South Carolina Sports Betting

South Carolina has always been a conservative state when it comes to gambling. There is no legal casino gaming or sports betting in the state, with only the state lottery and charitable raffles and bingo games permitted. Even then, the lottery only went live in 2000, and it took until 2015 for the state to allow raffles in schools and churches. 

However, attitudes in the state are slowly beginning to change. Since the Supreme Court ruled to overthrow PASPA (the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) in 2018, lawmakers in SC have made several attempts to legalize sports betting. From the gradual introduction of pari-mutuel wagering to launching full-blown retail and online sports betting platforms, senators and state representatives are trying every angle to get some form of sports betting live and legal in the Palmetto State. 

The most recent chance of launching legal sports betting died in July 2022, so South Carolina bettors will need to cross the border to wager on their favorite sports teams for the time being. Still, there’s hope that more progress could be made in 2023. Read this full guide written by our experts, covering everything you need to know about sports betting’s legal status in South Carolina.

South Carolina Legislation Timeline

• 2019: The House and the Senate join forces to introduce new legislation. HJR 3409 and SJR 57 aim to legalize all types of gambling (including sports wagering) through a constitutional amendment, while SJR 71 proposes a committee to investigate the impact of legal betting. The bills fail after one reading. 
• December 2020: Rep. Todd Rutherford pre-files HB 3395 to legalize sports betting via an amendment to the constitution. The bill does not specify whether it would allow retail or online sports betting and doesn’t make it beyond the House.
• February 2022: Former Congressman and candidate for Governor Joe Cunningham announces his support for the legalization of both retail and mobile sports wagering in South Carolina. 
• March 2022: Sen. Katrina Shealy and Rep. Russell Ott co-sponsor a bill to legalize pari-mutuel horse wagering. The Equine Gaming Advancement Act (B 1128) would permit advance deposit account wagering via a single online betting platform, with profits benefiting equestrian activities in the state.
• April 2022: Rep. William Herbkersman (sponsored by Rep. Todd Rutherford) proposes HB 5277 to legalize both online and retail sports betting. The bill would allow 8-12 online sportsbooks to operate in the state.
• July 2022: The last hope to see sports betting legalized in 2022 dies as HB 5277 fails to move forward.

Popular Sports to Bet on in SC

South Carolina has no major professional sports teams to call its own. However, its neighbor in the North has more than enough major league franchises for SC sports fans to support. The Tar Heel State’s NFL, NBA, MLB, and MLS teams represent both North and South Carolina, so bettors in the Palmetto State will have nearby teams to root for if sports betting becomes legal.

NFL Betting in SC

Bettors in South Carolina will no longer need to travel north to wager on the biggest sporting event in the US, and who better to back than the Carolina Panthers? Though based in North Carolina, the Panthers are one of two NFL teams with ties to more than one state. The Bank of America Stadium (where the Panthers play their home games) is built using truckloads of dirt from both North and South Carolina, meaning Palmetto State bettors can claim them as their own.

MLB Betting in SC

Much like the Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes represent both North and South Carolina in the MLB. In addition, the Atlanta Braves and the Nashville Predators are already proven to be very popular with South Carolina residents. 

NBA Betting in SC 

There is no NBA team based in South Carolina, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of nearby teams to root for. The Charlotte Hornets represent the Palmetto State in the NBA, and the Atlanta Hawks and the Memphis Grizzlies also have a big following in SC.

NCAA Betting in SC

College football games in South Carolina regularly draw in crowds of over 80,000, so there’s no doubt that the NCAA will prove to be a lucrative betting market. Plus, with the Gamecocks topping the 2022-23 NCAA women’s Power Ten, SC bettors will be quick to bet behind the state’s successful college basketball teams.

NHL Betting in SC

South Carolina bettors will have multiple options when it comes to hockey. Based in Raleigh, NC, the Carolina Hurricanes represent both North and South Carolina in the NHL. Alternatively, the NFL’s Washington Capitals are the official affiliates of SC’s minor league hockey team, the South Carolina Stingrays.

Sports Betting in Bordering States to South Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina legalized retail sports betting back in July 2019 but only opened the doors to its first retail sportsbooks in March 2021. The legislation permits sports betting in tribal casinos only, so NC bettors must visit one of the two Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos or the Catawba Two Kings Casino to place a legal wager. 

Lawmakers introduced SB 688 and SB 38 in 2022 with the hope of legalizing online sportsbooks, but both bids failed. At present, the only type of online gambling available to bettors in the Tar Heel State is daily fantasy sports contests. Still, you can wager on DFS at regulated sites like DraftKings and FanDuel.

Georgia

Georgia is even more cautious in its approach to gambling than North Carolina. Only bingo, fantasy sports, and the state lottery are currently permitted in the Peach State. Various bills have been proposed, though none have gained any traction. With no new legislation introduced in 2022, it’s unlikely that Georgia will open any retail or online sportsbooks in the near future.

Tennessee

Though not a bordering state, Tennessee is South Carolina’s nearest option for online sports betting. The Volunteer State is one of a select few in the US that offers online-only sports wagering. Bettors are free to wager on college and professional sports, though in-play prop bets on college games and prop bets on individual athletes aren’t allowed. 

South Carolina Sporting Events

The Palmetto Bowl

With no professional teams to support, South Carolina’s attention turns to college sports. The most popular college event is the annual Palmetto Bowl, which began back in 1896 and sees the University of South Carolina’s Gamecocks compete with Clemson University Tigers in the “Battle of the Palmetto State.” 

Before the pandemic, the Palmetto Bowl held the record for the longest continuous non-conference rivalry in the US. The Tigers have a strong 72-43 lead over the Gamecocks, though the underdogs took home the 2022 title after securing a 31-30 win in the final quarter. 

College betting is live and legal in North Carolina. If sports betting legislation passes in South Carolina, it’s likely that betting on college sports will also be allowed.   

Clemson Vs. South Carolina Basketball Series

The Clemson vs. South Carolina rivalry doesn’t stop at football. The two university basketball teams first faced off in 1913 and have played continuously since 1977. Unlike the football department, the South Carolina basketball team has a 92-80 lead over Clemson University. 

Both the Tigers and the Gamecocks represent their institution in the NCAA Division I, though they compete in different conferences (Tigers in the Atlantic Coast, Gamecocks in the Southeastern.) 

The Carolina Cup

Horse riding has been popular in South Carolina since the early 1700s, and the Carolina Cup is the biggest annual celebration of the sport. First held in 1930, the Carolina Cup is Camden’s annual steeplechase horse race.

The week-long event is held at the Springdale Race Course and features five individual races. Known as the “rite of spring”, the Carolina Cup regularly draws crowds of over 30,000 and holds the National Steeplechase Association attendance record (70,000+). If the proposed Equine Gaming Advancement Act is successful, bettors could be wagering on events like the Carolina Cup by late 2023.

NASCAR Southern 500

Held annually at Darlington Raceway since 1950, the Southern 500 is NASCAR’s first and oldest superspeedway race. The racetrack is known for its brutal and uncompromising conditions, including asymmetrical bends and rough terrain. 

Racers brave enough to tackle the raceway that’s “Too Tough to Tame” must complete 367 laps of the track, totaling 500 miles. The event is held on Labor Day and is widely considered to be one of the “crown jewels” in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The Southern 500 is one of South Carolina’s most popular annual sporting events - bettors from across the US wager thousands of dollars on the event yearly. When sports betting becomes legal in SC, Palmetto State bettors will be able to wager on NASCAR events like the Southern 500 and cash in on the races that are happening on their doorstep.