South Carolina Sports Betting: Legal Status & What to Know in 2026
South Carolina has not legalized sports betting. Here is the current status, the latest legislative effort, and what SC residents can do in the meantime.
By
Eric Pauly
9 min read
Is Sports Betting Legal in South Carolina?
No. Sports betting is not legal in South Carolina. The state has no legal sportsbooks (online or retail), and there is no active law permitting sports wagering. South Carolina is one of the more restrictive states in the country when it comes to gambling. There are no commercial casinos, no state lottery with sports betting components, and the governor has publicly opposed gambling expansion.
That said, the topic is not entirely dead legislatively. S.444, a bill that would authorize online and retail sports betting, received a committee hearing in February 2026. It has not advanced to a floor vote, and given the political environment, the path forward is uncertain. I have been tracking state-by-state sports betting legislation for over two years, and South Carolina is among the states where legalization faces the steepest uphill climb. This guide covers the current legal status, what S.444 proposes, why the governor opposes it, and the legitimate alternatives available to SC residents who want to bet on player props or sports prediction contests.
article Summary
Sports betting is not legal in South Carolina. S.444 proposes legalizing up to 8 sportsbooks with a 12.5% tax rate and 18+ age requirement, but the governor opposes gambling expansion and the bill has not advanced past committee. DFS platforms like PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy are legal alternatives for SC residents. North Carolina (bordering state) has legal mobile sports betting for those willing to cross the state line for major events.
S.444: The South Carolina Sports Betting Bill
S.444 is the most recent legislative attempt to bring legal sports betting to South Carolina. Understanding what the bill proposes helps frame what legal sports betting in the state might look like if it ever passes.
What S.444 Would Authorize
The bill proposes legalizing both online and retail sports betting in South Carolina. It would allow up to eight licensed sportsbook operators to offer mobile and in-person wagering. The proposed tax rate on gross gaming revenue is 12.5%, which is moderate compared to other states (New York charges 51%, while Colorado charges 10%). The minimum age to place a bet would be 18, which is lower than the 21-year minimum in most legal states. Tax revenue from sports betting would be directed toward the state's education fund.
Where the Bill Stands
S.444 was introduced in the South Carolina Senate and received a subcommittee hearing in February 2026. The hearing included testimony from proponents (citing revenue estimates and consumer demand) and opponents (citing social and moral concerns). As of March 2026, the bill has not received a full committee vote or advanced to the Senate floor. The legislative session has a limited window, and bills that do not advance through committee by the crossover deadline typically die for the session. Even if S.444 passes the Senate, it would still need to clear the House before reaching the governor's desk.
Revenue Estimates
Proponents of S.444 estimate that legal sports betting could generate $40 to $80 million in annual gross gaming revenue for South Carolina, translating to $5 to $10 million in annual tax revenue at the proposed 12.5% rate. These numbers are based on the state's population (approximately 5.4 million) and the performance of similarly sized markets. While not enormous compared to states like New Jersey or Pennsylvania, supporters argue that this revenue is currently being lost to offshore sportsbooks and neighboring states like North Carolina, which legalized mobile sports betting in 2024.
Why Legalization Faces Resistance in South Carolina
South Carolina's political and cultural landscape makes sports betting legalization significantly harder than in many other states.
Governor Opposition
The governor of South Carolina has publicly stated opposition to gambling expansion, including sports betting. This is a significant obstacle because even if the legislature passes a bill, the governor can veto it. Overriding a veto requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers, which is a high bar in a state where gambling has limited bipartisan support. In my experience tracking legislative progress across all 50 states, governor opposition is one of the most reliable indicators that a bill will not become law in a given session. States where the governor actively supports or is neutral on sports betting tend to legalize much faster than states where the governor has drawn a line against it.
Conservative Social Values and Religious Opposition
South Carolina is among the more socially conservative states in the US, and religious organizations have significant political influence. Anti-gambling advocacy groups have actively lobbied against S.444, framing sports betting as a gateway to problem gambling and moral decline. These groups carry weight in both the state House and Senate, particularly among legislators in rural districts. The combination of organized opposition and a sympathetic governor creates a political environment where even popular measures face difficulty gaining traction.
No Existing Gambling Infrastructure
South Carolina does not have commercial casinos, racetracks with gaming, or a robust lottery system. States that already have some form of gambling infrastructure tend to legalize sports betting more quickly because the regulatory frameworks and political precedents exist. South Carolina would be starting largely from scratch, which means legislators are not just voting on sports betting. They are voting on whether to introduce a new category of gambling to a state that has historically resisted it. This "first mover" problem adds friction that does not exist in states where casinos or horse racing are already normalized.
What South Carolina Residents Can Do Now
While traditional sports betting is not available, South Carolina residents have legal options for player prop contests and sports prediction games through daily fantasy sports platforms.
PrizePicks
PrizePicks is the largest DFS platform in the United States and is available in South Carolina. The platform lets you pick players and predict whether they will go over or under their projected stats. It functions similarly to player prop betting but is classified as daily fantasy sports, which is legal in SC. PrizePicks covers NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports, soccer, and more. The interface is straightforward, and the pick-em format is accessible for both beginners and experienced bettors. I have used PrizePicks extensively for player prop research, and the over/under format maps directly to the skills you would use when betting traditional props at a sportsbook.
Underdog Fantasy
Underdog Fantasy is another DFS platform available in South Carolina. It offers a similar pick-em format for player stats, plus Best Ball and Champions (peer-to-peer) formats. Underdog tends to cover different stat categories than PrizePicks in some sports, so having accounts on both platforms gives you a wider range of options. The platform has grown significantly over the past two years and offers competitive contest sizes.
Building Skills for When SC Legalizes
If you are a South Carolina resident interested in sports betting, using DFS platforms now is the most productive thing you can do. The analytical skills you develop (evaluating player matchups, understanding projected stats, tracking your results) transfer directly to sportsbook betting when it becomes available. The player prop tools we review at BetSmart work for both DFS research and traditional sportsbook prop betting. For a full overview of research tools that can sharpen your analysis regardless of which state you are in, see our best betting tools hub. If you are also interested in how ParlayPlay and similar DFS apps vary by state, that guide covers availability across the country.
Neighboring States With Legal Sports Betting
For South Carolina residents willing to travel for major betting events, several neighboring states have legal sports betting.
North Carolina
North Carolina legalized mobile sports betting in March 2024 and launched with multiple sportsbooks including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, ESPN BET, and Fanatics. For SC residents near the border, this is the closest option for traditional sports wagering. You must be physically located in North Carolina to place a bet (apps use geofencing), but there is no residency requirement. Charlotte is roughly 90 minutes from many SC population centers, making it a realistic option for major events like the Super Bowl, March Madness, or the College Football Playoff.
Tennessee and Virginia
Tennessee has had legal online sports betting since 2020, and Virginia launched in 2021. Both states offer mobile betting with multiple competing sportsbooks. While they are further from most South Carolina residents than North Carolina, they are options for those traveling through the region. The key advantage of betting in a competitive market (with multiple sportsbooks) is the ability to line shop and find the best available odds, which is not possible in states with a single operator.
Why Crossing the Border Matters for Big Events
Traveling to a legal state for everyday betting is not practical. But for the Super Bowl, March Madness, or other high-profile events where you want to place significant wagers, having access to a competitive multi-sportsbook market makes a real difference. The odds improvement from line shopping across five or more books on a single event is measurable. If you plan to travel, download the sportsbook apps and create your accounts before the trip, because identity verification can take time. You can research odds using tools from anywhere (even in South Carolina) and be ready to place your bets the moment you cross the state line.
Final Thoughts
South Carolina is among the least likely states to legalize sports betting in the near term. The governor opposes gambling expansion, there is no existing casino or gaming infrastructure, and the conservative political environment makes legislative progress difficult. S.444 represents the most serious effort to date, but it faces significant headwinds and has not advanced past the committee stage. For SC residents, the practical approach is to use DFS platforms like PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy for player prop contests, develop your research skills with the tools available, and take advantage of neighboring North Carolina's competitive sportsbook market for major events. The analytical skills and research habits you build now will put you ahead of the field when South Carolina eventually opens its doors to legal sports betting.
South Carolina Sports Betting FAQ
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