Houston v. Younghans

We granted certiorari to consider the question of whether a debt arising from social gambling may be enforced. We answer the question in the affirmative and therefore affirm the Superior Court.

The following facts are undisputed. Respondent, Michael A. Younghans, was playing poker with friends at the home of the petitioner, Ervin Houston, in July 1975. All of the players “purchased” poker chips from the petitioner, which were to be redeemed by petitioner at the end of the game. When the game was over, petitioner had lost and, not having paid for his chips, he did not have sufficient funds to…