Attempts to legalize South Carolina sports betting have seen only modest progress in recent years.
Since 2018 when the United States Supreme Court ruled to clear the way for states to legalize sports betting, no bills that specifically dealt with sportsbooks have been introduced in South Carolina. Often, sports betting has been bundled with horse racing.
South Carolina is at a standstill regarding legal commercial sportsbook apps and betting websites. There has been no broad support for online sportsbooks or the expansion of gaming in recent years.
One bill in 2023, HB 3395, called for modifications to state laws that could have permitted sports wagering. However, that language was challenged and removed in committee. The bill, as structured, could not have regulated sports betting and eventually collapsed from lack of support.
With sports betting legal across the border in North Carolina, some legal options are just a short drive away.
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) companies like DraftKings and FanDuel operate in South Carolina, unregulated by the state government. Social sportsbooks, such as Rebet, offer free-to-play games as an alternative until legal sports betting comes to the Palmetto State.
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Is Sports Betting Legal in South Carolina?
Sports betting legislation has not been passed in South Carolina. Conservative legislators have blocked attempts to legalize the activity, including a pair of bills in 2024 that would have allowed horse racing and sports wagering with limitations. There is no timeline for SC sportsbook apps.
Powerful opposition is lined up against sports betting. House Majority Leader David Hiott, a Republican, has made it clear that he does not support sportsbooks in his state.
“I just don’t think we need to supply that temptation in the state of South Carolina,” Hiott told South Carolina Public Radio in March 2024.
But other lawmakers support it in principle. Rep. Russell Ott (a Democrat) sees it as consistent with policy in place, stating that horse race and sports betting makes sense, “especially in light of the fact that we’ve got state-sanctioned gambling already in the state, with the state lottery.”
When Will Sports Betting Be Legal in South Carolina?
South Carolina has a long way to go before legal sportsbooks are available. Even if legislation were signed into law in the next session, it would likely be late 2025 or early 2026 before sportsbooks are available in SC.
A member of the House or Senate will need to write and submit a bill to expand gambling to include sports betting. That bill would have to navigate through committees and subcommittees in both chambers and then pass a vote in both before requiring the signature of the governor.
What's Happening in South Carolina Sports Betting Right Now?
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August 23, 2024:
A renewed major push to bring legalized online sports betting to South Carolina is expected in January when the General Assembly reconvenes, according to Statehouse Reports. While two recent legislative efforts failed, Stephen Shapiro of the University of South Carolina Department of Sport and Entertainment Management believes state legislators will feel significant pressure to act.
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May 10, 2024:
The state’s 2024 legislative session ended on May 9, with any sports betting legislation failing to hit the state’s crossover deadline for bills to move into the opposite chamber by April 10.
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March 26, 2024:
When contacted by South Carolina Public Radio, Robert Kittle, a spokesperson for the SC Attorney General, said, “Our office is not taking action on online gambling.”
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March 11, 2024:
North Carolina launches its sports betting market. That prompts dire predictions from some inside the Palmetto State. “South Carolina citizens are going to go to North Carolina to engage in a more open sports gambling marketplace,” said Mark Nagel, a sports and entertainment professor at the University of South Carolina, in an interview with SC Public Radio. . “And that’s going to cause many people in South Carolina or more people to say, ‘Why can’t I do this here?’”
South Carolina Sports Betting Bills
Palmetto State legislators have been slow to move on sports betting, which is not legal. A limited amount of legislation has been put forth.
HB3749: Legalization of Sports Betting
HB 3749, which would have legalized up to eight sports betting apps, languished in the House in 2023.
The bill would have allocated $1 million to form a commission for the purpose of regulating “interactive sports wagering,” while also making that activity legal. There was controversy over whether such a bill was constitutional, with critics claiming that an amendment was necessary to allow an expansion of gambling in South Carolina.
The bill was submitted to the House Ways and Means Committee in January 2023 but never advanced out of that committee. It was never reconsidered in the following legislative session.
Legal sports betting in SC will not happen until at least 2025, and it’s probable that even if it were passed into law, it would not be implemented until 2026.
SC Sports Betting Legalization Timeline
HB 3749, which would legalize and regulate sports betting in SC, fails to make its way out of committee as the 2024 state legislative session comes to an end.
HB 3795 was passed along to a Revenue Report Subcommittee and was never passed.
HB 3795 was introduced by Rep. Chris Murphy.
South Carolina failed to clear HB 5277 in time for sports betting in 2022. The year 2023 becomes the new target date for launch.
South Carolina Rep. J. Todd Rutherford introduced HB 3395 at the state’s legislative session. The bill would legalize sports betting.
South Carolina Gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham, a Democrat, said mobile sports betting should be available in the state.
Key Players in the Push for Legal South Carolina Sports Betting
The most important figures in the future of SC sports betting are state elected officials who oppose the expansion of gambling in any form.
House Majority Leader David Hiott is unequivocal in his opposition. “I don’t approve of anything related to gambling,” he said in 2024 when asked about the prospect of regulating and taxing daily fantasy sports in South Carolina.
A handful of state representatives and senators have shown their support of sports betting by co-sponsoring legislation. This includes Sen. Gerald Malloy and Reps. J. Todd Rutherford and Kambrell Garvin.
Other Types of Gambling in South Carolina
While legal sports betting’s future in South Carolina is unclear, Palmetto State sports fans can pursue different gaming choices. Social sportsbooks offer one such alternative. Plus, football fanatics can play Super Bowl squares for the big game.
| South Carolina Sports Betting At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| 🪙 Social Sportsbooks | ✅ Yes |
| 💰DFS | ✅ Yes |
| 🐎 Horse Racing (Pari-mutuel wagering) | ✅ Yes |
| 💸 Lottery | ✅ Yes |
| ♠️ Online Poker | ❌ No |
| 🤑 Online Casinos | ❌ No |
| Esports | ❌ No |
Social Sportsbooks in South Carolina
Rebet social sportsbook is available in South Carolina. The state attorney’s office has chosen not to pursue it for any violation of gaming laws. It offer free-to-play options that use virtual currency.
Rebet, produced by Ivy League graduates, uses play money and has a social component to build community among users.
South Carolina Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Sites in 2025
The popular DFS apps, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, are available on iPhone or Android devices in South Carolina. The state does not regulate these mobile applications, and consumers can register and play.
Some DFS games are quite similar to sports wagering. You select a set of players and pick their performance values. If they meet the values, you win. Often, these contests are called pick’em DFS games.
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DFS Apps: Betr Promo Code | Underdog Fantasy Promo Code
Betting on Horse Racing in South Carlina
Horse race betting is legal in South Carolina, but no regulated tracks are offering races in the state.
View: Horse racing apps
Lottery in South Carolina
South Carolina launched the South Carolina Education Lottery in 2002 to fund public education. It has several daily games and, in 2010, became part of the Mega Millions network. You can also play Powerball in South Carolina.
South Carolina Online Casinos
There are no legal online casinos in South Carolina.
Online Poker in South Carolina
No forms of iGaming, including online poker, are permitted in South Carolina.
Can I Bet on Esports in South Carolina?
The state has not introduced a bill to make betting on esports legal. Few jurisdictions in the US have taken this step. At this time, lawmakers seem to have no interest in legalizing betting on esports.
How To Bet in South Carolina After Legalization
Sports betting apps are not legal in SC, but if they become legal, this is how you would get started.
Select a Sports Betting App
You’ll have many options, including market leaders like DraftKings and FanDuel. Make a choice based on usability, odds, and promotional offers.
Download the Sportsbook App
Once SC makes sports betting legal, the apps will be available from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Register
You’ll be required to prove your age and identity and confirm your email address.
Make Your First Deposit
Fund your sports betting account from your bank, debit card, cryptocurrency, or other methods.
Place Your First Wager
Make your first bet. Often, this bet triggers a bonus bet offer, though that will depend on the sportsbook and promo.
Sports To Bet on in South Carolina
South Carolina does not have a major professional sports franchise. However, the state has a passionate fan base that supports professional and collegiate athletics.
NFL Betting in South Carolina
Nothing compares to the popularity of the NFL among US sports bettors. According to Google Trends, “NFL Odds” is more than twice as popular as the other three major pro sports based on search traffic. In South Carolina, pro football fans are drawn to NFL teams such as the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and Miami Dolphins. Each Sunday during the NFL season, ratings for NFL games are among the highest for programming in the state.
View: NFL odds
NBA Betting in South Carolina
Though the state is more than 2,000 miles away from the Southern California coast, according to research by Data Pandas, the most popular NBA team in South Carolina is the Los Angeles Lakers. Once SC sportsbooks have NBA odds, you can expect plenty of options for hoops wagering.
View: NBA odds
MLB Betting in South Carolina
You’ll want to select “MLB Odds” from the menu in your sports betting app to place a wager on professional baseball. South Carolina does not have its own MLB team.
View: MLB odds
NHL Betting in South Carolina
The nearest NHL team to South Carolina is the Carolina Hurricanes, who play in Raleigh, North Carolina.
View: NHL odds
College Sports Betting in South Carolina
The South Carolina Gamecocks and Clemson Tigers are the most popular college athletic programs in the state. Clemson competes in the ACC, and South Carolina is in the SEC. Clemson won football National Championships in 1981, 2016, and 2018.
View: College football odds
Other Sporting Events in South Carolina
The famous Darlington Raceway hosts a NASCAR event every year. NASCAR is immensely popular in the state and would be a welcome event for sports bettors in South Carolina.
Types of Bets To Expect at SC Sportsbooks
Those familiar with sports betting terminology will recognize the betting terms below. For those of you in SC unfamiliar, let’s break down the basics.
Moneyline
Make a wager on the strict outcome of a game or match. The moneyline is expressed as +100 or +200 and so on, for an underdog. It could look like -150 or -200 for a favorite, for example. These odds are based on $100 wagers, but payouts will adjust proportionally to your bet size.
Totals or Over/Under
These totals odds are for bets on the combined scoring in a game, contest, or match. For example, you can bet on the points in a basketball game (for both teams combined), or goals in a soccer game, and so on. Odds are expressed for the Over (-115 for example) and the Under.
Point Spread
A point spread helps level the expected betting activity on a sporting event. The oddsmakers make a heavy favorite “give away” points to make the action more enticing to bettors. For example, the Panthers may be -7 against the Falcons. This means if you think the Falcons can stay within seven points or win the game outright, your bet on Atlanta will win.
Futures
Once SC sports betting apps are available, you can place wagers on team futures like “Clemson to win the College Football Playoff” or “Hornets to win the NBA Championship.” You’ll also be allowed to wager on future award winners in most cases.
Props
Proposition bets are, in many ways, the lifeblood of sportsbooks. Wager on events within a game, for example, “Whether Player A Gets 1+ Hits in a Game.” That’s a player prop, but you can also wager on game events, like “First Team to Score.” The number of prop markets available is a strong reason to choose a sports betting app.
Parlays
A parlay is 2+ bets bundled together. You will need to win each of the bets (legs) to get your payout.
Sports Betting Apps That Could Launch in South Carolina
Bet365
The Bet365 app is renowned for its wealth of sporting events. Find European, Chinese, and Greek professional sports leagues, for example.
- Top features: Many odds markets
- Live streaming? Yes
- Access: iOS and Android
- Ratings: Apple 4.8; Google 4.6
BetMGM
One of the most trusted names in gaming, BetMGM is a great place to learn your way around sports betting in South Carolina.
- Top features: Regular parlay specials and odds boosts
- Live streaming? Yes
- Access: iOS and Android
- Ratings: Apple 4.8; Google 4.5
BetRivers
We enjoy BetRivers due to its easy funding and withdrawal options. You won’t be disappointed when using this app in SC.
- Top features: Fantastic customer support
- Live streaming? Yes
- Access: iOS and Android
- Ratings: Apple 4.4; Google 3.7
Caesars
Looking for the best rewards program in online betting? Caesars has it. Earn points for all your activities and redeem them for experiences, stays at casino resorts, and much more.
- Top features: The loyalty program
- Live streaming? Yes
- Access: iOS and Android
- Ratings: Apple 4.6; Google 4.3
DraftKings
Typically, DraftKings Sportsbook has some of the best odds in the industry. That means your investment will go further.
- Top features: Excellent odds on many sporting events
- Live streaming? Yes
- Access: iOS and Android
- Ratings: Apple 4.7; Google 4.7
FanDuel
One of our top choices for sports betting apps in South Carolina, FanDuel is an excellent option for live in-app highlights and live betting.
- Top features: No. 1 choice for live betting
- Live streaming? Yes
- Access: iOS and Android
- Ratings: Apple 4.9; Google 4.5
What To Look for in SC Sports Betting Apps
Our lists on the Gaming Today sportsbook rating page are valuable resources for sports bettors seeking to evaluate apps. Here are the key factors we consider:
- Welcome offers/bonuses
- Odds markets
- Navigation and interface
- Competitive odds
- Security
- Deposit and withdrawal methods
SC Sports Betting Future
The good news about SC sports betting is that at least one bill that mentions the topic has been introduced in the state every year since 2020. The bad news is that leaders in the legislative branches have blocked those bills from advancing.
The future is murky for South Carolina sports betting. However, the fact that North Carolina launched sports betting apps in 2024 gives hope that its southern neighbor will follow suit … eventually.
How SC Sports Betting Compares To Other Markets
South Carolina is one of a handful of Southern states that has yet to debut sports betting. This block of states, which includes neighboring Georgia, Alabama, and (in a sense) Florida, generally have conservative leadership in their state governments. Politicians in those states fear that legal sports betting may lead to more instances of gambling addiction.
A recent sports betting bill that originated in the South Carolina House suggested a tax rate of 10% and a legal betting age of 18. Those figures are not in line with those of other states in the region. Most states require sports bettors to be 21+ years old and set a tax rate closer to 15-25%.
Many states have legal sports betting apps and are operating markets with odds on sports.
Pros and Cons of the South Carolina Sports Betting Industry
South Carolina has not made much progress toward legal sports betting. Change must be driven by legislative proponents.
South Carolina Sports Betting Successes So Far
Not many. Each time a bill has been submitted for consideration, it has failed. In some other states, we’ve seen advancement of the debate, such as arguments over how to spend tax revenue. That usually signals a willingness to pass the bill. South Carolina has yet to get there.
How South Carolina Sports Betting Can Do Better
Those in the state who support sports betting should coalesce into an interest group to advance its legalization. Public pressure may be the only thing that spurs leaders in the state legislature to abandon their staunch opposition.
South Carolina Sports Betting Revenue Projections
South Carolina saw a bill proposed in 2023 that would have set the tax rate on adjusted gross revenue of sports betting operators at 10%. That figure is well below the standard set by many recent states, which generally ranges from 15% to 20%.
If South Carolina were to set the tax rate at 10%, the tax bill paid by FanDuel, DraftKings, and other sportsbooks would be smaller than in comparable states. It’s impossible to know what the state’s monthly or annual revenue would be until a bill is passed into law.
Our sports betting revenue page has a list of operator revenue and tax revenue for each state with legal sportsbook apps and sports betting sites.
South Carolina Responsible Gaming
Each state that legalizes online or retail sports betting has an obligation to create a Responsible Gaming (RG) program. Any activity licensed and taxed by the state is also typically something the government should regulate for the protection of the public. When SC launches sports betting, you can expect the regulatory agency to set up an RG initiative.
More Resources
- The 1-800-GAMBLER hotline is available for anyone in the state.
- Gamblers Anonymous
Browse our Responsible Gaming page to find resources for you or someone you fear may have a gambling addiction.
South Carolina Sports Betting FAQ
No, there are currently no sportsbooks in the state. DFS and social sportsbooks are available.
No, the sports betting app is not yet available.
Once sportsbooks become legal, the location requirement to bet is simply being within state lines. Residency will not be a requirement.
The bills proposed in South Carolina would require customers to be at least 21 years old to place bets on sports. We do not know what the state will require when it legalizes online sportsbooks.
No sportsbook apps are available in South Carolina because the state has yet to pass legislation allowing such gaming activity. We expect the major operators, such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars, to become available when the state approves sports betting.
The state has not yet legalized sportsbooks and wagering. When it does, expect to be able to place wagers on professional sports such as NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL as well as golf, tennis, the Olympics, and college sports competitions.
So far, every bill that would have legalized sports betting in South Carolina included language permitting wagers on college sports.
Offshore, unregulated sportsbooks are illegal. That makes it dangerous to do business with them. Consumers should never register and wager with an offshore sports betting app or website.
Sports betting, online casinos, and online poker are all currently illegal in South Carolina.
Recent South Carolina Sports Betting News
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