South Carolina Sports Betting 2024: When Will South Carolina Sportsbooks Launch?

Best South Carolina Sportsbooks Potentially Launching

South Carolina can expect to host several leading operators if and when the doors to legal online sports betting are opened. Some top brands are now established in numerous states, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars.

Many other companies run sportsbooks in several states and will almost certainly compete for an online betting South Carolina license. Look for names like Barstool, Fanatics, BetRivers, PointsBet, Bet365, Bally Bet, and WynnBET.  

Ranking the BEST South Carolina Sportsbook

Amid the fierce competition to attract customers who want to enjoy sports betting, South Carolina bettors will have some superb brands to visit. While choosing the best South Carolina sports betting operator will ultimately be personal, it will be worth checking out the BetMGM South Carolina sportsbook. In the many states where it is live, BetMGM offers a broad range of sports and markets, fantastic promos and bonuses, and an outstanding user experience on its website and app.

Most Trusted Sportsbook in South Carolina

FanDuel is a highly popular sportsbook app in America, renowned for its exceptional service in several states. Ranked the highest among all legal MA online sportsbooks and apps, it is a preferred option for many. 

FanDuel Sportsbook has been a familiar name among bettors for over a decade due to its fantasy sports offerings. Bettors can expect FanDuel South Carolina to be one of the best options on the market. 

Best NFL Betting App in South Carolina

Caesars Sportsbook is a well-known name among NFL fans who watch other teams on TV. With a welcome bonus valued at up to $1250, the Caesars Sportsbook South Carolina promo offers higher potential value than any other sportsbook. 

You may have seen commercials featuring the Mannings, Halle Berry, and JB Smoove, which means new sports bettors in South Carolina are likely to hear about this popular brand often once betting is available in the state. 

Recommended for New Bettors in South Carolina

This renowned sports betting company has a long history spanning over a decade. In many states where gambling is legal, they are regarded as one of the top online sportsbook in the industry, thanks to their impressive sports betting app and website.

DraftKings South Carolina will likely be very friendly towards new bettors, if and when sports mobile gambling is legalized in the state.

Hottest NEW South Carolina Sportsbook

Barstool Sportsbook has made a name for itself with its controversial media brand, Barstool Sports. Hailing from Massachusetts and led by the famous media personality Dave Portnoy, the company has set its sights on dominating the mobile and online sports betting market in the states where they are legal. As a result, they offer enticing bonuses, promotions, and giveaways on popular social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and their app. Additionally, they provide free bets, event tickets, and other exclusive promotions to their customers.

SC Sportsbook We LOVE This Week

Though not yet live in the United States, Fanatics' latest expansion into the sports market comes by way of their sportsbook and gambling app. Known for being the official merchandise supplier for many top leagues and brands, Fanatics is first setting their eyes on Massachusetts, and should follow up their launch their by expanding to Ohio and Pennsylvania.

What Sportsbooks are in South Carolina?

There are currently no legal sportsbooks in South Carolina. If the state’s lawmakers legalize sports betting in SC, that situation will change – possibly as soon as late 2023. There are several leading operators that you can expect to launch South Carolina sportsbooks, as well as several brands that are likely to vie for a license.

When Will South Carolina Sportsbooks Launch?

Until South Carolina sports betting is legalized, it is not possible to speculate on a launch date for sportsbooks. Even if online betting in SC is legalized in 2023, there will probably be several months before a regulatory framework is in place that will allow sports betting sites in South Carolina to commence operations.

Things are slightly farther forward in North Carolina, which has three legal retail sportsbooks and is debating another effort to open up online play. In Georgia, however, attempts to legalize online sports betting failed for the fourth year in early 2023.

How Many Sportsbooks are There in South Carolina?

There are no legal South Carolina sportsbooks yet, but hope springs eternal among supporters of online gambling that the law will change sooner rather than later. The most recent proposal, HB 5277, which failed to get past the committee stage in 2022, envisaged between eight and 12 online betting South Carolina licenses. Given that there are no land-based casinos in South Carolina, it is feasible that the state might host an online-only marketplace like the one in nearby Tennessee.

Sportsbooks Partnered with South Carolina Sports Teams

In states where sports betting has been legalized, it is common for sportsbook operators to become official betting partners of leading local teams.  Given the vast appetite for pro and college sports in the Palmetto State, it will be no surprise if such partnerships are forged here. However, sponsorships of this type are unlikely to be signed before legal sportsbooks in South Carolina become a reality.

Can You Sports Bet in South Carolina?

No, you cannot currently sports bet in South Carolina. We are waiting to see if renewed efforts will be made to achieve the legalization of betting in South Carolina. There were hopes in 2022 that a bill might be successful, but HB 5277, despite having bipartisan support, failed to make it past the committee stage.

How to Sports Bet in South Carolina

When it comes to sports betting, SC is a no-go area. There are no South Carolina sports betting sites – and you are not even allowed to wager here on horse racing, an activity that is so often an exception to the rule in states with no sports betting. It remains to be seen if legislation will be introduced in 2023 to change the law and allow South Carolina betting sites to operate.

Where Can I Bet on Sports in South Carolina?

There is currently no land-based location, or online platform where you can legally enjoy South Carolina sports betting. Not only does it not allow online betting, but South Carolina also has only one casino – on a ship that has to sail to international waters before gambling can begin. It is conceivable that if South Carolina online sports betting is legalized, there will be locations across the state that will be allowed to host retail sportsbooks.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in South Carolina?

No, online sports betting in South Carolina is not legal. Several state lawmakers are determined to change this, and bills have been launched in three of the last four years. But the most recent of those, HB 5277, failed to make it out of committee in 2022 despite having bipartisan support. We wait to see if further attempts will be made to legalize sports betting SC in 2023.     

How SC Sports Betting Compares to Legal States

It will be fascinating to see the size of the market in sports betting if South Carolina legalizes the activity any time soon. This state has no pro sports teams – although several are “shared” with North Carolina. But the absence of any big four franchises has not been a barrier to a flourishing market in other states.

In Oregon, for instance, which has just one online sports betting operator and four retail sportsbooks, the total handle for wagering in 2022 topped $500 million – an increase of more than $160m over 2021.

Timeline for South Carolina Sports Betting Legislation

• 📆 2023: State legislators have until May to push once again for the legalization of online sports betting SC.
• 📆 2022: HB 5277, which has bipartisan support and would legalize South Carolina sports betting sites, dies in committee.
• 📆 2021: HB 3395, which would legalize sports betting and casino gaming, dies in committee after a single reading.
• 📆 2019: Efforts by the state’s house and senate to legalize several forms of gambling fail to gain traction.
• 📆 2018: The Professional & Amateur Sports Protection Act is overturned by the Supreme Court.
• 📆 2008: The state legalizes casinos on cruise ships – which must sail to international waters before gambling can begin.
• 📆 2002: The South Carolina state lottery launches. It remains to this day one of the very few legal gambling options here.
• 📆 1962: Many of the current sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws are agreed upon and codified the state’s historical hostility to all gambling.

Who Regulates South Carolina Sports Gambling?

Without any legal South Carolina sportsbooks, there is currently no sports gambling regulator in the Palmetto State. If online sports betting SC is legalized in the near future, the South Carolina Education Lottery Commission is expected to assume the duties associated with regulating sports wagering. The state’s official lottery has been in operation since 2002.

What is the Legal Age to Bet in South Carolina?

It is widely expected that if SC sports betting sites receive the green light to operate, you will need to be at least 21 years old to enjoy their services. That is the minimum age for online sports betting and land-based casino play in virtually all states where such activities have been legalized. It’s also the age you need to be to visit South Carolina’s sole casino. The only type of gambling you can participate in at 18 is playing games with the official state lottery.

Do I Need to be a South Carolina Resident to Bet Online?

When you are able to wager with South Carolina sportsbooks, you will not need to be a state resident. However, you will need to be located within state lines – and SC sports betting sites will check your whereabouts using geolocation technology. Similarly, you will need to be aged at least 21 and will need to submit an ID during the process of registering for an account that includes your date of birth.

South Carolina Sports Betting Licenses

No licenses have yet been issued for SC sports betting, and it is not entirely clear how many would be available in the event of legalization. The most recent bill to bring South Carolina online sports betting to life, HB 5277, sought eight to 12 mobile SC online sports betting licenses. That bill failed to progress in 2022, but it is conceivable that future bills will provide for a similar number of operators.

South Carolina Sports Betting Revenue Projections 2023

Until the number of South Carolina sportsbooks permitted to operate is finalized when they are legalized, it is difficult to predict how lucrative their activities will be. Similarly, the rate of tax agreed will dictate how much money the state can expect to receive in revenue. Studies have been produced that suggests South Carolina is missing out on $43.1 million in tax revenue by blocking legalization, money that could be diverted to the state’s creaking public school education system.     

South Carolina Sports Betting Bill Explained

The most recent bill that attempted to bring about the legalization of sports betting in South Carolina was HB 5277, which failed to make it out of committee in 2022. Had this bill become law, it would have legalized mobile and online betting sites in South Carolina.

It was expected that between eight and 12 licenses would have been issued, and operators would pay 10 percent of their revenue in tax to the state. If the bill did not pass the committee stage, it remains to be seen if future bills will provide for a similar shape and size of the market in South Carolina sports betting.

Choosing the Best South Carolina Online Sportsbook

When South Carolina sports betting sites are legalized, how will you choose the one that is right for you? It can be challenging to narrow down your selection in what is sure to be a competitive marketplace.

There are several factors you can apply to assist in this process. By using them to analyze various operators offering sports betting in SC, your choice should become more apparent.  

Read Reviews

When sports betting in South Carolina is legalized, online wagering will be underway in more than 30 states. Virtually all the operators in the Palmetto State will have been active elsewhere – and there should be plenty of online reviews to tell you what players in other states make of them.

Check out review sites, and note the attributes that make an online sportsbook popular – and the negatives that crop up regularly about a particular brand.      

What Bets are Allowed?

The choice of bets you are permitted to place at South Carolina sportsbooks is likely to be similar. But it may not be identical.

Some operators have their own way of enabling you to bet on sports – PointsBetting at PointsBet is a good example. Similarly, the range of sports and markets may vary from place to place, and only by examining the different selections can you find the ideal one for your purposes.       

Competitive Odds

When you look at different SC sportsbooks, you will notice that the odds of a game can vary from place to place. This is an essential consideration for experienced and regular bettors.

If the Carolina Panthers are +110 on the moneyline for their next NFL game, but one operator is showing +125, you know where to place your bet to generate the best payout.         

Welcome Bonus

All South Carolina sports betting sites will offer a tempting welcome bonus to catch your interest and custom.

You may prefer a deposit boost to a second-chance first bet or a different type of promo. However you like to enjoy your online betting, SC operators should offer a range of welcome bonuses between them to make your initial activity extra-enjoyable.

User Experience

Only by trying out various SC sports betting sites can you work out which feels best. You may prefer a particular design or find one sportsbook easier to navigate than another.

Whatever your preferences are, getting your hands on a book to try out the user experience is a valuable way of narrowing down your choice of operator.

Deposits & Withdrawals

It’s essential when you open an account to start sports betting in South Carolina that you can fund that account using a banking method you are comfortable with.

Check out the available options – the best SC sportsbooks will have a range of ways to put money into your account.

It’s just as essential to check that if you want to withdraw your money, you will be able to do that too. The range of options here may be smaller, so make sure there is a method that works for you.

Customer Service

When they launch legal betting sites, South Carolina operators should make it easy for you to resolve any questions or issues.

Check out how you can contact a customer support team; there may be a toll-free phone number, an email address, and a 24/7 live chat function.

Review other states’ reviews to see how easy other users have found it to get a satisfactory result from that operator.
 

Why Sign Up For Multiple South Carolina Sports Betting Sites?

Nothing is stopping you from opening several accounts when sports betting in South Carolina is legalized. Doing this can boost your wagering experience in several ways.

You will be able to compare the odds on a game or a market and mark sure you get the best price. You will also be able to take advantage of several welcome bonuses. Above all, by wagering in different places, you will eventually find the best online betting SC destination for you.

Promotions for South Carolina Sportsbooks

New customers at South Carolina betting sites will find their initial dealings sweetened by a healthy welcome bonus.

Sign-up promos come in various forms. You may be offered the chance to boost your initial deposit, often by up to 100%. Alternatively, you may get your initial stake back as a bonus bet if your first wager is a loser.

You can expect a variety of South Carolina sportsbook promos – for new and ongoing customers – when the time comes.

Retail Sports Betting vs. Mobile Sports Betting

It will be fascinating to see when South Carolina sports betting is legalized, and what options are available both for retail and online bettors in the Palmetto State.

Many sports betting enthusiasts enjoy the experience of wagering in person. You are likely to be in the company of fellow bettors, which adds to the buzz of the activity; there are likely to be big screens to watch the top sports action, and there will be staff on hand to help solve any queries instantly.

Casinos are the obvious places to host retail sportsbooks – but given that there are no land-based casinos in South Carolina, will the state license the construction of new establishments? Or will there be retail betting facilities in other premises?

Such questions are unlikely to trouble South Carolina online sports betting fans. The ability to place a wager through websites, or South Carolina sports betting apps, will attract clients who relish the ease and convenience of wagering remotely.

Digital technology has revolutionized the world of sports betting, and many bettors enjoy being able to place bets on a computer or through a mobile device when they are at home, at work, traveling – or even at the game they want to wager on.

Available Sports Wagers at Legal Sports Betting Sites

You should expect to find the following bet types available when you have the chance to visit SC online sports betting sites:

• 💰Moneylines: The most straightforward bet on the coupon to understand. No totals, no spreads; pick the team you think will win and put your money on.
• 💰Parlays: Cover several selections with a single stake and watch your potential winnings boom as each one wins, but just one has to fail for the bet to flop.
• 💰Totals: Decide if there will be more or fewer than the sportsbook suggests – usually the combined total scored by both teams in a game.
• 💰Point Spreads: Will the favorite win by more than the margin given to the underdog by your book? If you think so, the odds will be better than the moneyline.
• 💰Futures: Look beyond today’s or tomorrow’s game, and you can place a bet on a season-long outcome, such as your favorite team winning a national championship.
• 💰Prop Bets: Within any game, there are a host of outcomes you can bet on. Individual performances, collective milestones – the list can be extensive.
• 💰Live Betting: Many bettors enjoy the challenge of wagering during a game, as the odds ebb and flow in response to the action as it unfolds.
• 💰Prohibited Bets: There are some events you cannot wager on. They include political markets – no legal sportsbook will take a bet on any election.

South Carolina Sports to Bet On

The most popular sports with visitors to South Carolina sportsbooks are likely to be:

NFL

Football is the biggest sport in the Carolinas, helped by the presence of the Panthers of the NFL. Expect to find extensive football markets when online sports betting SC is permitted. Fans’ focus on the NFL is intense right through the regular season – and all the way to the Super Bowl. The same will hold true for South Carolina betting sites. 

NBA

Basketball is another sport that will command serious attention among South Carolina sports betting enthusiasts. NBA games generate a host of wagering opportunities – and the presence of the Charlotte Hornets just across the border will add to the appetite of local fans to place a wager. Basketball will feature prominently on betting sites South Caroline fans are permitted to use.

MLB

There is no Major League franchise based in South Carolina – but there is a busy and thriving minor league baseball scene. You may be able to place bets on AAA games involving state teams. You should certainly be able to wager on the top action, given the enduring popularity of baseball throughout the regular season and on the road to the World Series.

NHL

Hockey fans in South Carolina have plenty to get excited about thanks to the exploits of the Carolina Hurricanes. The NHL will attract plenty of attention among SC sports betting customers. You will always find hockey games prominently featured at South Carolina sports betting sites, given the sport’s widespread popularity and numerous wagering opportunities. 

College Sports

It will be a major surprise if, when it legalizes sports betting, South Carolina does not allow wagering on college sports. Some hugely popular teams are based in the state, and they draw immense support from fans here. Some states restrict betting on NCAA games, but that is unlikely here given the high profile of college teams in South Carolina.

NASCAR

Darlington Raceway is one of the most famous NASCAR tracks and it draws fans from across the state and beyond to watch the motorsport action. NASCAR is always a popular option with sportsbooks, and you can expect the opportunity to wager on other motorsports too.

As well as the sports listed above, South Carolina sports betting sites are likely to carry odds on other national and international events in soccer, tennis, volleyball, golf, and many more.

South Carolina Sports Teams to Bet On

Technically, there are no pro sports teams based in South Carolina. Unusually, though, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL, and basketball's Charlotte Hornets specifically represent both North and South Carolina.

Add in a couple of huge names in the world of college sports, and a busy minor league scene, and you should find plenty of local action to wager on at South Carolina betting sites.

Carolina Panthers 

The Panthers draw an extraordinary level of support from football fans across the Carolinas. Every home game has been sold out since 2002, and the team has been in the top ten for attendances since 2006.

Since their first season in 1995, the Panthers have lost in the Super Bowl twice, most recently in 2016. Their pull south of the border is enhanced by the fact that the team holds its annual training camp in Spartanburg.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets are a North Carolina franchise, but their location close to the border – and the lack of any other NBA competition for fans – ensures huge support from South Carolina.

The team draws solid attendances to its Spectrum Center home. Fans hope that their loyalty, plus the presence of Michael Jordan as majority shareholder in the team, will inspire the Hornets to NBA glory in the near future.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes brought the Stanley Cup to South Carolina in 2006. Two consecutive divisional championships in recent seasons have raised hopes among fans at the PNC Arena in Raleigh that a repeat may be in the offing soon.

Again, although the Canes are based in North Carolina, they carry the hopes of hockey fans south of the border too. As a result, you can expect plenty of interest in NHL wagers when sports betting SC gets under way.

Charlotte FC

Charlotte FC arrived in Major League Soccer as recently as 2022 – but it has already established itself as one of the league’s best supported teams. With the help of many fans from south of the border, the team recorded an average home gate of more than 35,000, an astonishing number that shows the level of support for soccer here.

As well as MLS bets, online sports betting South Carolina fans will be able to wager on top leagues around the world.

Clemson Tigers

The football team that represents Clemson University is one of the nation’s leading college outfits. The Tigers have roared to four college football playoff finals in recent years and won the crown twice, in 2016 and 2018.

Attendances at the Memorial Stadium regularly top 80,000 as fans flock to cheer their heroes on. If wagering on college sports is allowed, South Carolina sports betting sites will see plenty of action around the Tigers.

South Carolina Gamecocks

The biggest annual sporting event in South Carolina, going by ticket sales, is the Palmetto Bowl clash between Clemson Tigers and the Gamecocks of the University of South Carolina.

More than 70,000 fans flock to the Williams-Brice Stadium to roar on the Gamecocks. Many of those supporters will relish the opportunity to wager on their favorites if sports betting in SC is legalized.

Other South Carolina Betting Options

Given the severity of South Carolina’s gambling laws, there are very few legal betting options available to residents of the Palmetto State.

South Carolina is home to a single casino ship, it operates an official state lottery, and it also permits bingo for charitable purposes.

There are about two dozen bingo halls located across the state, but these must be operated by non-profit organizations.

Casino in South Carolina

The Big M Casino is the only casino allowed to operate in South Carolina – and even that is not strictly speaking true.

Two boats are run by the Big M, out of Charleston, and the catch is that you cannot start wagering until you have sailed out into international waters.

Ship I features nearly 200 slot machines and about 20 table games, including poker. The range of games available on Ship II is similar, though there is a slightly larger selection of slots.

Horse Racing in South Carolina

South Carolina is home to a small number of racetracks, but wagering on the action there is strictly forbidden, either in person or online.

Bills launched in recent years to legalise sports betting SC have included horse racing, but in all instances they were unsuccessful.

Under current legislation, you are not allowed to bet at racing sites on events taking place outside South Carolina.

South Carolina Lottery

The South Carolina Education Lottery, to give it its full name, has been operating since 2002. It provides a host of scratch card and regular draw games.

It should be noted that it is not possible to buy tickets for the lottery online – you will have to go in person to visit a vendor licensed to sell tickets.