Will South Carolina Follow Its Own Illegal Gambling Rules?
The judge in a South Carolina poker case has already followed other judges around the country in admitting poker is a game of skill. But the town attorney prosecuting the case seems to argue that even if an activity doesn't meet the definition of illegal gambling, participants should be guilty anyway cause they're gambling.
If that makes you step back and say , "Huh?", well, you're no more confused than legal experts trying to follow the case against five poker players from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The presiding judge has said he has determined that Texas Hold'em is a game of skill, not chance, as is normally considered necessary to qualify as illegal gambling.
But town attorney Ira Grossman says the case isn't about whether poker is skill or chance, the case is about running a house of illegal gambling. Of course, if poker isn't gambling, then the house wouldn't be...but back to Grossman.
Grossman also concluded that the game, even though in a private residence, was not a friendly game because Internet invitations were issued "without criminal background check." Obviously, being Grossman's friend means clearing a few security hurdles. Perhaps he gives guests cups for urine samples at the door when hosting parties, too.
The prosecutor also says if the defendants get way with playing poker, soon houses all over the area will have private house games, amounting to "legalizing hundreds of tiny casinos." Yes, like online gambling foe Spencer Bachus, Grossman is always aware of attempts to turn private houses into casinos, under the owners' poor unsuspecting noses.
The trial has gone on for three years, and brought support from the Poker Players Alliance, including expert testimony by Mike Sexton. Judge Larry Duffy is scheduled to rule Thursday, after years of taxpayer expense preventing these criminals from enjoying their nights of card-playing evil.
