Updated on: January 6th, 2025
South Carolina casinos and gambling were more popular than in Nevada. This took place in the 1990s when video poker operatives discovered a loophole in South Carolina game laws. Casinos opened up through the state. Bars, Gas stations and restaurants hosts video poker gambling games.
These gambling games were forbidden in 2000. The state lottery was launched a year later. The only other types of legal gaming are charity bingo and also a casino cruise that docks near the Myrtle Beach.
Gambling in South Carolina
- Year Regulated Gambling:2001
- Estimated Tax Revenue from Gambling: $400 million per year
- Estimated Gambling Revenue: $1.4 billion per year
- Gambling Age:18
Types of Online Gambling
There are no types of legalized web gambling in South Carolina. Daily fantasy sports websites accept gamblers from South Carolina. These firms claim exclusion under South Carolina’s skill gaming laws.
Popular Casino Games
- Bingo
- Lottery
Live Gambling in South Carolina
There are only two kinds of live gaming permitted in South Carolina. The state lottery vends tickets to lotto drawings. Also, it sells scratch-off prompt game tickets. There is one South Carolina casino that operates within the state, the Big M Casino.
This casino can run because it acts as a cruise casino. People can book a short trip on the cruise while gambling at the casino games tables.
Bingo is allowed and offered by charitable administrations. Entries should be $3, $5 or $18. The prize pool should be publicized before the night of the gambling games and can’t be based on the amount of the prize pool.
Gambling Laws
South Carolina prohibits most types of gambling. Video poker machines, Slot machines, table games, and racing are illegal. The possession of gaming devices only allowed on cruise ships docked in water.
The only types of legalized betting in South Carolina are bingo and a state lottery. State law allows the operation of a lottery by the state. Profits go towards education. Only traditional tickets to prompt games and lotto’ can be sold.
South Carolina’s lottery can enter multi-state drawings. This includes Powerball and Mega Millions. The lottery is not allowed to operate keno games or even expand into video lottery.
South Carolina Gambling History
Racing was the first type of South Carolina gambling. Greyhounds and Horses raced in the early century. The traditional movement during the days after World War II ended this kind of gambling.
The first type of legalized gaming in modern days was bingo. Only charities can offer bingo even though the Catawba Tribe operates the casino games through its exception under the Indian Gambling Regulatory Act. Voters approved a state lottery over the constitutional referendum in 2001.
