The Legal Outlook for Sports Betting in South Carolina: 2025 Legislative Prospects and Regional Impact



As neighboring states like North Carolina and Tennessee advance their mobile sports betting laws, South Carolina continues to weigh its options.

Where Does South Carolina Stand on Sports Betting in 2025?

The 2025 legislative session has once again seen multiple bipartisan efforts to legalize regulated sports wagering, but deep-rooted opposition and political caution still prevail within the General Assembly.

Latest Legislative Developments in SC

This year, both the South Carolina House and Senate introduced similar bills aiming to legalize and regulate sports betting, highlighting a notable uptick in legislative engagement compared to prior sessions.

Representative Chris Murphy’s official South Carolina sports wagering House Bill 3625 and Senator Tom Davis’ Senate Bill 444 outline frameworks for a limited number of sportsbook operators, strict regulatory oversight, and a tax rate of 12.5% on revenues.

Major industry players would be eligible for temporary licenses aimed at quickly launching operations if legalized.

Despite incremental progress, both bills have stalled in committee—mirroring South Carolina’s historically cautious approach to gambling expansion. Previous attempts, including measures for retail casino legalization, have met with similar roadblocks amid conservative resistance.

Constituent & Industry Pressure Mounts

Committee discussions and recent feedback from constituents reveal growing support for creating a regulated market that keeps tax revenue in-state. The continued outflow of betting dollars to neighboring states, most notably since North Carolina’s mobile sports betting launch in 2024, has become an increasing concern for lawmakers.

According to analysts, account activity from South Carolina residents surged by over 400% following North Carolina’s launch, with more than 365,000 Palmetto State accounts detected crossing the border to place online bets.

Economic and Regional Implications for Regulated Sports Betting in CR

Every time a neighboring state opens its doors to sports betting, the financial and political arguments for South Carolina to act become stronger. GeoComply data makes clear that legislative inaction translates directly into lost tax revenue, broader consumer migration, and mounting frustration among South Carolinians who favor legal, regulated betting options.

The regional environment is also evolving: Should Georgia approve sports betting—currently under discussion—the pressure on South Carolina lawmakers to break the deadlock will be even greater, as border counties risk even more revenue flight.

What’s next?
The consensus among industry watchers is that future sessions are likely to bring renewed legislative attempts and more visible lobbying from stakeholders.

While 2025 may not yet be the breakthrough year, the steady increase in bills, public discussion, and tangible economic evidence suggest that legal sports betting is becoming less of a hypothetical and more of a question of “when” rather than “if.”

Key Legal SC Sports Betting Takeaways

• South Carolina remains one of the few Southern states without legal sports betting, despite surging interest and mounting fiscal pressure.
• Recent bills in the House and Senate indicate growing engagement but legislative gridlock persists.
• Neighboring states’ legal mobile betting continues to siphon potential revenue, intensifying calls for action.
• Future legalization efforts will likely hinge on both economic realities and continued regional developments, especially if more Southern neighbors legalize wagering.