Irmo, South Carolina, September 11, 2025
News Summary
Gary Watts, a South Carolina poker player, has filed a lawsuit against the Irmo Police Department and SLED after being arrested during a private poker game. Watts claims his arrest was unlawful as poker in private settings is permissible under state law. His lawsuit includes charges of false arrest and malicious prosecution, seeking a jury trial and damages for embarrassment and lost professional opportunities. The case raises important questions about the legality of private poker games in South Carolina and could signal a shift in how gambling laws are interpreted.
Irmo, South Carolina – Gary Watts, a South Carolina poker player, has filed a lawsuit against the Irmo Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) following his arrest during a private poker game. The incident took place last year when law enforcement officers employed an informant, who wore a wire, to secretly record the games happening in a rented office suite.
Watts asserts that his arrest, along with those of ten other participants, was unlawful and contends that South Carolina laws do not classify poker played in a private setting, such as an office, as illegal. Instead, the laws specifically mention illegal venues like taverns and barns. The lawsuit cites an earlier opinion from a state judge which stated that playing poker in a rented office space is permissible under existing statutes.
In his lawsuit, Watts is charging the police and SLED with false arrest, malicious prosecution, and trespassing. He seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages, claiming that he experienced embarrassment and lost numerous professional opportunities, including positions with the South Carolina Coroners Association, due to the fallout from the arrest.
The law enforcement actions taken against Watts and his associates have drawn criticism; the police are described in the lawsuit as having acted with excessive aggression, labeled as “a crack team of gumshoes” that handled the situation unnecessarily. Watts emphasizes that poker serves as a social activity that does not inherently pose any harm to the community.
After the arrest, the charges against Watts were dropped following a ruling from a judge regarding the legality of poker games in office settings. This has led many to question the application of existing gambling laws in South Carolina, which some consider outdated and ill-suited for modern regulations. A recent opinion from Judge Thomas “Billy” McGee underscores this sentiment, suggesting that state gambling laws should evolve to reflect current societal norms.
As the case progresses, the outcome of Watts’ lawsuit may have significant implications for the legality of private poker games across the state. Should the court find in favor of Watts, it could establish a new precedent that clarifies the legal status of various kinds of social gambling, potentially allowing such activities to flourish in a manner consistent with societal expectations.
While the Irmo Police Department and SLED representatives have maintained that their actions were lawful, they have not yet responded to specific allegations detailed within the lawsuit. The ongoing legal challenge posed by Gary Watts may open a critical dialogue regarding the interpretation and enforcement of gambling laws within South Carolina, which many advocates argue require modernization.
As it stands, the case against the Irmo Police and SLED serves as a focal point in a broader conversation about ethical law enforcement practices, individual rights, and the evolving landscape of recreational gambling in the state. The results of Watts’ lawsuit could signal shifts in public policy and law enforcement approach regarding private gaming activities in South Carolina.
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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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