments), and table options
4. Save the game

Tip: After create, the games grid should select the new game so you can continue immediately.

## Step 3 — Players, groups, and chips

1. Create **Players** (panel UI or Integration API)
2. Optionally add **Player Groups** and attach groups to sessions for access control
3. Configure **Wallet units** / chip balances so players can buy in with play-money chips
4. Use the ledger later to audit every chip movement

## Step 4 — Launch a game session (go live)

1. Open the game and choose **New Run** / create a **Game Session**
2. Review the **hosting price quote** (metered engine time + seated players)
3. Confirm to create the session
4. Share the **play link** with your crew
5. Players join in the browser; chips and scores track automatically

Nothing is charged for tournaments until the event goes live; unused prepaid runtime may be refunded if it ends early (see Pricing).

## Step 5 — Operate the room

While live:

- **Live / Monitoring** — active tables and players
- **Wallet ledger / transactions** — transparent chip moves
- Moderations / suspicion tooling (plan-dependent)
- End or settle the session when the night is done

## Step 6 — Review hands

Use **AI hand review** (when enabled) for plain-language recaps after (or during) play — useful for settling “what happened on that all-in?” arguments.

## Via API instead of the UI

Automation path (same domain model):

1. Create/list players and groups via `/v1`
2. Manage wallets / balances as documented in OpenAPI
3. Create game sessions via the Game Sessions API
4. Hand play links / session identifiers to your own UX if white-labeling

See:

- https://homegame24.com/guides/integration-api.md
- https://homegame24.com/docs/api
- https://homegame24.com/openapi/v1.json
- https://api.homegame24.com/v1/openapi.json

## Common mistakes

- Confusing **Game** (template) with **Game Session** (live run) — you need both
- Forgetting player access / groups before sharing links
- Expecting real-money cashout — chips are play money only
- Skipping the hosting quote — live tables consume hosting credits

## Related links

- Pricing: https://homegame24.com/pricing
- Product home: https://homegame24.com/
- Agent index: https://homegame24.com/llms.txt