South Carolina, with a population of 5.2million (2020 data), hasn’t yet signed up to the sports betting Gold Rush, and it may be some time before it does.
Major sports franchises are also notable by their absence in the state, though the South Carolina Gamecocks are a major collegiate sports school.
Worth remembering though that even when SC does get around to ushering in sports betting, there’s a chance you still won’t be able to bet on games involving local schools. This is the case in a number of other states which are already legal.
Is sports betting legal in South Carolina?
Sports betting is not yet legal in South Carolina, and we could be some ways off.
Advocates tried to put forward bills to get sports betting on the local agenda in 2019, but they all failed. After that, 2020 was pretty barren on the legal front with no further signs of movement.
However, the topic at least appears to be back on the agenda, with a study set to take place into how sports betting might work in the state. Even if this goes well though, it is likely to be 2022 before legalization becomes a realistic shot.
Legal sports betting near South Carolina
With sports betting still not legal in SC, your only option is to travel to states where it is. Some of the bordering states do bet legally, but options are very limited. Here is the current state of play:
- North Carolina: There are no online or mobile options, but Harrah’s Cherokee will soon offerr a sportsbook. It’s around a three-hour drive from the SC state capital Columbia, and you’ll need to be aged 21 or over.
- Tennessee: Doesn’t even border SC, but if you can stomach the seven-hour drive say to Nashville, at least it’s a little more straightforward. Online and mobile are the only options, but you can register and play anywhere in-state from the age of 21.
Are offshore sportsbooks legal in South Carolina?
Offshore sportsbooks look the real deal, an easy way to wager if sports betting isn’t legal in your state. Right? Maybe not.
These sportsbooks are licensed somewhere perhaps, but definitely not in the United States. So if you bet when them, you have zero protection if the worst happens and something goes wrong.