Online betting in South Carolina

What Gambling Is Legal in South Carolina

Sports Betting in South Carolina

The answer to the question “Is sports betting legal in South Carolina?” is a hard no. You can’t bet on sports online in the state or in person, which is a peculiar piece of legislation in the USA.

Even horse race wagering is illegal to the surprise of many readers. South Carolina runs several horse races, but legally, you can’t bet on any. Online gambling in South Carolina has no licensed product.

Fantasy Contests in South Carolina

South Carolina daily fantasy sports are not authorized, but not prohibited as well. The Attorney General’s office has no opinion on them. There’s also no state agency that licenses or regulates DFS operators. This means that bettors have no one to complain to if something goes wrong.

South Carolina Online Casinos

South Carolina online casino games are illegal. The state never developed a regulatory framework and hasn’t authorized any operators.

Sites offering online casino South Carolina players slots, table games, or live casino games are not authorized in the state and hold no license.

Sweepstakes platforms fall into a separate gap. South Carolina allows promotional sweepstakes  that avoid the definition of an illegal lottery by offering a free alternative method of entry (AMOE). However, no statute addresses the sweepstakes casino model, and the state’s criminal gambling laws are unusually broad.

Online Poker in South Carolina

Is online poker legal in South Carolina? No. Online poker has never been authorized, and no bill has created a legal framework.

At the moment, it falls into the same category as online casino games, and it’s illegal.

Gambling Age in South Carolina

The gambling age in South Carolina is 18 for the Education Lottery. Fantasy operators set their own minimum legal age limit, which is typically 18.

There’s no legal sports betting or casino age, as both forms are illegal.

Who Regulates Gambling in South Carolina

The Education Lottery Commission

South Carolina has no gambling regulator in the sense other states have. The South Carolina Education Lottery Commission regulates the lottery, but nothing else. Charitable bingo is handled by the Department of Revenue.

Who Enforces the Gambling Laws

The Attorney General enforces the criminal statutes as outlined in Title 16, Chapter 19, which is the core of South Carolina gambling laws. All investigations are handled by SLED.

Sweepstakes disclosure is policed by the Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Prizes and Gifts Act in Title 37, Chapter 15.

There’s no South Carolina online gambling regulator to appeal to, as no product is licensed. This is also the reason why there’s no state-wide self-exclusion program.

Where to Get Help

The South Carolina Gambling Helpline is 1-877-452-5155, while the national helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET. Our responsible gambling guide has other support sources and an overview of player tools.

What South Carolina Players Can Actually Use

Fantasy Contests

South Carolina players can use major DFS operators, who accept players 18 and over. Compare them on our South Carolina fantasy sports page.

Prediction Markets: Federal, Not State

Prediction markets operate in South Carolina under federal CFTC authority. This is the case with most states, so they don’t operate under a specific state law. This is the reason why prediction markets are available in the state, but sports betting isn’t. Our prediction markets tracker will show you which contracts are live and where.

What Is Not Available Here

South Carolina has no licensed sportsbook, online casino, online poker room, or horse race betting. State laws authorize none of these, and the constitution blocks lotteries except for the education lottery. Casino cruise vessels sail from Little River into federal waters, but they’re not an online product. Treat gambling as entertainment. If it ever stops being fun, you should use free support and self-help tools.

Tax on Gambling Winnings in South Carolina

South Carolina State Tax on Winnings

South Carolina taxes gambling and fantasy winnings as ordinary income. The top marginal rate for 2026 is 5.21%. This covers lottery prizes, fantasy contest winnings, as well as winnings residents bring home from legal bets placed in another US state.   The state withholds income tax on local lottery prizes above $500.

What the 2026 Change Did

Act 110 was signed on March 30, 2026, replacing the outdated three-bracket schedule with two simpler brackets. Income under $30,000 is taxed at 1.99%, while anything above is taxed at 5.21%, minus $966. This keeps the two brackets continuous. Pages showing rates above 6% are dated before 2026 and not accurate.

Fantasy Winnings Are Taxable Too

Fantasy contest winnings must be reported for taxes. While there’s no state agency licensing the operators, ordinary taxes apply. The fact that a product is not regulated doesn’t mean it’s not taxed. This is general information, not tax advice.

General information only; not tax advice.

Pending South Carolina Gambling Legislation

The Sports Betting Bills

The Senate Labor, Commerce, and Industry subcommittee held a public meeting on S 444 on February 18, 2026, with almost two hours of testimony on sports betting bills. It took no vote. South Carolina was the first US state to hold a sports betting hearing in 2026. This is also the furthest any South Carolina sports betting bill has progressed. The state’s Sports Wagering Act, H 3625, was the House Companion. Rep. Chris Murphy resigned in January 2026, and the bill lost its main sponsor. An additional bill, H 4176, was proposed to authorize casinos on the Interstate 95 corridor, but with no vote.

The Constitutional Question

The only allowed form of gambling per South Carolina’s state constitution is the education lottery. A constitutional-amendment track is being run alongside the statutory bills, which is a sign that the state doesn’t expect statutes to survive any challenge on their own.

What Has Not Changed

No bills have passed before the 2026 session adjourned in May. Legally, the position stands where it was before. Follow the South Carolina gambling news for any changes.

Frequently asked questions

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