The Legal Landscape: Online Poker Regulation and Charleston’s Stance

Online poker for real money in the United States is a complicated affair and that’s putting it lightly. The game can be freely accessed in some states but then down the road and across a state border, it can be completely outlawed. So what about Charleston in South Carolina? Let’s assess the online poker brands offering real money play and what the current situation is in the state.

Sign-Up Unsuccessful

Of all the US states, South Carolina might be one of the most conservative and traditional-thinking proximities. The state vehemently outlaws online poker for real money and there has been very little movement or request to change that status. In fact, when googling the search term: ‘online poker in South Carolina’ through the news section, the only stories are from North Carolina as their neighbors seem to be a little more open to the idea.

No Progress since 2009?

Back in March 2009, a state senator called Glenn McConnell proposed that South Carolina’s poker laws were far too antiquated and not fit for purpose. This came in the wake of a private game held in a household home that was raided by state police in 2006. The Republican politician argued that this was a waste of police time and that people should be able to play poker in the comfort of their own homes.  Yet by May 2009 the proposed bill was completely derailed and dismissed.

Gambling on the River

If Charleston and South Carolina natives want to play poker or gamble in any capacity, they must do so on the riverboat casino cruises that travel out in international waters where they can do what they wish. There are a few that depart from Charleston and Myrtle Beach, meaning that anyone who wants to bet can do so with enough persistence – just as long as they don’t get seasick.

The only exemption to this is bingo. Bingo is the one form of gambling that the South Carolina government allows to take place, with three reported bingo halls all trading in the state.

Geographically Far Away from Legality

South Carolina is in the ‘bible belt’ collection of states and subsequently is very difficult for those in the state to find anywhere remotely close to their locality to play online poker legally. The closest state with regulated and legal online poker capabilities is West Virginia – which is quite far away. Players might as well just go to Las Vegas, Nevada.

How can South Carolina Play Poker?

Okay, enough problems  – how about some solutions? If you’re in South Carolina and itching to play poker the door isn’t completely shut. Playing online is difficult but not impossible. You can probably access sites prohibited by using a VPN or proxy to trick the connection into thinking you’re not in South Carolina. That or using an offshore casino should in theory get you playing poker online. Of course, that does potentially open another can of worms. If your internet service provider informs the authorities, it is uncertain how they’ll react. It’s not advisable to do this, we’re just saying it’s possible.

Another idea would be to take the river cruises mentioned above. Or leave the state borders for a day trip to somewhere else where the laws aren’t as strict. If you find yourself wanting to play online poker and gamble more often, then maybe you should think about leaving South Carolina altogether.

Peer Pressure from the North

Despite all the slow-moving activity in South Carolina, its neighbors, North Carolina are having active conversations about legalizing online poker among other gambling activity. Sportsbook options are being discussed in public forums where the populace is at least having their say on whether they want the law to change. Some parties are optimistic that laws and stances will change come 2024.

Should this mobility take real shape and tangible change, it will leave South Carolina in an awkward position. It’ll be the old-hat state of the pairing which can’t seem to keep up with the times. Does it want that status? The pro-gambling contingent in the state will simply cross the border more often than not, spend their disposable income there and not in South Carolina – which makes the state poorer in the long run if it doesn’t keep up.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us