Is Sports Betting Legal In South Carolina

Charleston is the largest metropolitan area in South Carolina. There are no major professional sports franchises in the state, but there is a notable college program in a nearby town. Charleston sports betting is facilitated through licensed offshore sportsbooks.

1. Legal Sports Betting In Florida
2. Is Sports Betting Legal In South Carolina
3. Is Sports Betting Legal In South Carolina

• Despite many other states seeing sports betting as a new form of tax revenue, South Carolina has no initiated any legislation to legalize it. However, residents do have some options when it comes to placing bets. While many forms of gambling are illegal, DFS has not been outlawed.
• Currently South Carolina does not offer any type of state based sportsbook betting opportunities and the state has a limited amount of legal gambling entertainment available. No casinos, tribal or commercial, exist within state lines. Charitable games are heavily-restricted, and social gambling is implicitly illegal in all cases.

Technically, South Carolina sports betting laws do not exist. The state has instead made all forms of gambling illegal, hence why there are no land-based gaming establishments. But it is worth noting that South Carolina’s gambling laws are more so directed at operators, and not at players.

These sportsbooks allow residents to bet on any team in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB or NCAA. This page was designed specifically for Charleston, SC bettors and has everything you need to know regarding, South Carolina sports betting, gambling laws, which sportsbooks are best to use, and how these sportsbooks operate.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Charleston, SC?

Federal Laws In Play

US bettors must consider 2 US federal gambling laws, which are:

Each of these laws applies to a different facet of the domestic sports gambling market. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was a ban that made it illegal for 46 states to authorize any type of state-regulated sports betting. This ban applied to South Carolina, preventing them from having any physical sportsbook locations, like the ones you would find in Las Vegas.

The PASPA act was ruled unconstitutional in 2018 by the SCOTUS.

The Federal Wire Act blocks gambling businesses based in the United States from accepting wagers and betting information across state lines. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act oversees US banks and financial institutions and how they process transactions with Internet betting websites.

All 3 laws fail to mention offshore betting through licensed sportsbooks anywhere, and since they are licensed offshore, they are considered to be outside US jurisdiction. South Carolina has not passed any state laws regarding the legality or illegality of wagering with offshore websites.

Legal Sportsbooks That Are Licensed To Accept Charleston, SC Residents

Our team of online gambling analysts composed a list of the best available sportsbooks accepting Charleston, SC bettors. Each one of these brands has been put through our rigorous inspection process that checks for the following items:

• Legal licensing
• Regulation
• Betting line selection
• Wagering type variance
• Strong security profiles
• Reliable customer support
• Generous bonus incentives
• USA-friendly banking options
• Mobile/live betting capabilities

Licensing and regulation are the most crucial aspects of any legitimate operation. These are what the US government checks for in establishing credibility. All of the other factors are what make the offshore sports gambling experience unique from what you would find in a physical sportsbook.

If you are interested in offshore betting, feel free to examine these sportsbooks for yourself by using the links provided in the table below. You are not required to place any type of wagers or make an account when viewing the site.

Charleston, South Carolina Sports Betting FAQs

How Does Mobile Betting Work?

Our featured sportsbooks host mobile versions that run on web-based applications. There are no app downloads required. You can access the mobile sportsbook via your device’s browser. All Apple, Android, Windows, and Blackberry devices are compatible.

You will find the same betting lines, wagering types, security features, etc. on the mobile version that you would on the desktop site. Keep an eye out for exclusive mobile bonuses.

What Is In-Play Betting?

In-play betting, or live betting, allows users to place wagers during a sporting event. For example, you could place a bet during halftime on the Carolina Panthers to score a touchdown in the opening drive of the third quarter.

Live betting lines tend to expire quickly, but they often have higher payouts. There are special rules applied to each sport regarding live betting, but these can be found in the in-play betting section of the sportsbook. Look out for in-play betting bonuses.

What Deposit Methods Are Available At Online Sportsbooks?

Legal Sports Betting In Florida

US bettors can make a deposit into their sportsbook account using credit/debit cards, cryptocurrencies, wire transfers and prepaid options. Visa and MasterCard are the preferred credit card options. There may be other deposit methods available, but these fluctuate based on the sportsbook you are using.

There are specific minimum and maximum deposit requirements associated with each method.

What Is A Sportsbook Bonus?

Bonuses are what make offshore sportsbooks unique from their brick-and-mortar counterparts. They are financial incentives awarded to bettors at no additional cost. You will likely come across a match bonus, which is when the sportsbook matches your deposit by a percentage up to a certain amount.

For example, you could see your deposit matched 35% up to $2,000. You may claim a bonus by entering in the correct promo code. Promo codes can be found on the Bonus page of the website.

Are Online Sportsbooks Secure?

Yes. The sportsbooks you see listed here incorporate sophisticated Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption and data-bit encryption to safeguard your personal and financial information. This is the same type of encryption used at world class financial institutions.

These sportsbooks also use advanced firewall protection, anti-fraud systems, and trained technical staff to monitor all security systems.

Sports Teams In Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston does not host any professional franchises or major college teams. The University of South Carolina Gamecocks play out of Columbia, SC. Our suggested sportsbooks allow you to place bets on any team in these domestic leagues: NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and NCAA.

Fans of international sports can find betting lines covering teams, matches and events all around the world as well.

South Carolina News

• South Carolina Sports Betting Shows Signs Of Life In State Legislature

  Charleston is the largest metropolitan area in South Carolina. There are no major professional...

• South Carolina Considers Gambling Expansion

  Charleston is the largest metropolitan area in South Carolina. There are no major professional...

Sports betting has become a much more relevant topic in recent months, and it is only natural that residents of the Palmetto State are wondering about any options for South Carolina sportsbook gambling. South Carolina does offer some regulated forms of gambling, but it is very exclusive and involves casino boats. The state also has a bill circulating through the General Assembly that would bring land-based casinos into the state.

Is Sports Betting Legal In South Carolina

Although a sports betting bill has been presented, nothing has been passed. South Carolina residents can get in on the sports betting action through legal offshore gambling sites. These USA sportsbook sites can legally accept wagers from South Carolina residents and are outside the jurisdiction of both US federal law and South Carolina state law. This guide will inform you on the best sportsbooks available to South Carolina residents and how you can determine if a sportsbook is safe, legal and reputable.

Best USA Sports Betting Site
For South Carolina Residents

BetOnline is an industry leader when it comes to US friendly legal online sports betting. The site has been operational for over a decade and has long served American bettors. It has become the destination of choice for many USA residents seeking US friendly Super Bowl 53 betting options. BetOnline offers betting lines from a wide range of sports, leagues and teams from around the world. They offer a 50% welcome bonus up to $1,000, and a lifetime reload bonus of 25% on every deposit for the life of your account. Overall, BetOnline provides a safe and legal option for South Carolina residents to place wagers on sports

Subject to strict regulatory oversight by the government of Panama

Sports, casino, poker, live dealers and racebook available

All Trusted USA Online Sportsbooks
Accepting South Carolina Residents

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in South Carolina?

Online sports betting through US sportsbooks is currently illegal in the state of South Carolina. The Federal Wire Act is a federal law that bans the state from operating an interstate sportsbook. There has been some controversy over the Federal Wire Act (which was passed back in 1961) about how far its reach is in regards to new technologies like the Internet and in regards to which types of online gambling it permits, prompting the US Department of Justice to issue a Formal Opinion stating that the law only applies to US-based sportsbooks. This means that the Federal Wire Act only enforces betting with US-based online sportsbooks, not the legal offshore sportsbooks we’ve suggested in this guide.

How Federal Laws Affect The Betting Atmosphere In South Carolina

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) have all enforced US gambling laws in the past. PASPA was recently repealed in 2018 opening the door for states to enact sports betting laws.

Both the federal Wire Act and the UIGEA strictly apply to US-based gambling sites. Any offshore gambling site or offshore sportsbook is technically outside the jurisdiction of US federal gambling laws, and those laws don’t say anything about betting with an offshore site that is legally sanctioned and regulated. These federal laws aren’t meant to go after individual bettors, but rather illegal gambling enterprises.

The offshore gambling sites recommended in this guide are all legally licensed and accept American bettors, including South Carolina residents. The government cannot do anything to you if you aren’t breaking any laws, which you aren’t as long as you bet with a legitimate offshore gambling site. You can learn more about USA federal gambling laws in our Legal USA Online Sports Betting Guide.

State Specific Gambling Laws in South Carolina

South Carolina is an interesting state when it comes to gambling. They currently do allow some forms of regulated gambling, but it’s not done on South Carolina shores. The state allows for several riverboat casinos to operate, which are regulated by the counties that the boats operate out of. These boats are only allowed to start gambling activities once they’ve hit open waters. Sports betting is not part of these casino boating operations.

The state recently launched a legislative effort in their General Assembly that would allow for brick-and-mortar casinos to open up within state borders. Not only would these casinos offer casino-style games like slots and poker, but they would also permit wagering on horse races and professional states. This bill (H 3102) change the face of South Carolina gambling forever. Representative Todd Rutherford is responsible for the bill and claims that the money raised through regulations could go towards fixing South Carolina’s roads. Either way, the bill would have to pass a voter referendum.

South Carolina currently allows bingo on tribal lands, boat casinos, and the state Lottery. Other than that, all forms of gambling are considered illegal. Should this bill pass, the South Carolina gambling landscape will certainly shift. As for now, these legal offshore gambling sites we’ve recommended are the only way to safely place bets on your favorite sports. The state's existing gambling laws can be reviewed here: South Carolina Gambling Statutes.

NFL Teams In South Carolina

The Panthers are going through a bit of an identity crisis. In 2015, they went 15-1 and made the Super Bowl. However, they were beaten by the Broncos in QB Peyton Manning’s last year in the league. In 2016 many people expected their next season to be more of the same, but the Panthers ended up with a 6-10 record and finishing last in their division. The years following have been much of the same. They have a phenomenal QB in Cam Newton, offensive talents like TE Greg Olson and Christian McCaffery and a successful coach in Ron Riveria. The Panthers are hoping to replicate their 2015 Super Bowl season and reclaim their status as best in their division.

Carolina Panthers Betting Odds To Win The 2018 Super Bowl +5000

NBA Teams In South Carolina

Is Sports Betting Legal In South Carolina

The closest NBA team to South Carolina are the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets play in the NBA’s Eastern Conference and have star players like Kemba Walker, Nicholas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The team’s majority owner is basketball legend Michael Jordan. The team has yet to win any championships, but their current lineup could be enough to get them to the Playoffs.

Odds To Win The 2017 NBA Championship: +40000

NHL Teams in South Carolina

South Carolina fans support the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have one Stanley Cup title to their name and will surely want to add more. They play in the Metropolitan Division and are sitting towards the bottom tier, limiting their chances of making a significant push for the championship. Oddsmakers seem to believe their chances of winning this year are slim to none.

Odds To Win The 2017 Stanley Cup:+25000

College Football Teams in South Carolina

South Carolina is home to two Power 5 Conference college football programs, the Clemson Tigers (ACC) and the South Carolina Gamecocks (SEC). These two in-state rivals first played each other in 1896 and have played 115 times total, making this rivalry the longest uninterrupted series in the South and the second longest uninterrupted Division I series in the country. Today, the annual meeting in the last game of the series is dubbed the “Palmetto Bowl,” named after South Carolina’s state tree, the palmetto.

Betting on the 2019 Clemson Tigers

The Clemson Tigers are the hottest team in college football right now. Trevor Lawrence led his team to a National Championship over Alabama and the Tigers are looking to do it again in 2019. Right now they are the team most likely to win the 2019 National Championship according to online sportsbook odds.

NCAA Championship Odds: +225

Betting on the 2019 South Carolina Gamecocks

The Gamecocks have had a rough couple of seasons. Last year they finished 7-6 and went on to lose the Belk Bowl 28-0 against Virginia. Last year was definitely a low year for the Gamecocks. They are hoping to bounce back this year and compete for the SEC East.

NCAA Championship Odds: TBA