Is sports betting legal in South Carolina?

No. No statute authorises it, and Section 16-19-130 makes bookmaking, pool selling and recording or forwarding bets a misdemeanour. H. 3625 and S. 444, which would create a Sports Wagering Commission with up to eight operators taxed at 12.5%, never left committee in the 2025 to 2026 session.

Can I buy South Carolina lottery tickets online?

No. The Education Lottery Act allows sales only by certified retailers at their contracted locations and for cash only, with credit and debit cards banned (59-150-70(D)(2), 59-150-210). Players must be 18.

Are there casinos in South Carolina?

No. Article XVII, Section 7 allows only the state lottery, charitable bingo and nonprofit raffles, card and dice games are prohibited by 16-19-40 and 16-19-50, and gaming machines by 12-21-2710. Counties and municipalities may allow casino boats that gamble outside state waters. H. 4176 would license one casino in an I-95 county but was recommitted in January 2026.

Are video poker and slot machines legal?

No. Section 12-21-2710 bans slot machines, video game machines and any device for the play of poker, blackjack, keno, lotto, bingo or craps, with fines up to $500 or up to a year in prison, and such machines must be seized and destroyed. Licensing of video gaming machines ended on 30 June 2000.

Who regulates gambling in South Carolina?

There is no gambling regulator. The Lottery Commission runs the lottery, the Department of Revenue licenses bingo, the Secretary of State registers raffles, counties and municipalities control gambling cruises, and the Attorney General and local prosecutors enforce the criminal law.

How much does the lottery raise?

In the year to 30 June 2025 the Lottery Commission took $2.30 billion in game revenue, paid $1.53 billion in prizes and $162.0 million in retailer commissions and incentives, and transferred $550.4 million to the Education Lottery Account, according to its audited statements.

Sub-national

North America

South Carolina (USA): gambling regulation and licensing

Part of United States

Online sports bettingProhibited
Online casinoProhibited
Online pokerProhibited
Online bingoProhibited
iLotteryProhibited
Horse race bettingProhibited
Daily fantasy sportsNot yet verified
Prediction marketsNot yet verified
Social casinoNot yet verified
Land-based (reference)Prohibited

Regulator: South Carolina Lottery Commission
Headline tax: Not yet verified
Licence required: Yes
Last verified: 23 Sept 2026

Summary

South Carolina has no legal online sports betting, online casino, online poker or online lottery, and no casinos or racetracks. Article XVII, Section 7 of the Constitution reserves lotteries to the State and carves out only charitable bingo and, since 2015, nonprofit raffles. The criminal code makes bookmaking and pool selling a misdemeanour (Section 16-19-130) and punishes playing card, dice and table games in gaming houses (16-19-40), and Section 12-21-2710 has banned video gaming machines since 1 July 2000. There is no gambling regulator. The South Carolina Lottery Commission, created by the Education Lottery Act of 2001, runs a retail-only lottery: tickets must be bought for cash from contracted retailers, debit and credit cards are banned, and players must be 18. In the year to 30 June 2025 it took $2.30 billion in game revenue, paid $1.53 billion in prizes and transferred $550.4 million to the Education Lottery Account. The Department of Revenue licenses nonprofit bingo and collected $6.3 million in bingo tax that year, the Secretary of State registers charity raffles, and counties and municipalities decide whether gambling cruises may sail from their ports. The 2025 to 2026 session produced more activity than recent ones without changing the law. H. 4176, a bill for a single casino in an I-95 county taxed at 15% of gross gaming revenue, was reported by House Ways and Means and debated before being recommitted in January 2026. S. 344, a horse racing bill, cleared Senate Finance in March 2026. H. 4129, a skill contest exemption, passed the House 99 to 9. The H. 3625 and S. 444 sports wagering bills never left committee.

Common pitfalls

Reading the $2.30 billion as gambling revenue: it is lottery game revenue, of which $1.53 billion went back in prizes. The $765.6 million shown as land-based GGR is FY2025 game revenue less prize expense from the audited statements, all from retail lottery sales. Assuming online lottery exists because other state lotteries sell online: South Carolina law requires cash sales through retailers. Treating the casino boats as a licensed casino market: they sail under county or municipal control and gamble only outside state waters. Assuming a bill that passed one chamber, such as H. 4129, is law.

Key facts

Regulator: South Carolina Lottery Commission (SCEL)
Regulator type: Lottery monopoly
Headline tax: Not yet verified
Licence required: Yes
Minimum age: 18+
Tax base: No gambling operator tax exists because no commercial gambling is licensed. The State takes lottery revenue as net proceeds: revenue pays operating expenses and prizes, at least 45% of sales going to prizes as nearly as practical, and the remainder is credited to the Education Lottery Account (Art. XVII, Sec. 7; 59-150-350). Bingo is charged per card at 10 cents per dollar of face value for Class AA, B, D and E licences, 5 cents for Class F and 4 cents for Class C (12-21-4190). Gambling cruises may be charged local surcharges of up to 10% of each ticket and 5% of gross proceeds, meaning the total wagered (3-11-400(C)).

Legal framework

Primary statutes

Constitution of South Carolina, Article XVII, Sections 7 and 8
Year
1895
In force
Yes
Summary
Only the State may conduct lotteries, in the manner the General Assembly provides by law; revenue pays expenses and prizes first and the rest goes to the Education Lottery Account. Bingo run by tax-exempt charitable, religious or fraternal organisations or at recognised state and county fairs, and raffles by nonprofits under a general law, are not prohibited lotteries. Section 8 makes gambling by any office holder unlawful and vacates the office on conviction. An amendment needs two-thirds of the members of each house, a majority at the next general election and ratification by the next General Assembly (Art. XVI, Sec. 1).
S.C. Code Title 16, Chapter 19, Gambling and Lotteries
Year
1962
In force
Yes
Summary
The criminal gambling code, with provisions tracing to 1762, 1802 and 1912. Setting up a lottery or publishing a scheme for one (16-19-10), adventuring in one (16-19-20) and selling lottery tickets (16-19-30) are offences; 16-19-40 and 16-19-50 prohibit playing at or keeping card and dice games and gaming tables; 16-19-90 prohibits betting on elections; 16-19-130 prohibits betting at race tracks, pool selling and bookmaking on any contest, election or contingent event; stakes are forfeited (16-19-80) and seized devices destroyed (16-19-120). Social card and tile games in private settings without betting are exempt (16-19-60, added 2014). Since 2022 the 16-19-50 ban does not apply to gaming device manufacturers registered with the US Department of Justice that make devices for out-of-state use.
S.C. Code Sections 12-21-2710 and 12-21-2712, prohibited machines and devices
Year
1986
In force
Yes
Summary
Bans keeping or operating any slot machine, video game machine with a free play feature, device for the play of poker, blackjack, keno, lotto, bingo or craps, punch board or other device pertaining to games of chance: misdemeanour, fine up to $500, up to one year, or both. Law enforcement must seize such machines and a magistrate must order them destroyed. The 1999 Act No. 125 ended video gaming machine licensing after 30 June 2000.
S.C. Code Title 59, Chapter 150, South Carolina Education Lottery Act
Year
2001
In force
Yes
Summary
Creates the Lottery Commission to run instant, on-line and draw games through a statewide network of contracted retailers paid at least 7% commission (59-150-150), excluding keno, pari-mutuel betting, casino gambling, video poker and games based on sports events (59-150-20(7), 59-150-70(D)(1)). Sales are for cash only (59-150-70(D)(2)), not to under-18s (59-150-210(D)), not on election days or college campuses (59-150-210(E), (F)). As nearly as practical at least 45% of sales go to prizes (59-150-350). Prizes are subject to state income tax (59-150-230(A)). Advertising spending is capped at 1% of the previous year's gross sales (59-150-60(18)).
S.C. Code Title 12, Chapter 21, Article 24, Bingo Tax Act
Year
1996
In force
Yes
Summary
Licensing of nonprofit bingo by the Department of Revenue in classes AA, B, C, D, E and F with prize and session limits, licensed promoters, a per-card charge of 4 to 10 cents per dollar of face value, quarterly reports and administrative penalties of up to $5,000 per violation (12-21-4020, 12-21-4100, 12-21-4140, 12-21-4190).
S.C. Code Title 33, Chapter 57, Nonprofit Raffles for Charitable Purposes
Year
2013
In force
Yes
Summary
2013 Act No. 11, in force from 4 April 2015 after the 2014 constitutional referendum. Qualifying nonprofits register annually with the Secretary of State for a $50 fee and may run up to four raffles a year, each lasting no more than nine months, with at least 90% of net receipts (except for 50-50 raffles) used for the charitable purpose; small raffles of up to $950 are exempt from registration. Unregistered raffles are illegal lotteries (33-57-170).
S.C. Code Title 3, Chapter 11, Gambling Cruise Act
Year
2005
In force
Yes
Summary
2005 Act No. 104, in force 1 June 2005, delegates to counties and municipalities the State's Johnson Act authority to regulate or prohibit gambling vessels that embark passengers locally and gamble outside territorial waters, with civil penalties of up to $100 per passenger and $50,000 per vessel a day. Where a vessel may operate, the local authority may charge surcharges of up to 10% of each ticket and 5% of gross proceeds. Nothing in the chapter permits gambling within state waters (3-11-400(B)(3)).

Secondary instruments

Opinion of the Attorney General on casino nights (27 February 2019)
Year
2019
In force
Yes
Summary
Affirms earlier opinions that casino nights with live roulette, blackjack, poker or other card games are illegal even when run for charity, and that the 2015 raffle amendment and 33-57-100(C)(2) did not change that.

Key amendments

1 Jul 20001999 Act No. 125 took effect, ending the licensing of video gaming machines and extending the 12-21-2710, 16-19-40 and 16-19-50 bans to them.
20012001 Act No. 19 amended Article XVII, Section 7 to allow a state lottery, and 2001 Act No. 59 enacted the Education Lottery Act.
2 Jun 20142014 Act No. 194 added 16-19-60, exempting private social games of tiles, cards and dice played without betting.
5 Mar 20152015 Act No. 3 ratified the raffle amendment to Article XVII, Section 7 approved at the November 2014 general election; the raffle chapter took effect on 4 April 2015.
16 May 20222022 Act No. 190 exempted registered gaming device manufacturers making equipment for out-of-state jurisdictions from the 12-21-2710 and 16-19-50 bans.

Pending legislation

H. 4176 (2025-2026): I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act (one casino)
Stage
Reported favourably with amendment by House Ways and Means on 30 April 2025, debated in May 2025 and January 2026, and recommitted to Ways and Means on 28 January 2026. No further action recorded as of 23 September 2026.
What it changes
Would create a South Carolina Gaming Commission able to license one casino, offering Class III games to players aged 21 or over, in a Tier IV county on I-95 whose council requests it, with a $500,000 application fee, a $2 million licence fee, a 15-year initial licence, no further licence for ten years, an economic impact study assuming at least $200 million of site investment and a 15% privilege tax on adjusted gross gaming revenue.
S. 344 (2025-2026): South Carolina Equine Advancement Act
Stage
Reported favourably with amendment by Senate Finance on 18 March 2026; not taken up on the Senate floor as of 23 September 2026.
What it changes
Would create a South Carolina Equine Commission to license pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing, including advance deposit account wagering by bettors physically present at the race meeting, with a monthly licence fee of 1% of in-state advance deposit wagers paid to the Commission and an additional annual fee of 5% of those wagers paid to an Equine Industry Development Fund, and would exclude historical horse racing, slot machines and video games of chance from the Commission's authority.
H. 3625 and S. 444 (2025-2026): South Carolina Sports Wagering Act
Stage
H. 3625 in House Ways and Means since 14 January 2025; S. 444 in Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry since 12 March 2025. No committee report on either as of 23 September 2026.
What it changes
Would add Chapter 55 to Title 39 to legalise interactive sports wagering under a new South Carolina Sports Wagering Commission, with up to eight licensed operators, a $100,000 application fee and $1 million licence fee, a 12.5% privilege tax on adjusted gross sports wagering receipts, a minimum age of 18 and a new 16-19-135 exempting bettors and fantasy contest players from 16-19-130.
H. 3353 (2025-2026): constitutional amendment on gambling and gaming
Stage
In House Judiciary since 14 January 2025, with no committee action as of 23 September 2026. It needs two-thirds of each house, a general-election vote and ratification.
What it changes
Would add Section 16 to Article XVII letting the General Assembly authorise pari-mutuel horse racing, betting on professional sports and casino games in specified areas, with revenue for roads and bridges, and would delete Section 8 on officers gambling.
H. 4129 and S. 362 (2025-2026): skill contest exemption
Stage
H. 4129 was approved 99 to 9 on second reading in the House on 7 May 2025, read a third time and sent to the Senate on 8 May 2025 and referred to Senate Judiciary the same day, where it and its companion S. 362 remained as of 23 September 2026.
What it changes
Would add 16-19-5 providing that paying a fee to enter a game or event in which skill predominates, such as golf, NASCAR, fishing or tennis events, turkey shoots or non-card skill games, and winning a prize in proportion to skill, is not gambling, while card-based games remain illegal.
H. 5057 (2025-2026): lottery ticket vending machines
Stage
Reported favourably by House Ways and Means on 2 April 2026, debate adjourned three times, recommitted on 13 May 2026.
What it changes
Would add 59-150-420 allowing self-service lottery vending kiosks at retailers with identity verification before purchase; the fiscal note records SCEL's plan for about 500 machines at roughly $20,000 each.
S. 169 and S. 80 (2025-2026): lottery payment methods and couriers
Stage
S. 169 reported favourably with amendment by Senate Education on 12 February 2025; S. 80 in Senate Education since 14 January 2025. No floor action as of 23 September 2026.
What it changes
S. 80 would allow payment by debit card. S. 169, as reported, would keep sales cash only, require all lottery sales to be made in person at licensed retailers or approved locations and prohibit lottery courier services.
H. 4137 (2025-2026): American Heroes Bingo
Stage
Passed the House 101 to 0 in May 2025 and referred to Senate Finance on 6 May 2025.
What it changes
Would add a Class G bingo licence for veterans' organisations, with related entrance fee and card charge rules.
H. 3274 (2025-2026): Lottery Commission games of skill machines
Stage
In House Judiciary since 14 January 2025, with no committee action as of 23 September 2026.
What it changes
Would let the Lottery Commission own, market and regulate cash-activated games of skill machines for players aged 18 or over at approved establishments.

Licensing

Licence required: Yes
Application window: Not yet verified
Local establishment required: Not yet verified
Local server required: Not yet verified
Bank guarantee or bond: The Commission may require a lottery retailer to post a bond of up to the district sales average for two billing periods (59-150-170(C)).
Barriers to entry: There is nothing for a sportsbook, casino, poker or online operator to apply for. The Constitution reserves lotteries to the State, the criminal code and 12-21-2710 cover every other form of betting and gaming, and the only commercial routes are supplying the Lottery Commission under a procurement contract, selling lottery tickets as a retailer, acting as a licensed bingo promoter or supplier, or running a gambling cruise where the port county or municipality allows it. Sports wagering would need H. 3625 or a successor, and casinos H. 4176 or a constitutional amendment such as H. 3353.

Licence types

Lottery retailer contract and licence (South Carolina Lottery Commission)
Scope
Sale of lottery tickets at contracted outlets. Applicants must be tax compliant, aged 21 or over, free of disqualifying convictions, and may not earn more than 60% of gross revenue from lottery sales; each undergoes a state and national criminal background check (59-150-150, 59-150-165).
Term
Contracts renewable annually at the Commission's discretion (59-150-150(B)(5))
Fee basis
Uniform application fee per outlet set by the Commission; one-time fidelity fund fee of no more than $100 per sales location (59-150-170(A)). Retailers receive at least 7% commission on sales.
Nonprofit bingo licences, classes AA to F (Department of Revenue)
Scope
Nonprofit organisations registered in South Carolina for at least three years, with prize and session limits by class: AA (prizes of $50,000 to $250,000 a session, one session a month), B (up to $8,000 a session, five sessions a week), C ($20 a game with six $150 jackpot games), D (fairs), E and F (volunteer run, gross proceeds up to $40,000 a quarter). A separate special licence is available only to the Catawba Indian Nation.
Fee basis
Class AA $4,000; Class B $1,000; Class C no fee; Class D $100 for up to 10 days or $200 for longer; Class E $500; Class F $100; Catawba special licence $4,000 (12-21-4020; Department of Revenue).
Bingo promoter licence (Department of Revenue)
Scope
Required for the promoter that Class AA and Class B licensees must designate to run their games.
Term
Annual
Annual fee
$1,000 as of 30 Jun 2025
Fee basis
$1,000 a year according to the Department of Revenue's 2024-2025 annual report.
Raffle registration (Secretary of State)
Scope
Qualifying 501(c) nonprofits registered under the charitable solicitation law; covers all raffles in the organisation's fiscal year, up to four a year.
Term
Fiscal year; expires on the 15th day of the fifth month after its end
Annual fee
$50 as of 23 Sept 2026
Fee basis
$50 annual raffle form (33-57-120(C)); raffles with prizes or proceeds of up to $950 are exempt.

Taxation

Headline GGR tax: Not yet verified
Effective date: Not yet verified
Player winnings tax: Lottery prizes are subject to South Carolina income tax; state income tax must be withheld from prizes over $500 and federal income tax from prizes over $5,000 (59-150-230(A)). Debts owed to state agencies may be set off against prizes (59-150-330).
Withholding mechanism: The Commission withholds state income tax at source on prizes above $500 and remits it to the Department of Revenue (transfers to the Department of prize income tax withholdings, use taxes, prize debt setoffs and retailer credit checks totalled $12.8 million in the year to 30 June 2025).
VAT treatment: Neither the State nor any county or municipality may tax the sale of a lottery ticket or the payment of a prize (59-150-230(A)).
Tax base: No gambling operator tax exists because no commercial gambling is licensed. The State takes lottery revenue as net proceeds: revenue pays operating expenses and prizes, at least 45% of sales going to prizes as nearly as practical, and the remainder is credited to the Education Lottery Account (Art. XVII, Sec. 7; 59-150-350). Bingo is charged per card at 10 cents per dollar of face value for Class AA, B, D and E licences, 5 cents for Class F and 4 cents for Class C (12-21-4190). Gambling cruises may be charged local surcharges of up to 10% of each ticket and 5% of gross proceeds, meaning the total wagered (3-11-400(C)).

Earmarked levies

Lottery net proceeds: All net proceeds, after prizes and operating expenses (Education Lottery Account at the State Treasurer, for educational purposes set by the General Assembly)
Unclaimed lottery prizes: Amount set by the General Assembly each year (Education Lottery Account, with portions for school buses and for problem gambling prevention and treatment through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (59-150-230(I)))
Bingo card charge: 4 to 10 cents per dollar of card face value (28% to the sponsoring charity (except Class F) and 72% distributed under 12-21-4200 to the general fund and named programmes)
Gambling cruise surcharges: Up to 10% of each ticket and up to 5% of gross proceeds (The county or municipality from which the vessel sails)

Compliance

Minimum age: 18+
National self-exclusion: Not yet verified
Session limits: Bingo sessions are capped by licence class: one a month for Class AA, five a week for Class B and one a week for Classes E and F (12-21-4020).
KYC requirements: Not yet verified
Stake limits: Bingo prizes are capped by class, from $20 a game for Class C to $250,000 a session for Class AA (12-21-4020), and at least 50% of card sales in a session must be returned as prizes.
Mandatory player messaging: Wherever lottery tickets are sold the retailer must post a conspicuous sign next to the point of sale warning of the dangers and risks of gambling and the odds of winning and losing, and the Commission must provide information on resources for people with gambling problems and disclose the odds of winning (59-150-60(18)).
Reporting obligations: The Lottery Commission reports quarterly and annually to the Governor and legislative leaders and is audited annually by an independent CPA under the State Auditor (59-150-320). Bingo licensees file sworn quarterly reports of gross and net proceeds, expenses, prizes and player numbers (12-21-4100). Gambling vessels report monthly to the Department of Revenue the average daily percentage of winnings to losses for each device (3-11-400(C)(3)(b)).
Game content restrictions: Lottery games may not be based on the outcome of a football, basketball, baseball or similar sports event, and exclude keno, video poker and machines banned by 12-21-2710, 16-19-40 and 16-19-50; lottery machines may not dispense coins or currency as prizes (59-150-20(7), 59-150-70(D)(1), 59-150-230(H)). Bingo devices may not pay out coins or currency and video poker is excluded (12-21-3935, 12-21-4009).

Minimum age by vertical

Land-based (reference): 18+

Advertising

Advertising permitted: Not yet verified
Sponsorship rules: Lottery games with corporate sponsorship are prohibited (59-150-210(E)).
Celebrity and influencer rules: Lottery advertising may not use the name or picture of an elected official; it may use interviews, pictures or statements of prize winners (59-150-60(18)).
Mandatory warnings: Lottery retailers must display a sign warning of the dangers and risks of gambling and the odds of winning and losing, adjacent to the point of sale (59-150-60(18)).
Penalties for breach: The lottery board must cause non-compliant advertising to cease (59-150-60(18)). Publishing a scheme for an unlawful lottery: misdemeanour, $1,000 fine and one year's imprisonment (16-19-10).

Restrictions

The Lottery Commission may advertise only in a dignified manner befitting the State and to the truth in advertising standards that govern private advertisers; its advertising spend may not exceed 1% of the previous year's gross sales (59-150-60(18)).
Lottery advertising must not target specific ethnic groups or economic classes with intent to exploit them, must be accurate and not misleading, must not exhort the public to bet by misrepresenting the chance of winning, and may not show the name or picture of an elected official or the state seal. The board reviews advertising at least quarterly and must stop any that conflicts with these rules (59-150-60(18)).
Merchants may not buy and give lottery tickets to promote goods or services without the Commission's written approval, and no lottery game may carry corporate sponsorship (59-150-210(B), (E)).
Writing, printing or publishing any scheme or proposal for an unlawful lottery is an offence under 16-19-10.
A nonprofit may not lend its name to anyone else operating or advertising a raffle (33-57-140(D)(1)).

Payments

Credit card ban: Yes
Crypto stance: Not yet verified
Permitted methods: Cash at contracted lottery retailers
Withdrawal timeframe rules: Draw game prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw and instant game prizes within 90 days after the game ends; regulations may let retailers pay prizes of up to $600 and a limited number of retailers up to $5,000 (59-150-230(C)(5), 59-150-70(D)(6)).
Currency restrictions: All lottery sales must be for cash only; payment by cheque, credit card, charge card, other deferred payment or debit card is prohibited (59-150-70(D)(2)). S. 80 (2025-2026, not passed) would have allowed debit cards.

Enforcement

ISP blocking: Not yet verified
DNS blocking: Not yet verified
Payment blocking: Not yet verified
App store takedowns: Not yet verified
Administrative penalties: Bingo: up to $5,000 per violation, each day a separate offence, and licence revocation (12-21-4140). Gambling cruises: county or municipal civil penalties of up to $100 per passenger and $50,000 per vessel in 24 hours, plus injunctions (3-11-210, 3-11-310). Lottery retailer contracts may be suspended, revoked or terminated for good cause (59-150-150(B)(4)).
Criminal penalties: Betting, pool selling or bookmaking (16-19-130): fine up to $1,000, up to six months, or both. Playing an unlawful game (16-19-40): up to 30 days or $100; keeping a gaming house: up to 12 months and up to $2,000 per offence. Keeping a gaming table (16-19-50): $200 to $500. Betting on an election (16-19-90): up to $500 and one month. Setting up a lottery (16-19-10): $1,000 fine and one year; selling lottery tickets (16-19-30): up to $10,000. Keeping or operating a prohibited machine (12-21-2710): up to $500, one year, or both. Selling lottery tickets to under-18s: $100 to $500 or 30 to 60 days (59-150-250); lottery conspiracy: felony, up to $25,000 or five years (59-150-400). Unregistered raffles: up to $1,000 or one year, felony on a second offence (33-57-170).
Operator liability: Keeping a place, recording bets, selling pools, forwarding bets or holding stakes is a 16-19-130 offence and a common nuisance (16-19-140); keeping a gaming house is punished under 16-19-40. Stakes are forfeited (16-19-80), and prohibited machines must be seized and destroyed on a magistrate's order (12-21-2712, 16-19-120). One third of a 16-19-10 fine goes to the informant.
Player liability: Playing at an unlawful game is an offence under 16-19-40, betting at a race track under 16-19-130(1) and betting on an election under 16-19-90. The statute does not expressly make placing a sports bet away from a race track an offence for the bettor. Adventuring in an unlawful lottery carries a $100 forfeit (16-19-20).

Notable actions

Christopher Hayne Witherspoon, Darlington County24 Apr 2018
Pleaded guilty to keeping a gaming house and unlawful possession of a gambling device after a 2017 raid found poker tables, football betting forms and six video poker machines; sentenced to the maximum, suspended on one year's probation and $750 in fines, with the machines destroyed and $2,016.83 forfeited. Prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office.
Fine: $750 as of 24 Apr 2018

Market data

Figures on this record are drawn from official regulator data.

Online GGR: Not yet verified
Reporting year: 2025

GGR by vertical

Land-based (reference): $765,600,000 as of 30 Jun 2025

Timeline

1 Jul 2000
Video gaming machine licensing ends and the machine ban in 12-21-2710 takes full effect under 1999 Act No. 125
2001
2001 Act No. 19 amends Article XVII, Section 7 to allow a state lottery; 2001 Act No. 59 enacts the Education Lottery Act
2002
The Lottery Commission begins operations
1 Jun 2005
Gambling Cruise Act (2005 Act No. 104) takes effect, delegating casino boat decisions to counties and municipalities
5 Mar 2015
2015 Act No. 3 ratifies the nonprofit raffle amendment approved at the November 2014 general election; the raffle chapter takes effect on 4 April 2015
24 Apr 2018
Darlington County man pleads guilty to keeping a gaming house with poker tables, sports betting forms and video poker machines
27 Feb 2019
Attorney General opinion confirms that charity casino nights remain illegal lotteries
16 May 2022
2022 Act No. 190 lets registered manufacturers make gaming devices for out-of-state markets
14 Jan 2025
H. 3625 (sports wagering) and H. 3353 (casino, racing and sports betting amendment) introduced and referred to committee
30 Apr 2025
House Ways and Means reports H. 4176, the I-95 casino bill, favourably with amendment
7 May 2025
House passes H. 4129, the skill contest exemption, 99 to 9 on second reading
4 Aug 2025
The Attorney General joins a multistate letter asking the US Department of Justice to act against illegal offshore gambling
18 Sept 2025
Audited FY2025 lottery results: game revenue $2.30 billion, down 3.6%; $550.4 million transferred to education
28 Jan 2026
H. 4176 recommitted to House Ways and Means after floor debate
18 Mar 2026
Senate Finance reports S. 344, the Equine Advancement Act, favourably with amendment
13 May 2026
H. 5057, lottery vending machines, recommitted to House Ways and Means

Outlook

None of the 2025 to 2026 gambling bills had been enacted by 23 September 2026. H. 4176, the I-95 casino bill, sits in House Ways and Means after its January 2026 recommittal; S. 344, the Equine Advancement Act, awaits the Senate floor; H. 4129 awaits Senate Judiciary; and the sports wagering bills H. 3625 and S. 444 have had no committee hearing. Bills in the 126th General Assembly that are not passed must be reintroduced in the next two-year session, and any casino or sports betting amendment on the H. 3353 model would need two-thirds of each house before going to voters at a general election. On the lottery side, watch H. 5057 on vending kiosks and S. 169 on payment methods and couriers, and the Commission's audited results for the year to 30 June 2026, due by 15 October 2026 under 59-150-320, after game revenue fell 3.6% in fiscal year 2025.

Frequently asked questions

Is sports betting legal in South Carolina?: No. No statute authorises it, and Section 16-19-130 makes bookmaking, pool selling and recording or forwarding bets a misdemeanour. H. 3625 and S. 444, which would create a Sports Wagering Commission with up to eight operators taxed at 12.5%, never left committee in the 2025 to 2026 session.
Can I buy South Carolina lottery tickets online?: No. The Education Lottery Act allows sales only by certified retailers at their contracted locations and for cash only, with credit and debit cards banned (59-150-70(D)(2), 59-150-210). Players must be 18.
Are there casinos in South Carolina?: No. Article XVII, Section 7 allows only the state lottery, charitable bingo and nonprofit raffles, card and dice games are prohibited by 16-19-40 and 16-19-50, and gaming machines by 12-21-2710. Counties and municipalities may allow casino boats that gamble outside state waters. H. 4176 would license one casino in an I-95 county but was recommitted in January 2026.
Are video poker and slot machines legal?: No. Section 12-21-2710 bans slot machines, video game machines and any device for the play of poker, blackjack, keno, lotto, bingo or craps, with fines up to $500 or up to a year in prison, and such machines must be seized and destroyed. Licensing of video gaming machines ended on 30 June 2000.
Who regulates gambling in South Carolina?: There is no gambling regulator. The Lottery Commission runs the lottery, the Department of Revenue licenses bingo, the Secretary of State registers raffles, counties and municipalities control gambling cruises, and the Attorney General and local prosecutors enforce the criminal law.
How much does the lottery raise?: In the year to 30 June 2025 the Lottery Commission took $2.30 billion in game revenue, paid $1.53 billion in prizes and $162.0 million in retailer commissions and incentives, and transferred $550.4 million to the Education Lottery Account, according to its audited statements.

Sources

Constitution of South Carolina 1895, Article XVII, Section 7 (Lotteries; bingo; raffles) and Section 8 (Officers gambling and betting)
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Constitution of South Carolina 1895, Article XVI, Section 1 (Amendments)
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
S.C. Code of Laws Title 16, Chapter 19, Gambling and Lotteries (Sections 16-19-10 to 16-19-160)
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
S.C. Code of Laws Title 59, Chapter 150, South Carolina Education Lottery Act (2001 Act No. 59)
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
S.C. Code of Laws Title 3, Chapter 11, Gambling Cruise Act (2005 Act No. 104)
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
S.C. Code of Laws Title 12, Chapter 21: Sections 12-21-2710 and 12-21-2712 (prohibited gaming machines and devices) and Article 24, Bingo Tax Act (Sections 12-21-3910 to 12-21-4260)
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
S.C. Code of Laws Title 33, Chapter 57, Nonprofit Raffles for Charitable Purposes
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
H. 3625, South Carolina Sports Wagering Act (126th Session, 2025-2026): status and text
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 12 Dec 2024
S. 444, South Carolina Sports Wagering Act (126th Session, 2025-2026): status and text
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 12 Mar 2025
H. 3353, Joint Resolution proposing amendments to Article XVII of the Constitution relating to gambling and gaming (126th Session, 2025-2026): status and text
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 5 Dec 2024
H. 4176, I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act (South Carolina Gaming Commission) (126th Session, 2025-2026): status, text and Ways and Means committee report of 30 April 2025
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 6 Mar 2025
S. 344, South Carolina Equine Advancement Act (126th Session, 2025-2026): status, text and Senate Finance committee report of 18 March 2026
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 13 Feb 2025
H. 4129, Gambling, exceptions (skill contests) (126th Session, 2025-2026): status and text as amended 7 May 2025
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 5 Mar 2025
S. 362, Gambling (skill contests) (126th Session, 2025-2026): status and text
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 19 Feb 2025
H. 4137, American Heroes Bingo (126th Session, 2025-2026): status and text
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 5 Mar 2025
H. 5057, Lottery Ticket Sales (lottery ticket vending machines) (126th Session, 2025-2026): status, text and fiscal impact statement
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 29 Jan 2026
S. 169, Debit Cards used for Lottery Purchase (126th Session, 2025-2026): status and text as reported by Senate Education
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 14 Jan 2025
S. 80, Debit Card Payment for Lottery Games (126th Session, 2025-2026): status and text
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 11 Dec 2024
H. 3274, Lottery Commission (games of skill machines) (126th Session, 2025-2026): status and text
South Carolina Legislature (South Carolina Legislature Online)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 5 Dec 2024
South Carolina Education Lottery Commission, Report on Financial Statements for the years ended 30 June 2025 and 2024 (audited by Mauldin & Jenkins for the Office of the State Auditor)
South Carolina Office of the State Auditor
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 18 Sept 2025
South Carolina Department of Revenue, 2024-2025 Annual Report (Bingo Tax and Coin-Operated Device Tax pages)
South Carolina Department of Revenue
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Bingo: licence classes, fees and requirements
South Carolina Department of Revenue
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Opinion of the Attorney General to Solicitor W. Walter Wilkins on the legality of casino nights (27 February 2019)
South Carolina Attorney General
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 27 Feb 2019
Darlington County man pleads guilty to running illegal gambling operation (press release, 25 April 2018)
South Carolina Attorney General
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 25 Apr 2018
Letter from State Attorneys General, including the South Carolina Attorney General, to the US Attorney General on illegal offshore gambling (4 August 2025)
South Carolina Attorney General
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 4 Aug 2025