Court Opinion

ID: 9582842
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:31:56.668358+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:38:37.485326
License: Public Domain

BURNETT, Justice,
concurring:
I concur in result only. I write separately because, in my opinion, S.C.Code Ann. §§ 32-1-10 and -20 do not apply to gambling losses which are incurred while playing a video poker machine. South Carolina Code Ann. § 32-1-10 provides, in relevant part:
Any person who shall at any time or sitting, by playing at cards, dice table or any other game whatsoever ... lose to any person or persons so playing ... the sum or value of fifty dollars and shall pay or deliver such sum or value or any part thereof shall be at liberty, within three months then next ensuing, to sue for and recover the money or goods so lost and paid or delivered or any part thereof from the respective winner or winners thereof ...
(Emphasis added).1
The statutory language is clear and unambiguous and, therefore, must be limited to its terms. Berkebile v. Outen, 311 S.C. 50, 426 S.E.2d 760 (1993) (where a statute is clear and unambiguous, it must be applied according to its literal meaning).
This issue cannot be reviewed because it was not presented to the trial court. “[B]ut for a very few exceptional situations not present here, an appellate court cannot address an issue *21unless it was raised to, and ruled upon by, the trial court.” Smith v. Phillips, 318 S.C. 453, 458 S.E.2d 427, 429 (1995).

. McCutry v. Keith, 312 S.C. 254, 439 S.E.2d 861 (Ct.App. 1994), in my opinion, incorrectly holds video poker machine losses to be recoverable under § 32-1-10.