The South Carolina bill that would legalize home poker games will not be voted on this year. The bill was sent back to committee without debate yesterday, ending its chances in 2008.
Introduced by Rep. Wallace Scarborough in Jan. 2007, it had remained in the Judiciary Committee since then, and that is where it will stay until next year.
Scarborough introduced his bill after hearing about a poker bust that took place in 2006 where 22 people were charged under a law that has been on the books since 1802. Although it’s been amended several times since then, the law still is archaic when deciding which games people can play in their homes in South Carolina.
Taken by the letter, the law says it’s illegal to play any games of cards or dice in South Carolina in one’s home including games like Monopoly. The state has no history of anyone being busted for playing board games, but at local levels, it has been used to raid several poker games and charge 49 people since 2006.
The bust that prompted Scarborough to try to change the antique law involved a $20 buy-in tourney that was raided by both local cops from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and a masked narcotics unit with guns drawn. Four players from that game are fighting the charges and have yet to go to trial. A 78-year-old woman was swept up in that raid.
A larger cash game was busted earlier this month outside of Charleston, where 27 players and dealers were cited for unlawful games and betting. The Charleston County’s Sheriff Office said the game was raided after a 10-month investigation.
