By South Carolina is not as sports-centric as their Northern sibling, North Carolina, but they do however have some great college football programs that are notable. What South Carolina doesn’t have, is the greatest betting scene on the block compared to other of the country's states. They have no land-based casinos open, with their only one closing its doors in 2002.
*South Carolina has been toying with the idea of legislation for some time. But, for now, bettors will have to work with some of the best offshore bookmakers, which we’ve listed above. US-based bookmakers such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, BetRivers, Fox Bet, and Unibet remain out of reach for South Carolina residents.
Table of Contents
Can I bet on Sports in South Carolina? Betting on South Carolina Sports Teams Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in South CarolinaThe one thing South Carolina has going for them from a gambling perspective is cruise ship casinos, which is similar, if not the same idea as the riverboat casinos in other states. International waters are a mere three miles offshore South Carolina, so bettors can board the ships, and take their gambling needs into open waters.
There was a brief moment in 2017 where sports betting could have been legalized in South Carolina, in the form of House Bill 3102. The bill would allow sports betting on professional sports only, and be strictly regulated to specified areas - i.e. betting parlors and no online gambling. The bill was evidently struck down.
The likelihood of sports betting being legalized in South Carolina anytime soon seems to be grim, despite the huge number of residents that have been calling for casinos and sports betting in the state.
South Carolina only recently legalized Daily Fantasy Sports betting, the lawmakers were quite hesitant on the subject, whether they believe it’s a game of skill or chance. Ultimately they chose to legalize it in 2017, around the time that the sports betting bill was introduced.
Can I bet on Sports in South Carolina?
Not yet, and likely not anytime soon. Sports betting is technically illegal in the state of South Carolina, and there isn’t really a push to change that.
But, you can bet on sports in South Carolina on the internet. Online sportsbooks aren’t technically illegal because of dated state laws, from 1802 to be exact, rendering online gambling to be unspecified in any documentation. You can bet on sports from the comfort of your own home without leaving the state, and you can do so without breaking any laws.
How? By signing up at an offshore sportsbook. We understand that sounds intimidating, but we assure you, any sportsbook we recommend is 100% legitimate, and will never try to dupe you.
A Brief Timeline of the Legality of South Carolina Sports Betting
- March 25, 2024 – Some states have recently cracked down on online betting sites, accusing them of falsely claiming their contests aren't gambling. It remains to be seen if South Carolina will follow suit.
- March 21, 2024 - House Bill 3749 has shown no progress. Consequently, the top choice for online sports betting among South Carolina bettors remains an offshore betting site.
- January 24, 2024 - On the eve of the men's ACC basketball tournament, North Carolina grants authorization for the commencement of online sports betting.
- December 29, 2023 - Seven sportsbook operators apply for North Carolina sports betting licenses.
- November 14, 2023 – The commission indicates that the commencement of sports betting in North Carolina is unlikely to occur in January.
Betting on South Carolina Sports Teams
The Clemson Tigers are easily the most popular sports team based out of South Carolina. Their college football program has 41 major Bowl game appearances and has the most National Championship appearances, tied with Alabama Crimson Tide. They appeared in the last two National Championships, most recently falling to LSU 42-25.
The Clemson Tigers basketball program has only made it to March Madness 12 times, and most recently, had a bit of drought from 2011 to 2018. In 2018, they seeded 5th and were knocked out in the Sweet Sixteen by number one seed, Kansas. They’ve only made it to the Elite Eight once, in 1980.
The South Carolina Gamecocks are another popular college football program in the state. They aren’t as popular as the Tigers but have made Bowl games in seven of the past eight seasons. They’re currently rebuilding, so they haven’t been the powerhouse that they have been in the past as of late.
As for the Gamecocks basketball program, they are fairly similar to Clemson, in the fact that they have been fairly average throughout their 93-year existence. They’ve made it to March Madness seven times, most recently being 2017, where they managed to get to the Final Four, the greatest accomplishment the team has seen since 1973.
The Winthrop Eagles college basketball program is fairly young, but in the 1990s and 2000s, they made it to the NCAA tournament eight times, though they were booted in the first round. They struggled to get back to March Madness caliber for years, until 2017, when they finally had a taste of the playoffs, making it to the second round.
Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in South Carolina
It’s important to do your research before signing up at an online sportsbook. You want to ensure the book you choose is secure, trustworthy, and has all of the bells and whistles you need to have the best betting experience. You want to look at deposit options, cashout options, bonuses, mobile connectivity, and more.
When it comes to betting in South Carolina, you will need to ensure you find a sportsbook that’s available in your area, as some can be blocked based on geo-location, and you also want to ensure that they have the deposit options you want. If you want to bet with a Mastercard, you need to ensure that the sportsbook accepts your preferred payment method.
Thankfully, we have compiled a list of the top online sportsbooks and wrote comprehensive reviews for each one, ensuring you have all of the information and research you need before making a decision.
Legal Sports Betting States
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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