North Carolina Could Make Private Poker Home Games Legal

Summary:

• A North Carolina bill that would make home poker games legal has passed a House Judiciary Committee. 
• The bill would now allow hosts to take any reefs or rakes.
• Opponents fear the bill could unintentionally encourage gambling at a larger scale. 

A house bill that could protect private poker home game players in North Carolina took an important step forward on Tuesday after it cleared a House Judiciary Committee.

While Tar Heel’s gambling laws count among the strictest in the country as they technically criminalize home poker games, prosecutions are rare occurrences. 

Nonetheless, Rep. David Willis (R) wants to make sure that poker players never have to worry about facing charges simply for gathering around a table with friends.

What the Bill Could Mean for Poker Players

With a population of over 11 million, the state has a very limited number of legal poker options. 

Online poker remains illegal, and the only brick-and-mortar card room is found at Harrah’s Cherokee, which regularly hosts World Series of Poker Circuit events. 

Outside of tribal casinos, sports betting, and the state lottery, gambling is largely prohibited.

Rep. Willis wants to see a change. His proposed legislation, House Bill 424 (HB424), introduced on March 17, is looking to amend General Statutes 14-309 by adding a provision to protect certain social games held in private homes or community clubhouses.

Under current law, hosting a home poker game, even with minimal stakes, violates state statutes. A first offense is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, with repeat violations escalating to felony charges.

If passed, HB424 would explicitly legalize wagering on board games, card games, dice games, and other social gambling activities in private settings. However, some restrictions would remain. 

Slot machines would still be illegal, and hosts would not be allowed to collect a rake, admission fee, or any other form of payment beyond their own potential winnings.

No person receives any direct or indirect economic, financial, or monetary benefit other than personal winnings

Rep. Willis: “Nobody’s Betting the Farm”

On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee voted 7-3 in favor of advancing the bill. Speaking to WRAL, Rep. Willis defended the legislation, emphasizing that these games have always been a part of social life.

Nobody’s betting the farm. Nobody’s losing a mortgage. Folks have been getting together and doing this long before any of us were alive and they’ll continue long after we’re gone.

Despite support from many lawmakers, the bill has its fair share of critics. For example, Democratic Rep. Pricey Harrison and Republican Rep. Dean Arp were not shy to express concerns about the way the law might be interpreted or expanded.

Harrison commented,

I appreciate what you’re trying to do and I understand it’s crazy that you can’t play poker and exchange dollar bills or whatever the stakes are in your house or in your clubhouse. But at the same time, I do have concerns … about how this is being interpreted and potentially expanded to something that you all aren’t intending.

Arp raised additional worries about allowing gambling in community clubhouses or similar venues.

The way this bill is written … you can open this up to casino-style gaming tables across North Carolina, possibly inadvertently

Those who oppose the bill claim that, if not carefully worded, it could unintentionally fuel underground gambling operations. Willis, however, said he was open to revisions to ensure there are no loopholes.

Up next, the bill will head to the North Carolina Senate for further debate.