In South Carolina, it is still illegal to play any game with cards or other gambling devices, whether in private or public, for money or for fun. Unless you’re the state, or a church, or one of a few other exceptions. Various ridiculous, high media profiled arrests have highlighted this problem over the last few years, and a few cases have gone to trial. Legislators have proposed eliminating the 200 year old law, but have been hesitant to do so for  being seen as anti-family values.

Now, in a case that went to the South Carloina Supreme Court, even the state prosecutor said that the state has no interest in prosecuting Friday night poker games, even for penny ante – and the law doesn’t really intend to cover that. Apparently, what the state is actually interested in is protecting its monopoly on making big money from poker games.

(source)