Irmo, South Carolina, September 11, 2025
News Summary
Gary Watts, a poker player from South Carolina, is suing the Irmo Police Department after being arrested during a private poker game. His lawsuit claims the arrest was based on outdated laws and that private poker games are legal in South Carolina. The case has garnered attention as it questions the state’s gambling regulations, potentially influencing future laws regarding the legality of private gaming.
Irmo, South Carolina – Gary Watts, a poker player from South Carolina, is taking legal action against the Irmo Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) following his arrest during a private poker game last year. His lawsuit raises questions about the legality of private poker games in the state, asserting that the law used to justify his arrest is outdated and misapplied.
The incident occurred when law enforcement, utilizing a confidential informant equipped with a wire, targeted a group of ten poker players who were playing in a rented office suite. The players were arrested under suspicions of illegal gambling, leading Watts to challenge the results of the operation. According to Watts, playing poker in a private office does not contravene South Carolina law, which explicitly identifies illegal gambling activities restricted to locations like taverns and barns.
Watts’ lawsuit is bolstered by a prior ruling from a state judge, who indicated that organizing a poker game in a rented office setting is indeed permissible under the law. Now, Watts is seeking a jury trial, demanding unspecified damages as he claims the incident has caused him embarrassment and resulted in the loss of professional opportunities. Notably, he had roles that he lost due to the negative impact of his arrest, including positions with the South Carolina Coroners Association.
The lawsuit describes the actions of the Irmo Police and SLED as an overreach of authority, labeling the officials involved as “a crack team of gumshoes” who acted with unnecessary aggression. Watts highlights the social nature of poker, emphasizing that such games are benign activities that do not lead to harmful outcomes. This assertion seeks to shift the conversation surrounding gambling in South Carolina, suggesting a need for more contemporary regulations in light of changing societal norms regarding gaming.
The charges initially brought against Watts and the other players were dropped after the judge’s ruling affirmed the legality of the poker game held in the office suite. Despite this, the law enforcement agencies have stated that their conduct was lawful and have not issued a detailed response to Watts’ lawsuit thus far.
The legal battle comes at a time when opinions surrounding gambling laws in South Carolina are evolving. Recently, a judge’s commentary reflected a growing sentiment that the state’s gambling regulations are outmoded and should not dictate modern legal interpretations. As South Carolina grapples with issues of gaming legislation and its effects on social activities, Watts’ case could potentially set a significant precedent influencing the future legality of private poker games within the state.
As the lawsuit progresses, the outcome will be closely monitored by both supporters and opponents of poker legality in South Carolina, with advocacy groups from both sides likely to weigh in on the implications of this case. Should Watts prevail, it may prompt new discussions about gambling laws and their applicability to modern social activities, potentially leading to changes that would better reflect contemporary views on such matters.
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Additional Resources
- Herald Online: South Carolina News
- WLTX: Big Lottery Win in Poker Night Game
- WACH: New Bill for Casino Gambling in SC
- WYFF: SC Poker Player Wins Scratch Off
- SC Daily Gazette: Against Online Betting and Casinos
- Wikipedia: Gambling in the United States
- Google Search: Poker Laws in South Carolina
- Google Scholar: Poker Game Laws in South Carolina
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Gambling
- Google News: South Carolina Poker Laws
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