Former South Carolina Coroner Files Lawsuit After Poker Game Raid

Background of the Incident

Gary Miller Watts, who served as the county coroner for two decades until 2020, has initiated legal action against his local police department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). This follows his arrest in 2024 during a police raid on what officers claimed was an illegal underground poker game.

Details of the Arrest and Lawsuit

In April of last year, Watts and ten others, including his son Adam, were apprehended during a raid at a rented office space in Irmo. Authorities seized more than $15,000 in cash, alleging the gathering was an illicit gambling operation because the organizers were taking a rake (a percentage of the pot). However, the charges against Watts were eventually dropped.

Watts and his legal team have filed a lawsuit arguing that no laws were broken by simply playing poker in a rented office among friends. The suit criticizes the law enforcement for treating the situation too harshly, noting the officers arrived armed and in tactical gear, likened humorously to a military special operations team confronting unwarranted opposition. The lawsuit characterizes the group as a harmless circle of friends who regularly meet to play poker, share meals, and enjoy each other’s company.

Central to the lawsuit is Watts’ interpretation of South Carolina law, which explicitly prohibits poker games in only certain locations such as taverns, inns, liquor stores, barns, kitchens, stables, outhouses, streets, highways, open woods, and racetracks. Watts contends that poker itself is not illegal unless played in these specified places.

Watts’ Perspective on Poker and the Legal Dispute

In an interview, Watts expressed his belief that their poker game was lawful based on his understanding of the legislation. He described the players as local professionals and highlighted that the stakes were modest, markedly different from high-stakes casino games. He emphasized that all participants played within their means and that no harm was done.

Watts also spoke about the personal benefits of poker, especially as he nears 70 years old. While he can no longer participate in physically demanding sports, poker helps maintain his mental sharpness, encourages friendly competition, and offers social engagement. Several members of his poker group, including doctors and professors, have been part of these gatherings for over four decades.

As a result of the arrest, Watts states that he suffered embarrassment, incurred legal fees, and lost work opportunities caused by damage to his reputation. He is pursuing unspecified monetary damages through his lawsuit.