Watts argues that police had no right to raid his game and make arrests
Gary Watts, a South Carolina poker player, is taking the state to court in a case that could reshape how private poker games are treated under local law. Watts argues that he and his friends were unfairly targeted when authorities raided their small-stakes game in a rented office suite last year.
According to his recently filed lawsuit, officers from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Irmo police overstepped their authority by infiltrating the game with an informant, recording the players with hidden equipment, and then executing a raid with heavily armed officers. Watts claims this amounted to false arrest, malicious prosecution, and trespassing.
The case stems from a South Carolina law that dates back centuries, according to the lawsuit. It specifically outlines where gambling is prohibited: places such as taverns, inns, liquor stores, barns, kitchens, and even outhouses.
Watts’ legal team is arguing that because the statute lists locations but does not mention private office spaces, the state’s interpretation is flawed. He insists that playing poker with friends in a rented room should not be treated the same as running an illegal gambling den.
His lawsuit, while serious in its claims, also includes biting commentary about the manner in which the raid was conducted. Describing the officers in tactical gear as storming the office “like SEAL Team 6,” Watts portrays the operation as a heavy-handed response to what he characterizes as a harmless gathering of friends who shared food and played cards.
Poker in South Carolina has long occupied a legal gray area, with state law making little distinction between casual games and organized gambling operations. Watts is seeking a jury trial, hoping not only to clear his name but also to challenge the broader interpretation of gambling laws in the state.
