A House bill that would legalize sports betting in South Carolina has not gained much traction this session, but a virtually identical bill emanating from the Senate has now made an appearance. The emergence of similar sports betting bills in both chambers reflects increasing legislative engagement with the issue, even if political headwinds still remain strong in this deeply conservative state.
Recent committee discussions and constituent feedback indicate that the appetite for regulated sports betting is steadily growing, making the issue harder for lawmakers to ignore with each passing year.
South Carolina has yet to legalize sports betting in any form, retail or mobile, but it is not as though legislative measures haven’t been taken.
Several attempts to bring sports betting to the South Carolina masses have failed, but hope springs eternal as House and Senate bills have been introduced in this session, demonstrating growing lawmaker interest in regulated wagering as a new source of state revenue. The state’s slow but visible progress reflects the larger national trend toward gaming liberalization, especially in the South.
Representative Chris Murphy filed House Bill 3625, also known as the “South Carolina Sports Wagering Act,” in December in preparation for this session, which began on January 14th of this year.
The bill taxes sportsbook revenues at 12.5% and calls for up to eight sports betting platforms, but five licensees currently active in at least five markets could apply for “immediate commencement of sports wagering operations through a temporary license.” Supporters believe this two-tiered approach will encourage established brands to enter the market sooner, providing quick consumer access and regulatory oversight.
Many predict that if passed, South Carolina could become a regional hub for regulated sports betting activity and see substantial new tax revenue streams begin to flow very quickly.
However, it has been mired in the abyss of the Ways and Means Committee since that time and has not gained traction. Murphy also introduced a bill that would allow casinos in the state; yet, that too has been stuck in legislative limbo, reflecting the broader gridlock in the South Carolina General Assembly when it comes to expanding gaming beyond the current lottery.
Until more lawmakers are willing to publicly back gaming expansion, these bills may continue to languish in committee despite mounting economic rationale for passage.
That inaction likely spurred Senator Tom Davis to sponsor Senate Bill 444, a bill strikingly similar to Murphy’s HB 3625. Davis’s bill would set the minimum age to wager on sports betting at 18 and allow the number of sportsbooks (8) in the state with temporary licenses issued to five that are active in five jurisdictions. As momentum grows, the introduction of a Senate companion bill could boost the issue’s profile and spark further committee review or amendments before session’s end.
Some lawmakers believe that with enough public support and pressure from stakeholders, the gridlock may finally break in the coming legislative cycles.
SB 444 also calls for:
SB 444 has been referred to the Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee for further discussion. While it remains to be seen whether this bill will advance, its arrival signals a coordinated legislative effort to overcome previous roadblocks and bring sports betting to South Carolina. Lawmakers are expected to see even more lobbying and public comment as the state’s next session approaches, showing that the conversation is far from over.
As with virtually all states without sports betting but having neighbors that have launched mobile sports wagering, South Carolinians are crossing state lines to make those bets. North Carolina was the most recent to launch mobile sports betting, and GeoComply reported the Palmetto State saw a 436.67% increase in accounts to 365,808 from last year.
These surges clearly indicate South Carolina residents’ ongoing demand for access to legal sports wagering platforms, regardless of state borders. Analysts point out that with every new mobile launch in a bordering state, this trend is only expected to intensify.
And during the most recent NFL season, the company reported 7.7 million checks from those accounts. These logins are from residents who cannot make a bet in their own state but have sports betting accounts in neighboring states, allowing them to check point spreads and odds but prohibiting wagers until they are within that adjacent state’s borders.
Whether it’s individual bettors or organized groups, the money flowing out of state continues to frustrate local lawmakers pushing for legal reform. The data further underscores how much potential tax revenue South Carolina is losing to neighboring markets with friendlier laws.
“The remarkable year-over-year increase in active accounts from South Carolina is directly linked to North Carolina’s launch of statewide mobile sports betting in 2024,” a GeoComply post read. “This data point alone provides clear evidence of how legalized sports betting in one state can influence consumer behavior in neighboring states.”
The tipping point could happen when Georgia ultimately approves mobile sports betting, which would see those residents in the southern part of South Carolina visit the Peach State to make their sports bets.
All of that money being spent outside of South Carolina may prove too much for opponents to overcome and pave the way for sports betting in this anti-gambling stronghold. The upcoming legislative session may be pivotal, as mounting external and fiscal pressures push South Carolina leaders to revisit their stance.
Should more neighboring states legalize sports wagering, it’s likely that inaction will become increasingly difficult to justify to voters.