Gambling Laws In South Carolina
With the many federal laws which affect gambling in the United States such as the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), there a number of restrictions put on such activities. These laws make it a serious crime for anyone to engage in the business of facilitating bets for profit and will result in serious fines and prison time. It is not however, illegal to simply place a bet or wager under these federal regulations.
There is much room left in the legislation for each state to determine its own rules and regulations in regards to gambling. South Carolina is one such state which has taken it upon itself to enact its own gambling laws in South Carolina and this page is here for any resident of the Palmetto State to utilize to learn how he or she can lawfully and safely gamble if they so choose.
South Carolina follows the standard trend throughout the rest of the South which is a dim view of gambling in general. The Palmetto State has a few anti-gambling laws in its legislation which include setting up lotteries, betting on elections and unlawful games and betting, just to name a few. Section 16-19-40 which covers unlawful games and betting is perhaps the most important for the casual and recreational gambler residing in South Carolina. The section outlines a large number of card games, dice, etc. which are unlawful in the state and could result in a fine up to $100 or even jail time up to 30 days. The section also covers that operating an establishment which hosts such activities could result in imprisonment of up to a year and a fine of up to $2000 for each and every offense. The South Carolina gambling laws were clearly written long ago and have an 1800's tone which can be difficult to translate, but the bottom line is that gambling in South Carolina is against the law and there is few, if any, state licensed gambling facilities in the state.
Before recreational gamblers in South Carolina shed tears due to their state's anti-gambling laws, we are happy to report a little good news. In 2010, a Supreme Court case included testimony from the Assistant Attorney General which stated; "It is our position that this statute does not encompass the Friday night poker game or the penny ante poker game." in regards to a "house" hosting a gambling activity. Clearly, it is the intention of the laws to halt the business of gambling and not the casual participants of it. A quick Google search can pull up arrests made in the state of those who were operating an underground gambling house while the people who visited such establishments were not charged. This seems to follow suit with the federal laws in place which are meant to put a stop to organized crime, not punish recreational sports fans and card players.
If you live in South Carolina, your best bet is to keep whatever wagers you make among friends and in a private residence where a profit is not being made. The state does host a lottery and perhaps a few charitable raffles and bingo halls but other than that, residents who wish to raise the stakes only have access to one lone casino boat in Myrtle Beach which travels three miles offshore into international waters.
Land-Based Gambling In South Carolina
As you may have guessed from the above laws, there are not very many places to go in South Carolina to gamble. Not legally, anyway. The state hosts a lottery and a tiny handful of charitable raffles and bingo games but falls short beyond that. There has been discussion recently by lawmakers to introduce pari-mutuel betting facilities but there has been little movement to proceed with such bills. There is not one true land based gambling destination in the entire state as the only option is a casino boat which travels 3 miles offshore for legal slots, table games and poker. The Big M Casino boat is located in Myrtle Beach and makes frequent runs Tuesday thru Sunday as the only form of gambling in the entire of state.
Online Gambling In South Carolina
With all of South Carolina gambling code there is not one reference or mention of the internet. This spells good news for those who wish to make a wager online as they can simply refer back to the federal laws which govern the entire nation to see what they can and cannot do. Only the act of facilitating bets and operating a gambling business is unlawful, not the simple act of placing a bet. This means that anyone in the state of South Carolina is perfectly able to gamble online provided that they visit a web site that is located outside of U.S. federal jurisdiction.
There are a vast number of options on the internet for gambling in traditional casino environments with virtual slots or table games like blackjack. South Carolina users will also be able to find online poker rooms which feature every variation of the game like Texas Hold'em, for either small or big stakes. Even legal sports betting is available online which is a rarity in the U.S. outside of Las Vegas. Most of these sites are located throughout Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe and have been in business for decades to rave reviews. Some are even tailor-made for American bettors as they know full well of our federal laws and our desire for a legal venue to place a bet and score a chance at a big payout.
Popular Gambling Options In South Carolina:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
One site which we highly recommend to all South Carolina residents is Bovada. This all in one online gambling site hosts everything from casinos games, to poker, to sports betting and is at the top of the food chain for site design and customer support. We also noted the intensely tight security and privacy for banking transactions such as depositing money into an account as well as receiving payouts of winnings. This online gambling network is also located in nearby Canada with a specific layout intended for American bettors and can have checks of winnings delivered directly to a home address in the Palmetto State within 10 business days.
The online sportsbook at Bovada is the industry gold standard as it comes endorsed by CBS Sports, USA Today and even has its odds and betting lines listed by ESPN. Members will find that they are able to bet on every sport and league whether it is being played here in the United States or elsewhere, with a variety of betting options such as team or player props to exciting futures such as who will win the NCAA Basketball Tournament. You name it, they've got it at Bovada. Signing up is easy and takes virtually moments before being able to place a bet. New members will be tickled to learn that their initial deposit will come with a 100% increase of their funds in the form of one of the most generous welcome bonuses in the country. South Carolina residents will never be short of betting action when it comes to visiting Bovada for online gambling.
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
The legal gambling age in the state of South Carolina is 21 years of age however it is only 18 for those residents who wish to sign up for South Carolina gambling sites such as these which we have recommended.
Best For All Gaming Types
