AN ACT to provide that the laws regulating gaming do not apply to certain social games played in a private residence, home, or community clubhouse.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Part 1 of Article 37 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 14‑309.4.  Certain social games not unlawful under certain circumstances.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Article to the contrary, it is not unlawful for persons to gather for the purpose of engaging in board games or games of tiles, cards, or dice, including canasta, mahjong, and bridge, where any money, property, or other thing of value is bet, if the games are played in a private residence, home, or community clubhouse or similar structure, and all of the following requirements are met:

(1)        No mechanical or electronic devices or machines of any kind, slot machines, pull tabs, punch boards, pull boards, or video games, devices, or machines of any kind are used for, or incorporated in, the games in any way.

(2)        No person receives any direct or indirect economic, financial, or monetary benefit other than personal winnings.

(3)        Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this section, the host of the game or owner or lessee of the location in which the games are played does not receive any direct or indirect economic, financial, or monetary benefit of any kind.

(4)        Except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risks of losing or winning are the same for all parties.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.