Sports Betting Laws in South Carolina (2025)

Quick Answer: Is Sports Betting Legal in South Carolina?

No. Sports betting is illegal in South Carolina in all formats: retail sportsbooks, online platforms, and mobile apps. There are no licensed operators, no regulated market, and no legal gray area.

The prohibition is both statutory and constitutional. S.C. Code Ann. § 16-19-10 broadly criminalizes gambling. S.C. Constitution, Article XVII, Section 7 bans lotteries and most forms of gambling at the constitutional level. This two-tiered structure distinguishes South Carolina from most states that have legalized sports betting since the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling.

Offshore and unregulated sites are not a legal alternative. Using one while physically in South Carolina carries potential liability under S.C. Code Ann. § 16-19-10 and related statutes. Geolocation technology also blocks licensed out-of-state apps when users are within SC borders.

Multiple bills are pending in the 2025-2026 legislative session, including interactive sports wagering proposals in both chambers and a parallel constitutional amendment track. As of June 2025, none have passed.

South Carolina Gambling Statutes: What the Law Actually Says

South Carolina's anti-gambling framework resides in Title 16, Chapter 19 of the state code. These are criminal statutes.

S.C. Code Ann. § 16-19-10 is the foundational prohibition. It makes it unlawful to play any game with cards, dice, or "any other device" for money or other valuable things. This statute is generally understood to cover wagering on sporting events.

S.C. Code Ann. § 16-19-20 extends the prohibition to betting on horse races, cock-fighting, and other contests, directly relevant to sports wagering analysis.

S.C. Code Ann. § 16-19-40 targets the operational side: keeping a "gaming table" or gambling house is a separate criminal offense. This provision would generally apply to those operating a sportsbook or gambling platform serving SC residents.

S.C. Code Ann. § 16-19-50 sets out the penalty structure. Consult the SC Legislature's official code at scstatehouse.gov for current penalty tiers, as fines and sentencing ranges are subject to revision. Generally, participation-level offenses carry misdemeanor exposure, while operating a gambling enterprise carries significantly higher penalties.

The Constitutional Barrier

S.C. Constitution, Article XVII, Section 7 prohibits lotteries and most gambling directly in the state's foundational document. South Carolina is one of few states where this constitutional prohibition means the legislature cannot simply pass a sports betting bill and have it take effect. Any statute authorizing sports wagering would likely face constitutional challenge.

The practical consequence: legalization likely requires a voter-approved constitutional amendment before any sports betting law can stand. This process requires the General Assembly to pass a joint resolution by a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Then, the question goes to SC voters at a general election. This is a longer and more uncertain path than a simple legislative vote.

South Carolina also has no federally recognized tribes with gaming compacts that could provide an alternative pathway through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, unlike some other states where tribal gaming created a separate legalization track.

What Changed Recently: 2025-2026 Legislative Push

The current session features multiple gambling-related bills, a notable increase from prior sessions.

S 444 (2025-2026) — Interactive Sports Wagering (Senate)

S 444 is the Senate's primary sports betting vehicle. It has been referred to the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry (openstates.org/sc/bills/2025-2026/S444/). The bill proposes an interactive (online/mobile) wagering framework. Specific provisions on tax rates, license counts, and eligible operators are not confirmed in the available source material for this page. Consult the SC Legislature's bill text at scstatehouse.gov for those details.

H 3625 (2025-2026) — Interactive Sports Wagering (House)

H 3625 is the House companion to S 444. Its most recent action was the addition of Representative Rose as a sponsor (openstates.org/sc/bills/2025-2026/H3625/). Sponsor additions signal growing support, even if the bill has not moved to a floor vote. Like S 444, it targets an interactive wagering model.

H 4176 (2025-2026) — Gaming Commission

H 4176 would establish the regulatory infrastructure: a South Carolina Gaming Commission with authority to license and oversee wagering operations. It was recommitted to the Committee on Ways and Means (openstates.org/sc/bills/2025-2026/H4176/). Recommittal means the bill needs further work before it can advance. The specific structure, staffing, and authority of the proposed commission are not confirmed in the available source material. Consult the bill text directly.

H 3353 (2025-2026) — Constitutional Amendment on Gambling and Gaming

This is the most structurally important bill in the current session. H 3353 is a resolution to amend the SC Constitution on gambling and gaming. It has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary (openstates.org/sc/bills/2025-2026/H3353/). Legislators pursuing a constitutional amendment track in parallel with statutory bills (S 444, H 3625) suggests they are not confident a statute alone would survive legal challenge.

S 344 (2025-2026) — SC Equine Advancement Act

S 344 addresses horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering. Its most recent action was a scrivener's error correction (openstates.org/sc/bills/2025-2026/S344/). This action suggests the bill has progressed further than many past gambling-related proposals in SC. Whether it includes full pari-mutuel wagering authorization or a narrower horse-racing promotion framework is not confirmed in the available source material. It is a related gambling-expansion signal.

The Pattern

Legislators are pursuing two tracks simultaneously: a statutory track (S 444, H 3625, H 4176) and a constitutional amendment track (H 3353). This dual approach suggests uncertainty regarding which path is viable, making the process more complex and slower than a single-bill push.

Last verified: June 2025. Check scstatehouse.gov for current bill status.

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