Online Casinos for players from South Carolina in 2026

Introduction

Known for its beautiful palm trees and sandy beaches, as well as historic districts and golf courses, South Carolina is a synonym for a perfect vacation place with over 180 miles of coastline!

In addition, South Carolina's delicious food, rich culture, and renowned southern hospitality make it appealing to visitors.

As the eighth state to ratify the US Constitution in 1788, the state also became the first to vote in favor of secession in 1860.

South Carolina was readmitted into the country during the American Civil War on June 25, 1868. A Latin word for "Charles" is Carolus, which honors King Charles I of England, who established the English colony in South Carolina, thus the state's name.

The state is also known as the Palmetto State due to the sabal palmetto tree that grows there.

Speaking of trees, South Carolina's forests cover over 67% of the state, making them one of its most significant natural resources!

But we are here to talk about South Carolina’s gambling laws, so let’s get down to it!

South Carolina has the most restrictive gambling laws compared to other US states, but it seems to us that it is still after Hawaii and Utah.

While the state allows lottery, riverboat casinos, and Daily Fantasy Sports, it forbids horse racing, land-based casinos, sports betting, and online casino gambling, though several attempts have been made to change that in recent years!

Section 16-19-130 of the South Carolina Code of Laws reading says the following:

“Any person who...receives, registers, records or forwards or purports or pretends to receive, register, record or forward, in any manner whatsoever, any money, thing or consideration of value bet or wagered or offered for the purpose of being bet or wagered by or for any other person or sells pools upon any such result...shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.”

History of Gambling in South Carolina

Unlike numerous other US states, the Palmetto State has a relatively short history, mainly because gambling has been illegal for most of its history!

The first laws were created to stop gambling houses from springing up around Charleston, which was a popular destination for gamblers at the time.

More precisely, gambling in South Carolina has been illegal since the 1780s, although the residents could wager on dog and horse races for a short period before World War II.

Even throughout the 1800s and 1900s, the state continued to crack down on gambling, and the law passed in 1947 that made all forms of gambling illegal is still in effect today.

South Carolina legalized bingo in 1976, but the Bingo Act prohibited games with multiple prizes and required the winner to receive only one prize. Besides, South Carolina's Department of Revenue only allows licensed charities to operate bingo halls.

It was not until 2002 that the lottery was allowed in the state, and six years later, casino gambling on cruise ships was authorized!

In 2017, Rep. Todd Rutherford introduced bill H 3102, which aimed to legalize land-based casino venues and sports betting in them. However, the bill failed to pass the State Legislature.

What's Been Happening in South Carolina Sports Betting?

Ever since 2018, when the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) after a decade of failed attempts, numerous attempts have been made to legalize sports betting and many other forms of gambling, but they all failed!

The overturning of the Act gave each state the authority to create its own sports betting legislation. Since then, over 30 states have legalized sports betting within their borders, but South Carolina has yet to do so.

South Carolina's bettors and gamblers hope that North Carolina's legalization of sports betting at the beginning of 2024 will eventually persuade South Carolina legislators to consider legalizing sports betting!

This could also be possible if we consider that North Carolina's online sports legalization is estimated to generate $100 million in annual tax revenue by 2027.

"South Carolina citizens are going to go to North Carolina to engage in a more open sport gambling marketplace," said Mark Nagel, a USC sports and entertainment professor and researcher. "And that's going to cause many people in South Carolina or more people to say, 'Why can't I do this here?'" 

The first attempt to legalize sports betting in the state happened in 2019 when House Bill 3102 was introduced. However, it failed to advance beyond the committee stage.

The same happened the next year and then in 2021, when House Bill 3395 was rejected after being referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

In 2022, another House Bill was introduced, this time aiming to allow between eight and twelve operators to offer both online and retail sports betting. But, just as all the previous ones, this bill also failed.

The last attempt to legalize sports betting in the Palmetto State happened at the beginning of 2023 when House Bill 3749 was introduced and successfully passed its first subcommittee.

However, the bill hasn't moved further since then, and in May 2024, the state's legislative session ended without any sports betting legislation hitting the deadline.

Another attempt is expected in January 2025, meaning legal sports betting in South Carolina will not happen until at least 2025, and it's likely that even if it were passed into law, it would not be implemented until 2026.

Current Legal Gaming Options in South Carolina

Thanks to the South Carolina's Gambling Cruise Act, gambling cruises that depart from the state and sail to international waters are allowed to provide gambling options in various types of games (both chance and skill games), including slots, bingo, roulette, craps, blackjack, and Texas Hold'em poker.

Established in 2022, the State Lottery includes multi-state lottery games such as Mega Millions and Powerball. It has provided the state with more than $5 billion in revenue to improve public education outcomes.

Moreover, Daily Fantasy Sports competitions are also popular and 100% legal.

Charitable games like bingo and raffles are also allowed. However, to be considered legal, they must be run by a non-profit organization.

Sweepstakes casinos

If you’re wondering whether sweepstakes casinos are legal in South Carolina, here’s what you need to know. The state has strict rules about contests, giveaways, and anything that looks like gambling—even if it’s called a "sweepstakes."

Are Sweepstakes Legal in South Carolina?

Yes, but only under certain conditions. South Carolina has a law called the Prizes and Gifts Act (Title 37, Chapter 15), which controls how sweepstakes and prize promotions work. Businesses that run sweepstakes must clearly disclose things like:

• The real value of the prize
• The odds of winning
• Any conditions you have to meet to claim the prize

Most importantly, they can’t trick people into thinking they’ve won something when they haven’t. If a company says you’ve won a prize, they must give it to you with no hidden fees—you shouldn’t have to pay to claim it.

What About Sweepstakes Casinos & Online Contests?

This is where things get tricky. South Carolina’s gambling laws (Title 16, Chapter 19) ban almost all forms of gambling, including lotteries and gambling machines. While online sweepstakes casinos try to operate under "legal loopholes" in some states, South Carolina doesn’t make exceptions for online versions. If the sweepstakes involves buying something (like virtual currency) to play games and win cash prizes, it may be considered illegal gambling under state law.

The bottom line is that if a sweepstakes casino lets you win real money and you have to buy credits or tokens to play, it could violate South Carolina’s laws. However, free-to-enter sweepstakes, where no purchase is required, may be allowed as long as they follow the Prizes and Gifts Act rules.

What Are Sweepstakes Casinos?

Sweepstakes casinos are a unique type of online gambling platform that allows players to win real cash prizes without technically gambling—or at least, that’s how they operate within legal loopholes in certain U.S. states. Unlike traditional online casinos, where you deposit money to play, sweepstakes casinos use a system where players receive sweepstakes entries (or tokens) that can be used to play casino-style games.

Note that sweepstakes casinos are also often called social. While social gambling sites are usually "play for fun" only without the option to win any real value prizes, it is common nowadays for sweepstakes and social casinos to refer to one and the same type of gaming platform where you don't have to purchase to play, but real value rewards/sweeps rewards are also possible. 

How Do Sweepstakes Casinos Work?

Instead of directly wagering real money, players typically receive two types of virtual currency:

1. Gold Coins (GC): These are for fun and have no real-world value.
2. Sweeps Coins (SC): These can be redeemed for real cash prizes if the casino allows cashing out.

Players can get sweepstakes coins for free in certain promotions or giveaways. However, many sweepstakes casinos sell gold coins, and as a bonus, they give free sweeps coins with purchases—this is how they operate in legal gray areas.

Below is our up-to-date list of sweepstakes/social casinos you can play in South Carolina. Take a look at the ratings and romos and read the reviews to choose the best one that fits your needs. 

Depositing and Withdrawing when in SC

Please see below for a table of the withdrawal/deposit and banking term rankings. Click on the casino name for a detailed look at the withdrawal and deposit score of each casino and how we determined each. More information about deposit and withdrawal terms for US players can be found here.

Conclusion

To sum up, South Carolina’s gambling landscape is quite unique compared to other states. While the Palmetto State offers limited options like the state lottery, riverboat casinos, and charitable bingo, other forms of gambling remain restricted. Despite this, the popularity of Daily Fantasy Sports and the limited casino cruises available give enthusiasts some options to enjoy. 

Sweepstakes casinos and offshore gaming sites are good options if you’re looking to experience social casino games or real-money gaming on the Internet. While the future of gambling legislation here remains uncertain, neighboring states’ moves toward expanded gambling might influence changes down the line. To keep up with South Carolina gaming news and industry updates, visit World Casino Directory. 

To help you find suitable online casinos accepting players from South Carolina, check out our list below. Use the filter options to refine your search by criteria such as software provider, accepted payment methods, and more. Whether you're looking for live dealer-friendly casinos or those offering exclusive bonuses, this list is tailored to help you find the best options available.

Written by: Michael Shackleford