They didn't want men gambling away the house in a poker game and leaving the women and children without a place to live.The intent I think for a home to be designated your homestead is that is where you live. 

So get your cash out and put into a good one, where that deal can recover the lost money and make more.You wouldn't keep putting chips into a bad hand in Poker, you'd fold. 

You don't put more chips into a bad hand in Poker just because you have already put a lot of chips into the kitty.

They are playing poker with a $hit hand and I know it.  

Cornhole board games, Horse shoes, Volley Ball net or Basketball net, Non expensive poker table with cars and chips, board games, Playstation or Nintendo for the teens, even spend a little extra for a full size stand up arcade game.You would be surprised the extra stars and kind words a few family nights of fun can make memories and people wanting to come back!

The upstairs loft is underutilized..its just another living room, you need to do something very different there (adult games, poker, pool table, bar etc perhaps?)

Judy

This is known as “speculating,” and it isn’t much better than getting in your car, driving to Vegas, and betting all your money at the poker table.

Might as well play poker - even there you might have more of a shot...

Outside of work my interests are sports, fitness, poker and coaching my sons little league baseball team.