SC senators to debate allowing card, dice games

COLUMBIA, S.C. — (AP) The Senate Judiciary Committee is to debate whether to legalize friendly card and dice games at people's homes.

The bill on Tuesday's agenda specifies that members of clubs or social groups can legally gather at someone's home or community clubhouse to play games such as canasta and bridge.

It represents legislators' latest attempt to change the state's 1802 antigambling laws that can be read literally to ban any games with cards or dice.

Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell tried unsuccessfully as a senator to legalize friendly poker games following a 2006 raid on a poker game in Mount Pleasant, where 22 players were arrested.

But some legislators and faith-based groups have opposed any change out of concerns it would usher in far more than kitchen-table poker.

WSOC