South Carolina Sports Betting Laws Draw Criticism

Another attempt to legalize South Carolina sports betting is officially on ice, and House Representative Todd Rutherford did not hold back when talking about its prospects earlier this year.

"We can continue to stick our heads in the sand and act like people are not going to bet, but they are,” he said, via ABC 4. “They're doing it right now. South Carolina ought to be able to take advantage of that.”

This is a pretty forceful take on the continued absence of sports betting in South Carolina. Forty states have now legalized some form of sports wagering, in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. More are expected to join the fold soon enough. In particular, it’s considered only a matter of time before sports betting arrives in California, Georgia, Minnesota and Texas.

South Carolina, however, is not among the list of long-term formalities. They have not shown nearly enough consistent or wide-spread interest in joining the fast-growing business of sports betting in the United States.

Granted, The Palmetto State isn’t quite on the level of Idaho or Utah. Many believe those states will never legalize sports betting. Still, South Carolina’s appetite for it is not particularly strong. Rutherford sponsored a bill to legalize sports betting earlier this year, and while it piqued curiosity and discussion, it never really took off.

South Carolina Sports Betting Support Receiving Slightly More Attention Because of North Carolina

At the same time, general support does seem to be on the rise for South Carolina. And the launch of sports betting in North Carolina appears to be the primary catalyst. The Tar Heel State is The Palmetto State’s most direct neighbor, and their rollout is proving to be a financial success.

Rutherford wants the same for South Carolina. As Nate Stanley of ABC 4 writes:

“According to data from the North Carolina Lottery Commission, the state saw $78 million in sports gambling tax revenue in 2024, after legalizing sports betting. ‘We've got a myriad of problems in South Carolina that have to do with education, that have to do with health care, that have to do with have to do with economic development. And when you're bringing in tens of millions of dollars by taxing something that people are already doing, I can't think of a better way to bring money into our general fund.”

Rutherford’s point is one sports betting advocates continue to make. The disallowance of gambling doesn’t actually stop it. State residents simply find other ways to do it.

For South Carolinians, this means betting on sports in North Carolina. Within Stanley’s piece for NBC 4, some gamblers even mentioned capitalizing on trips to Florida, where sports betting is legal through the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Bet app.

Then, of course, the market is flooded with a bunch of off-short betting sites. While many of these operators are reputable, some are not. And the lack of regulation leaves plenty of policymakers concerned about South Carolinians making unsafe decisions.

When combined with the sports betting revenue South Carolina stands to make, this argument can be pretty persuasive. However, it is far from enough to sway every detractor—of which there remain many.

Here’s Why So Many Still Oppose Legal Sports Wagering

In previous years, much of the opposition to South Carolina sports betting has focused on limited upside. After all, how much revenue would they truly generate when they do not have a premier pro sports franchise inside the market?

Concerns over public appeal have since quieted. There is enough data to show that states without a robust pro sports market still generate plenty of sports betting business.

With this information, the case against South Carolina sports betting has shifted to spotlighting the potential socioeconomic dangers. Consider this small snippet from Stanley’s piece:

“The fiscal benefits don't outweigh the potential harm for some. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, one study found 16 percent of polled online sports gamblers met clinical criteria for gambling disorder. ‘I think they targeted, young men, especially when they're college age, they give them a hook, they let them win a little bit, and they're already into sports and chatting about sports and watching it all the time, and it hooks them in and then, unfortunately, some of them can't get out of it,’ says Kathy Witkowski.”

Various studies confirm most of this stance. Research has shown that the legalization of sports betting leads to a noticeable uptick in calls to problem-gambling hotlines. More preliminary studies even suggest it might cause an increase in bankruptcy filings, in addition to poorer savings habits.

South Carolina Sports Betting Proposals May Need to be Revamped

More than a few South Carolina legislators cannot bring themselves to get past the above pitfalls. And that’s fair. It shows genuine concern for constituents. But other states have decided the revenue outweighs the prospective downsides. Especially when so many are already betting on sports anyway.

Still, this doesn’t have to be a binary proposition. This isn’t just specific to South Carolina sports betting, either. It applies to the entire industry.

So many treat this issue as one where they must prioritize tax revenue or consumer safety. That is to some extent true. You can’t weed out problem gambling altogether. But it also does not feel like most states are doing enough to combat the downsides of the industry.

Small percentages of revenue are typically dedicated to the treatment of problem gambling. Why not increase that investment? Better yet, why not spend more on proper sports betting education on the younger demographics, so that they have a firmer hold on the risks involved? And why not put more safeguards in place between consumers and sportsbooks? These operators might bristle at first, but they have a cap on their growth. The revenue won’t go up forever without opening in new markets.

To the best of our knowledge, the last South Carolina sports betting bill did not introduce any groundbreaking forms of regulation or prevention. If its supporters really want to get this initiative over the hump in the future, perhaps they should consider changing that.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: