Is Sports Betting Legal in South Carolina?

Is sports betting legal in South Carolina?

No. South Carolina is one of the strictest states in the country on gambling. There are no commercial casinos, no tribal sportsbooks and no legal online sports betting, so none of the sportsbooks we rank can take bets from inside the state.

Bills to change that have been filed in recent sessions. The main 2026 proposal, Senate Bill 444, would legalise statewide mobile sports betting and require operators to hold licences in at least five other jurisdictions. It received a committee hearing in February 2026 but, as of our latest review, had not passed either chamber. Opposition from religious groups and from Governor Henry McMaster, who opposes expanded gambling, makes quick progress unlikely.

Fantasy sports, sweepstakes and grey areas

Because sports betting is illegal in South Carolina, residents may come across products that resemble it, such as daily fantasy contests, sweepstakes-style games or prediction markets. Their legal status is often unclear or contested, and regulators in several states have pushed back against them. Before signing up for any such service, read its terms carefully and check whether it is licensed by a state authority. If a product lets you stake money on the outcome of a game and is not licensed anywhere in the US, it is not a safe or lawful alternative.

What South Carolinians can do legally

If you want to place a legal sports bet, you will need to leave the state. North Carolina offers mobile sports betting and is a short drive for anyone in the Upstate or the Rock Hill area, and Tennessee has a full online market further north. Your phone must be physically inside the licensed state when you bet, so opening an app in Charlotte and then driving home to Fort Mill means it will stop accepting wagers once you cross the line.

Georgia, to the south and west, has no legal sports betting either, so it offers no alternative.

Avoid offshore sportsbooks

Offshore sites operate without any US licence and are not answerable to South Carolina or any other state. Bettors who use them have no regulator to turn to if a withdrawal is refused or an account is closed. We only list licensed operators, so you will not find offshore brands on this site.

Gamecocks, Tigers and the road to legal betting

With no major professional franchises, South Carolina's sports identity is built around the Clemson Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks, plus NASCAR at Darlington. If lawmakers eventually legalise betting, we will cover the new market here. In the meantime, anyone struggling with gambling, whether in the state or across its borders, can call 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential support.