Poker Home Games Are Illegal in North Carolina — But That Could Soon Change

What’s the Law Right Now?

Maybe surprisingly to some, North Carolina has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country. Unless you’re playing in one of the tribal casinos (like Harrah’s Cherokee) or placing a legal sports bet, betting on games of chance — including poker — is off-limits.

Right now, playing poker for money in a private home is against the law. First-time offenders face a misdemeanor, but repeated offenses can escalate to felony charges. Even though it’s rare for law enforcement to crack down on small poker home games, the risk is still technically there — and that’s what Rep. Willis is trying to fix.

What’s in the New Poker Home Games Bill?

The proposed law, House Bill 424, would carve out legal protections for social gambling in private residences and community spaces. If passed, it would allow people to legally play poker home games, board games, dice games, and even dominoes for real money — but only under certain conditions.

Here’s what the bill does allow:

• Friendly games in private homes or clubhouses.
• Real money wagering among players.
• Poker, board games, dice games, etc.

And here’s what it doesn’t allow:

• No rake. The host can’t collect any kind of fee, cut, or charge admission.
• No slot machines or electronic gambling machines.
• No outside person or business profiting from the game—only personal winnings are permitted.

Willis is pitching this as a way to protect ordinary people who are playing harmless, social games. According to him, “Nobody’s betting the farm. Nobody’s losing a mortgage.”

Willis says the idea for the bill came from a dispute between a Union County resident and their homeowners association over poker games in a clubhouse. It raised questions about the legality of casual wagering among neighbors and prompted him to act.

The current law doesn’t distinguish between a neighborhood poker night and an illegal gambling operation — and that’s exactly the problem HB424 is trying to solve.

What’s the Pushback About?

While the bill cleared a House Judiciary Committee by a 7-3 vote, it’s not without critics.

Rep. Dean Arp, a Republican from the same county as Willis, worries that the bill could unintentionally open the door to unregulated casino-style setups. He pointed to vague language about “community clubhouses or similar structures” as a potential loophole.

Democratic Rep. Pricey Harrison raised a similar concern, saying she supports the idea of poker home games and the overall bill in theory but is cautious about how far the bill could be interpreted. “I understand it’s crazy that you can’t play poker… in your house or clubhouse,” she said, “but I do have concerns about how this is being interpreted and potentially expanded.”

Willis has said he’s open to rewording the bill to address these concerns, especially to prevent any accidental encouragement of organized gambling.

So, What Happens Next?

As of now, the bill moves to the House Rules Committee before potentially heading to a vote in the full House and then to the Senate. It’s still early days, but there’s momentum — and a growing interest in modernizing North Carolina’s gambling laws. It’s also part of a bigger picture: the state legalized sports betting just last year, and more than $5 billion was reportedly wagered in that market alone.

If you’re in North Carolina and regularly play poker home games, this bill could make a big difference. It won’t legalize raked games or underground poker rooms — but it would finally bring legal protection to casual games among friends.

For now, though, nothing has officially changed. Poker home games are still technically illegal until the law is passed. But with HB424 moving forward and support building, it’s worth keeping an eye on the action at the state capitol.