Online Poker Real Money Legal In Texas

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All new players who decide to explore the vast universe of real money poker sites should know that federally, online poker sites are illegal. However, on the individual level, online poker is legal in some. For states where online poker is legal, this is a guide for US online poker room reviews, poker sites available in your area, deposit bonuses, and online poker announcements. US online poker laws seem to be changing monthly since government attorneys announced that the Wire Act cannot be used to prohibit states from allowing online poker.

If you’re looking for online poker real money, there are a few options you can try out. These sites for online poker for real money range in variety, but one thing they all have in common is that they let you play poker for real money. Here’s some information on these sites.

Ignition

This online poker casino lets you play poker online for real money. It’s consistently rated as one of the best online poker sites for US players. The reason why it’s rated as one of the best online poker sites US players is due to its various features. Some of the features it has included a 100% casino match bonus that goes up to $1000. This means that for every dollar you deposit, you get $1 in return from the site.

It’s also known for having some strong developer companies behind the slot games. Realtime Gaming and Rival are considered by many to be among some of the best developers for slots in the business. Plus, you also have the option for adding Bitcoin to your deposit account, which is attractive to many people due to the fact that there’s some anonymity to it and many people are happy with the security.

Bovada

Bovada is a popular poker online location for people from the U.S. It has a lot of opportunities for real online poker options for making money. It started out in 2011, and it has a real email and phone contact info so that you know it’s legit. People love the racebook and sportsbook options along with casino options, all from the same account. Bovada actually appeals directly to US players and focuses exclusively on them. It gets excellent ratings online and has built up a reputation as a trusted organization.

You can deposit and withdraw funds easily from the site, minus a lot of the hassle that you may get with other sites. The Welcome Bonus is good up to $3750. Among the community for casinos on the Internet, it has a reputation for actually paying players who win quickly. This is critically important among an industry that often doesn’t meet these high standards.

They have a huge number of games with over 150 casino games. You can cash out of the site in just 4 days, and it should never take longer than a week. They take a number of different credit cards, as well as Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash.

Intertops

Intertops also gets some strong reviews, especially in the area of sports betting. They are one of the longest-lasting games in town. They receive 4.5 out of 5 on many review sites, and many places indicate they have a strong performance when it comes to payments. There are apparently virtually no reports of them having a problem with not paying the people who won on their site.

They are also known as being a place that pays players quickly. On Intertops, you get up to a $200 sign up bonus. They have been running since 1996. They can handle just about everything from basketball to NFL, MLB and other types of bets. They also offer poker or casino bets.

The place has a lot of support for customers, and you can contact them on a variety of different platforms including through Skype, through live chat, email or on the phone. They take bitcoin, and the estimated payout time through Bitcoin is just 48 hours.
Plus, if you don’t speak English, they still have you covered. You can instead get support in Spanish, Danish, Chinese, Portuguese, and many other languages besides. It’s all included.

This is an excellent chance to play poker online, and pick any online poker game you want. You can play poker online whenever you want here.

Like its nearest neighbors Georgia and North Carolina, South Carolina has adopted a very conservative stance towards real money gambling expansion. In fact, the Palmetto State is so traditional that just the mention of state regulated real cash Texas Hold’em poker and other Internet gambling games would probably be enough to set its officials into a tizzy.

No, the prospects of legit iGaming and real money Internet poker ever being regulated under SC law are pretty dim. Now, that doesn’t mean Internet gambling and betting games like Texas Hold’em poker online will never reach the citizens of Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. It’s just that several factors will have to line up perfectly before any progress is made with regard to lawful online gambling on real money poker websites.

As of today, it is our opinion that South Carolina is currently one of the five U.S states least likely to regulate online poker and other legal Internet betting games in the foreseeable future.

Finding a real money US poker site can be a challenge if you’re in The Palmetto State. Lucky for you, we’ve found the best poker websites for South Carolina gamblers.

The South Carolina Gambling Poll of 2013

Quick Jump

  • 5 The Facts
In late 2013, a rare sign of life in South Carolina’s otherwise stagnant gambling culture presented itself. A poll was sent out to the SC State’s registered voters asking for their opinion on a variety of topics, including casino gambling, video poker and the lottery [1]. Focusing on whether citizens think it’s fair for state officials to ban private sector gambling, yet still run a statewide lottery, the poll’s presence is a firm indicator that at least some of South Carolina’s residents favor the idea of legalized gambling and games such as Texas Hold’em poker.

Unfortunately, Republican Governor Nikki Haley is morally opposed to the idea. So much so, that her personal objections supersede her willingness to create 10,000 new jobs via the construction of a brick and mortar casino. That’s a shame, especially considering that since the end of 2013, South Carolina’s unemployment rate has been higher than the national average [2].

Can Players from South Carolina Play Online Poker?

Yes! Despite the state’s vehement stance against regulated gambling, SC residents should have no trouble creating an account and depositing funds onto any of the US poker rooms on our homepage in order to enjoy some exciting Internet poker gambling for real cash. However, players should be warned that South Carolina’s leniency towards online poker betting may change at some point in the future. Our guidelines will be updated to reflect any noteworthy changes.

Latest South Carolina Poker News

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Is Online Poker Legal in South Carolina?

There is no state legislature that specifically addresses the legality of online gambling and playing games like Texas Hold’em poker. So, while iGaming will probably never be regulated by the State, it may never be directly outlawed either. With that said, South Carolina’s gambling statues are among the strictest we’ve come across.

Currently, due to the state’s outdated gambling statues, the legality of real money online poker and betting on Internet websites resides in a murky gray area, and can be interpreted a number of different ways. Of course, it’s always best to seek professional advice regarding sensitive legal matters, and we encourage you to do so before playing any gambling games online.

In the meantime, we have taken the liberty to dissect SC’s existing gambling laws, as listed below:

  • South Carolina’s gambling statues do not provide a definition of gambling. However, they do explicitly state that any game involving cards of dice (such as Texas Hold’em poker or craps), or any gaming table, in so long as the game takes place at any tavern, inn, store for the retailing of spirituous liquors or in any house used as a place of gaming is unlawful, regardless of whether any wagering takes place. The penalties for participating in unlawful games and betting are imprisonment for a period of not over thirty days and a fine of not over one hundred dollars.
  • The owner of the tavern, inn, retail store, public place or house used as a place of gaming is subject to much harsher penalties, including twelve months in prison and a two thousand dollar fine. Section 16-19-40.
  • In keeping with its Bible belt traditions, South Carolina’s gambling laws ban any game from being played on the Sabbath (Sunday). The penalty for breaking the law is fifty dollars. Section 16-19-70.
  • Betting on elections is considered a misdemeanor. Upon being convicted, guilty parties shall be fined a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars and be imprisoned not exceeding one month. Section 16-19-90.
  • Merely keeping a gaming table for playing Texas Hold’em Poker or any other betting game at one’s home is worthy of a $200 – $500 fine.
  • All sums of money staked, betted or pending on the event of any game can be seized by state officials. Section 16-19-80
  • There is no mention of the words, Internet, computer or online anywhere in South Carolina’s gambling laws.

As clearly evident, SC, at least in theory, takes the issue of gambling very seriously. However, it also seems as though the statues haven’t been updated in decades, and are probably not a reflection of the SC State’s current stance.

To read more about South Carolina’s gambling laws [3], refer to the “References” section.

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The Facts

The History of Gambling in South Carolina

Accounts of gambling in the Palmetto State date back to the late 1700s. During the state’s early days, its inhabitants would actively gamble on the results of dog fights, wrestling, boxing, horse races and other competitive sports. Laws were enforced to prevent such activities in the 1800s, but it wasn’t until the mid 20th century that law enforcements agencies really began to crack down on gambling activities, particularly games like Texas Hold’em and other variants of poker.

In the 1970s and 1980s, establishments began installing video slot machines. Owners cleverly circumvented the law by paying winners out directly with real cash, as opposed to the machines. A 1991 Supreme Court ruling deemed that businesses that conducted gambling affairs in this manner did not break the law.

However, by 2000 the Supreme Court found all video gambling machines unconstitutional. Shortly thereafter, nearly 33,000 gambling machines such as video poker machines were removed or disabled.

Ironically, that same year, South Carolina voters elected to support a statewide lottery. The first lottery ticket was sold a year later, and the lottery remains a staple of South Carolina’s lawful betting and gambling culture to this day.

In 2011, law enforcement agencies seized over $2 million from two companies accused of transferring funds to online real cash poker players. The companies in question were also accused of money laundering, fraud and for violating the UIGEA.

Regulated Gambling Options in South Carolina

There aren’t many. South Carolina does not permit any form of poker games or gambling outside of the legal state lottery and charitable bingo. Indian and commercial casinos are prohibited, as is any form of pari-mutuel betting.

Playing poker in a home, even if no real money or rake is involved, is considered illegal. Horseracing, casino nights and slot machines are also banned.

The Future of Regulated Online Gambling in South Carolina

Considering that South Carolina’s powers have just begun to play with the idea of legalized gambling, it’s safe to assume that online wagering and Internet poker will not be regulated by the state any time soon, especially if anti-gambling proponent Nikki Haley remains in a position of power.

If you’re a poker player in South Carolina, you’ll have a solid choice of quality online poker rooms from which to choose.

Other South Carolina Gambling News

In early 2012, a proposal to open a resort casino in Hardeeville, SC, was brought before state legislators. Fearing that a casino would negatively impact tourism to Hilton Head, most state officials opposed the idea.

Leading the anti-casino charge was Governor Nikki Haley, who ever since her election in 2010 made it very clear that she will not support the construction of a casino. Without her approval, it’s very unlikely that the resort will be permitted until at least early 2015 [4].

In other news, the state’s only federally recognized Indian tribe, the Catawba, has been fighting to open a gambling facility within its York County reservation. However, to date, they’ve had little luck securing approval from government officials.

Fun Fact

In a surprise turn of events, South Carolinian officials approved a bill that would allow local governments to regulate casino cruise ships. The bill was passed in 2005, and since that time, thousands of South Carolina’s residents have set sail from one of the state’s many docks to play Las Vegas-style real money gambling games such as Blackjack, Roulette and Craps [5].

The Bottom Line

South Carolina’s repressive gambling laws are beginning to come under fire. In 2012, the state’s Supreme Court ruled that poker (Texas Hold’em, etc.) was a game of skill [6]. Furthermore, the video gaming machines that were banned in 2000 are making a comeback, this time as sweepstakes machines. Given enough pressure, state officials may be forced to lighten their anti-gambling position, maybe even enough to finally approve an Indian or commercial casino that would be able to offer games like legal real cash poker and other casino games.

While this still doesn’t mean iGaming and playing poker on Internet websites will be regulated by the state any time soon, it does provide citizens with a spark of hope – but only a spark. The reality is that until the Federal government steps in and passes a bill that regulates online poker betting throughout the United States, it’s unlikely that South Carolina will even address the matter.

Online

References

[1] ↑SC Gambling Poll in the Field

[2] ↑Bureau of Labor Statistic – South Carolina

[3] ↑South Carolina Gambling Laws

[4] ↑Deck still stacked against Hardeeville casino project

[5] ↑South Carolina Bill Narrowly Approved

Real Money Poker Online Texas

[6] ↑South Carolina Supreme Court Opinion No. 27197 – Filed November 21, 2012

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