South Carolina Gambling Laws – Gaming Legislation
In the state of South Carolina, almost all forms of gambling are banned. Over the last century, there have been multiple attempts to legalize land-based casinos, but without success. If you are curious to learn about the South Carolina gambling laws, you are at the right place. We will cover all the legal gaming options in the state – cruise ship casinos, lottery, and charitable games. Join us in our guide to gambling in South Carolina!
Even if you can’t find any land-based casinos in South Carolina, there are cruise ships and riverboats that offer hundreds of gambling games. Sports betting and online gambling are forbidden – there are no legal casino sites within the state territory. The other legal options are charitable bingo and lottery tickets.
History of the Gambling Laws in South Carolina
Compared to other US gambling laws, South Carolina’s approach is conservative and restrictive. There aren’t many opportunities to play gambling games within the state borders, and this isn’t something new. For many years, the local legislation has been working on restricting all casino-related activities. Below, you can see the most significant amendments in the South Carolina gambling laws.
- 1976 – The Bingo Act legalized charitable bingo games.
- 2000 – Video poker machines were banned, while the lottery was legalized.
- 2003 – The SC lawmakers rejected a proposal to legalize gambling on tribal lands.
- 2008 – Gambling cruises became legal in international waters.
- 2009 – Social gambling was outlawed.
With the Bingo Act of 1976, the gambling laws in South Carolina authorized charities to offer bingo games under certain circumstances. A game may have no more than one winner, and the prizes for all games must be equal. Video bingo is forbidden. Only the Catawba Tribe is allowed to organize high-stakes bingo through its exemption under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Even if there were many attempts to legalize gambling on Native American lands, South Carolina doesn’t want to move forward with giving more freedom to the local tribes. In 1986, the Catawba Tribe filed a case against the state, hoping that the lawmakers would let them offer video gambling on their territory. The attempt was unsuccessful.
The Ban on Video Poker in South Carolina
South Carolina has been rejecting the legalization of gambling for years. So how did video poker become legal in South Carolina? In 1986, a state senator introduced a miniature amendment by erasing the words “on property” – it was then attached to an important budget bill. The officers who approved the new law didn’t realize they had legalized video gambling and allowed game owners to pay out jackpots to winners.
In the 90s, video poker machines were everywhere – bars, restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations. There were thousands of them, more than any other state. To limit gambling activity, South Carolina banned big jackpots – players were allowed to receive no more than $125 per day. Operators, however, ignored the law.
The next step that the SC legislation took was limiting the operators to have a maximum of 5 video poker machines on their premises. Once again, the South Carolina gambling laws were disrespected. The word “premises” was interpreted by the game owners as any space with a roof and walls. There were buildings with more than 100 machines – they were known as video malls.
The problem was that gambling entered the everyday life of South Carolina residents. It was nothing like Las Vegas. The video poker games were available everywhere, and temptations were all around the state. Of course, this was dangerous for the gambling addicts and for the society of South Carolina. After a successful anti-poker campaign, the SC legislation banned video poker in July 2000.
Legal Gambling Games in South Carolina
As we mentioned in the previous paragraphs, there aren’t many options for gamblers in South Carolina. Due to the severe laws, most casino games are forbidden, except when conducted in international waters. Another popular choice of the residents of SC is the lottery, which offers several jackpot games. Below, you can check the legal status of all the gambling activities in the state:
| Game Type | Legal Status |
|---|---|
| Indian Casinos | ❌ Illegal |
| Land-Based Casinos | ❌ Illegal |
| Riverboat Casinos | ✔️ Legal |
| Cruise Ship Casinos | ✔️ Legal |
| Lottery | ✔️ Legal |
| Charitable Bingo | ✔️ Legal |
| Online Gambling | ❌ Illegal |
| Sports Betting | ❌ Illegal |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | ❌ Illegal |
For the moment, gaming cruises, lottery, and charitable bingo are the only legal forms of gambling in South Carolina. Online casinos are not allowed, neither are sports betting platforms. Lottery tickets can be purchased at retailers’ stores only, while licensed organizations have the right to host charitable bingo games.
Gambling Cruises – The Best Legal Gambling Option in SC
In 2008, the gambling laws in South Carolina approved riverboat and cruise ship casinos. The residents of SD can choose from the most popular games in the best casinos in the USA – slots, table games, craps, bingo, and more. Currently, four cruise ships are licensed by the local legislation:
| Casino Name | Games Available | Departing Point |
|---|---|---|
| The Big “M” Casino Ship I | 178 Slots, 12 Table Games, 8 Poker Tables | 4491 Waterfront Ave., Little River SC 29566 |
| The Big “M” Casino Ship II | 248 Slots, 13 Table Games, 7 Poker Tables | 4491 Mineola Ave., Little River, SC 29566 |
| Carnival Ecstasy Charleston Casino | 135 Slots, 15 Table Games, 5 Poker Tables | Charleston Port, Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston, 29401, USA |
| Carnival Sunshine Casino | 214 Slots, 17 Table Games | Charleston Port, Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston, 29401, USA |
Gambling cruises in SC are allowed under certain conditions. First, the ships must depart at least three miles away from the state land. Second, the operators can only conduct gambling activities in international waters. The environment on the ships is no different than at any other luxurious Las Vegas-style casino. There are also entertainments like concerts and performances by local artists.
On cruise ship casinos, you can play slot games like Dancing Drums, Wheel of Fortune, Pot O’Gold, and other popular titles. Video poker is a top pick of SC residents. If you have the chance, we suggest you try Game King Video Poker. Three Card Poker, blackjack, roulette, Craps, and Let It Ride – these are among the most preferred table games in SC.
South Carolina State Lottery
The first draw of the South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) was in January 2002. As the name suggests, the SCEL raises funds to support educational causes and create a brighter future for its residents. In 2020, the organization transferred $607.6 million to various educational programs and distributed over $1.59 billion to winners. You can choose from:
- Powerball
- Mega Millions
- Lucky For Life
- Palmetto Cash 5
- Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL
- Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL
In addition to the multi-state lottery games, you can also purchase scratchcards. The price of the tickets varies between $1 and $10. The SC lottery also offers a Player’s Club, where you can access second-chance promotions like Bus Bucks and The Big Spin. To ensure players’ protection, the South Carolina Lottery Commission regulates the conduct and operation of lottery games.
South Carolina Online Gambling Laws
According to the South Carolina online gambling laws, playing at casino sites is not legal. The slots and table games available in the best online casinos in the USA are not available for SC residents and visitors. Online betting on horse races and greyhound races is not legal.
Sports betting is another forbidden gambling activity in the state, so we advise you not to break the law by attempting to bet online. Nevertheless, the residents often play at offshore online casinos for real money. The local law enforcement doesn’t bring charges against players who gamble online, though operators with servers in SC would be prosecuted.
South Carolina Legal Gambling Age
To play on gaming cruises, the legal gambling age in South Carolina is 21 years old. To purchase a ticket or a scratchcard from the South Carolina Education Lottery, you must be over the age of 18. The same goes for those who want to participate in charitable games like bingo. If you are interested in learning more about the gambling age in the other US states, you can find more information on our page.
Gambling Laws in South Carolina – Conclusion
When we think of the Las Vegas land-based casinos or the New Jersey casino sites, South Carolina is definitive about its rigorous gambling laws. However, if you are a resident of the state, you still have three good options – cruise ship casinos, lottery, and charitable games. If you look for a realistic casino experience, your best choice is gaming cruises. Sports betting fans could also explore the Tennessee gambling laws – in the Volunteer State you can legally bet online or play daily fantasy sports.
Common Questions About the SC Gambling Laws
We reached the final part of our guide to the gambling laws in South Carolina. Above, we discussed the legal gambling games and where to find them. In the section below, we answer the most frequently asked questions on the topic. Learn what exactly are riverboat casinos, what games do they offer, where do they depart from, and much more!
