@Un - Pulsey and I were deliberating about how much loot could be acquired by a crooked host, if they were trusted with the funds. We weren't talking about a transaction between contesting players. :)
You keep missing my point, Un. We were discussing (at the start of the thread) how you could be sure of a payout, in the event of a player refusing. We were thinking about all the money given to the host and they distribute it at the end to the appropriate people.
But even honourable players can be reluctant, depending on the circumstances. For example, imagine that all-too-familiar situation when someone says they are here just as the other boots them. They would be a tad cross and unlikely to hand over the moola! Just an example, but honourable players can get into a funk if they get horrific luck. There are many ways that they might refuse to pay up. I'm not saying impossible to trust them. I'm just going on past experience. You can't deny the possibility. If the money is given to the host, you only have to trust one person, as opposed to every participant.