Gambling Hearing in South Carolina

The South Carolina Supreme Court hears arguments today from lawyers representing the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) that poker is a game based on skill. The purpose of this is to try and get the exiting South Carolina gambling laws changed. Unbeknownst to many in the state, all games of cards and dice are illegal in the state of South Carolina.

This hearing is in response to the trial and conviction of five individuals for playing poker, an “illegal game’ under the South Carolina Constitution. This case all started in April 2006 when about 25 people were arrested after police raided a home close to Charleston because of the old 1802 law that outlaws any game of cards or dice. Twenty of the charged men plead guilty and just paid the fines, but five of them showed some steel & guts and with the help of the PPA fought back.

Previously the trial courts found that poker is a game of skill, but they turned right around and left it to a higher court to decide if state gambling laws were too vague.  The higher court agreed and reversed the convictions citing the “overwhelming” evidence that skill dominates chance.  However, South Carolina Attorney General McMaster appealed this ruling, taking it all the way to the State Supreme Court.

You can play online poker in the privacy of your own home by clicking here !

Attorney General McMaster (R) has always fought against legalizing poker. Can he not find better ways to spend taxpayers money than trying to convict people for playing poker? I asked him by way of WBTW TV News when he was running for Governor of the state if he would be for repealing the old outdated laws against gambling and his answer was a resounding no. Nikki Haley (R) also answered along the same lines, letting it be known that she is against changing the current law.

What happened to the rights of American citizens in the state of South Carolina? Do we really need, or want our politicians telling us what we can or can’t play? It seems that for the last few years that the so called party of less government is only about less government if it suits their beliefs. For more on that just read South Carolina Republicans Fight Against Gambling.

It could be months before the people of South Carolina will know what the courts decide today. But in the meantime, we must let our elected officials know that we demand our rights. Perhaps it is time we kick them to the curb and elect those that will give our freedom as players back to us.

Citizens can also help fight for the right to play poker by joining the Poker Players Alliance.

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