South Carolina Online Casinos & Gambling South Carolina gambling laws are enumerative in nature and have been drafted before the advent of online gambling. Consequently, the list of prohibited gambling-related activities doesn’t cover internet games, which means that it’d be very hard for the local authorities to prosecute offshore sites. Neither brick and mortar nor state-licensed online casinos are legal in South Carolina. Thankfully, South Carolina players have some alternatives available to them. There are a number of legitimate online casinos. Top South Carolina Casinos: See reviews and photos of casinos & gambling attractions in South Carolina on Tripadvisor.
Your Guide
South Carolina has extremely limited gambling opportunities. However online casinos based offshore that are licensed and regulated in their jurisdictions accept South Carolina players. They are growing in popularity, with many joining up to play slots and online blackjack.
Online Gambling
- Online offshore operators accept players from South Carolina.
- There are no state regulated online onshore operators.
- South Carolina State Lottery holds an exclusive license on the operation of lottery products. Commercial licenses are not available for land based casinos or tribal casinos on Indian reservation territory
Best 5 South Carolina Online Casinos
| CASINO | RATING | BONUS | PLAY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Royale Casino | 250% up to $12,500 Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
| 2 | Bovada | 100% up to $3,000 Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
| 3 | Vegas Casino Online | 400% up to $10,000 Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
| 4 | Slots Empire | 220% up to $12,000 Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
| 5 | Red Dog Casino | 225% up to $12,250 Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
Laced with the famous cities of Columbia, Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Rock Hill, South Carolina is a laid back state but has no land based casinos. Fortunately, if you are looking to play a few real money interactive games you can head towards various online that are based offshore. These sites are safe and secure to play at, with no risk posed to South Carolina players, both regarding legality or to player data protection.
The best online casinos all use the latest SSL internet technology, and feature secure payment methods that are common, trusted and processed by reputable financial institutions. These include: VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Bitcoin (BTC), direct wire transfers and many other methods.
Casino Bonuses are extremely important in selecting an online casino. We have therefore displayed some of the best casino bonuses that can be found whilst balancing other important criteria such as safety and security as previously mentioned. However, for ease of reference, we have listed them according to the size of bonus.
Remember, when using casino bonuses read the Terms and Conditions. Casino bonuses are usually applicable to only certain types of games, therefore choose the bonus (and the bonus code) that is suited to your gaming preference.
Without doubt, at the time of writing, El Royale Casino offers the best casino bonus deal. It is also one of the safest. Coupled with excellent customer service, El Royale is our top recommended online casino for South Carolina players.
Online Live Dealer Casinos
It has only been in the past several years that online live dealer casinos have come increasingly popular. Previously, internet bandwidths were too slow and playing devices were too weak to permit video streaming, let alone live dealer games. But now, in today’s world, you can be treated to HD, multi-angle interactive play with other players and the dealer.
Many players are drawn to online live dealer games, because they can see the cards being dealt, the dice being rolled, or the ball being spun. In doing so, there is a trust that the game play if fair and honest. Although electronic digital games provided by the best online casino are independently audited by third parties, some players simply do NOT trust RNG algorithms.
As a result, online live dealers provide the best of both worlds for them. They can play just like in Vegas, plus take advantage of casino bonuses, plus features that could only be offered interactively. These include unlimited back behind bets, advance decision making and dealers of the player’s choice to choose from.
Learn more about Online Live Dealers here.
Sports Betting Sites
Online sports betting sites, however, do exist and they are based offshore. They accept South Carolina bettors, with no precedence of any bettor being informed of a breach in law, let alone charged with a misdemeanor or felony.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily Fantasy Sports is growing fast in popularity. New to the gambling scene, it is considered a game of skill by many which requires bettors to create a fictitious team based on real players. The performance of the real sports players in real life determine how successful the fictitious team is. As a result, it truly is those with the most “skills” will win.
The two dominant daily fantasy sports providers is DraftKings and FanDuel. On this site, we do not actively promote daily fantasy sports as we understand that it is a game of “skill” which is being exploited by bettors who have the best risk modelling. That is, it isn’t nearly about how well you know your sport, the sport players etc, it is very much about who has the best statistical model and who has access to the most detailed sports player data.
As someone who may be a big fan of sport, and thinking that they would have a good chance of winning money in DFS, think again. You are pitted against statistical modelling experts who deliberately target games that mostly have new players to DFS. In fact, it has been alleged that those who are extremely good at DFS have been known to collaborate among themselves and not compete with each other. Thereby creating a sustainable winning formula shared by the experts.
We therefore want our readers to be aware that DFS is not what is appears to be. In fairness, DFS is legal in South Carolina and many DFS onshore operators accept South Carolina players.
South Carolina Online Bingo
South Carolina bingo laws are stipulated under Charitable gaming state legislation. These laws provide for the licensing of non profit organizations to operate bingo games. At present, these laws do not address nor permit online bingo by onshore operators. Accordingly, online bingo sites that do accept South Carolina players are based offshore (which is the same as online casinos and sports betting sites).
The recommended online bingo sites all accept players from South Carolina. They offer advanced features that include instant messaging, fun bingo games and protocols that ensures bingo participants play together in a civil enjoyable manner. Due to the social aspect of bingo, there is a cultural aspect to bingo which cannot be found with casino or sports betting. As an example, A LOT of acronyms form part of instant chat messaging. If you are not familiar with online bingo lingo, do not be afraid, learning it is one of the most fun parts!
Legal Minimum Gambling Age
The legal minimum gambling age in South Carolina is 21.
Gambling Laws
- Legislation does not expressly cover online gambling, but it is implied to be prohibited
- Onshore online operators are unlawful
- Casino gambling is unlawful, with the exception of cruise ships
- Limited betting on horse races at Springdale Race Track is permitted
- Charitable organizations may operate limited forms of bingo for charitable purposes
Gambling Taxes
Surplus from the lottery is circulated to fund charitable purposes in South Carolina
Regulation and Governance
Gambling Legislation
South Carolina Gambling Market Developments
Background
- South Carolina has some of the most restrictive gambling laws in the US and statutes imply a broad prohibition on gambling, subject to certain limitations.
- Casino gambling is limited to cruise ships operating in international waters, but the majority of these have a small capacity.
- The Supreme Court ruled Texas Hold’Em Poker, in private residencies to be unlawful in November 2012. This was the result of two subsequent appeals in the case of Chimento v Town of Mount Pleasant No. 2009-CP-10-001551.
- Gambling expansion is not projected within South Carolina, at least in the short term.
January 2017
Representative Todd Rutherford introduced a bill to the house to authorize and regulate pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, sports betting, skill-based casino games and games of chance with the use of electronic devices or gaming tables. If passed, H 3102 would put the question of whether to expand gambling in the state on the next statewide ballot scheduled to be held on 6 November 2018.
February 2018
International Game Technology PLC (IGT) was awarded a ten (10) year contract to provide the lottery system to the South Carolina Education Lottery. The contract was scheduled to take effect in May 2018.
January 2019
Constitutional amendment bills were introduced to both chambers of the legislature to legalize:
- Casino gaming
- Sports betting on professional sporting events
- Pari-mutuel betting on horse races
In order to be enacted the legislation must be passed by the state legislature and approved by a majority of voters in a statewide referendum. The next statewide vote was scheduled to take place on 03 November 2020.
April 2020
The State Lottery awarded a six (6) year instant game management contract to Scientific Games covering both retail and online channels.
FAQ
Is it legal to gamble online in South Carolina?
Gambling laws vary for each type of game. Online games are not permitted to be offered by onshore gaming operators. As a result, online operators are based offshore at regulated and licensed jurisdictions. South Carolina players are accepted by the offshore operators. In regards, to player legality, the laws neither explicitly declare online gambling as illegal or legal. As a result South Carolina players can continue to enjoy playing online games.
What is the legal minimum age to play at online casinos?
Legal minimum ages vary from online casino to online casino, however their requirement is that the higher of the player’s jurisdiction the the online casino’s own legal minimum is taken to be the determine age limit. Therefore, for South Carolina players the legal minimum age is 21.
What are the best South Carolina Online Casinos?
The best South Carolina online casinos have quality casino bonuses – Welcome and Ongoing, safe and secure payment methods, a good variety of game play, and prompt and accessible service. At the time of writing the best online casino is El Royale Casino.
Your Guide
South Carolina has extremely limited gambling opportunities. However online casinos based offshore that are licensed and regulated in their jurisdictions accept South Carolina players. They are growing in popularity, with many joining up to play slots and online blackjack.
Online Gambling
- Online offshore operators accept players from South Carolina.
- There are no state regulated online onshore operators.
- South Carolina State Lottery holds an exclusive license on the operation of lottery products. Commercial licenses are not available for land based casinos or tribal casinos on Indian reservation territory
Best 5 South Carolina Online Casinos
| CASINO | RATING | BONUS | PLAY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Royale Casino | 250% up to $12,500 Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
| 2 | Bovada | 100% up to $3,000 Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
| 3 | Vegas Casino Online | 400% up to $10,000 Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
| 4 | Slots Empire | 220% up to $12,000 Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
| 5 | Red Dog Casino | 225% up to $12,250 Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
Laced with the famous cities of Columbia, Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Rock Hill, South Carolina is a laid back state but has no land based casinos. Fortunately, if you are looking to play a few real money interactive games you can head towards various online that are based offshore. These sites are safe and secure to play at, with no risk posed to South Carolina players, both regarding legality or to player data protection.
The best online casinos all use the latest SSL internet technology, and feature secure payment methods that are common, trusted and processed by reputable financial institutions. These include: VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Bitcoin (BTC), direct wire transfers and many other methods.
Casino Bonuses are extremely important in selecting an online casino. We have therefore displayed some of the best casino bonuses that can be found whilst balancing other important criteria such as safety and security as previously mentioned. However, for ease of reference, we have listed them according to the size of bonus.
Remember, when using casino bonuses read the Terms and Conditions. Casino bonuses are usually applicable to only certain types of games, therefore choose the bonus (and the bonus code) that is suited to your gaming preference.
Without doubt, at the time of writing, El Royale Casino offers the best casino bonus deal. It is also one of the safest. Coupled with excellent customer service, El Royale is our top recommended online casino for South Carolina players.
Online Live Dealer Casinos
It has only been in the past several years that online live dealer casinos have come increasingly popular. Previously, internet bandwidths were too slow and playing devices were too weak to permit video streaming, let alone live dealer games. But now, in today’s world, you can be treated to HD, multi-angle interactive play with other players and the dealer.
Many players are drawn to online live dealer games, because they can see the cards being dealt, the dice being rolled, or the ball being spun. In doing so, there is a trust that the game play if fair and honest. Although electronic digital games provided by the best online casino are independently audited by third parties, some players simply do NOT trust RNG algorithms.
As a result, online live dealers provide the best of both worlds for them. They can play just like in Vegas, plus take advantage of casino bonuses, plus features that could only be offered interactively. These include unlimited back behind bets, advance decision making and dealers of the player’s choice to choose from.
Learn more about Online Live Dealers here.
Sports Betting Sites
Online sports betting sites, however, do exist and they are based offshore. They accept South Carolina bettors, with no precedence of any bettor being informed of a breach in law, let alone charged with a misdemeanor or felony.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily Fantasy Sports is growing fast in popularity. New to the gambling scene, it is considered a game of skill by many which requires bettors to create a fictitious team based on real players. The performance of the real sports players in real life determine how successful the fictitious team is. As a result, it truly is those with the most “skills” will win.
The two dominant daily fantasy sports providers is DraftKings and FanDuel. On this site, we do not actively promote daily fantasy sports as we understand that it is a game of “skill” which is being exploited by bettors who have the best risk modelling. That is, it isn’t nearly about how well you know your sport, the sport players etc, it is very much about who has the best statistical model and who has access to the most detailed sports player data.
As someone who may be a big fan of sport, and thinking that they would have a good chance of winning money in DFS, think again. You are pitted against statistical modelling experts who deliberately target games that mostly have new players to DFS. In fact, it has been alleged that those who are extremely good at DFS have been known to collaborate among themselves and not compete with each other. Thereby creating a sustainable winning formula shared by the experts.
We therefore want our readers to be aware that DFS is not what is appears to be. In fairness, DFS is legal in South Carolina and many DFS onshore operators accept South Carolina players.
South Carolina Online Bingo
South Carolina bingo laws are stipulated under Charitable gaming state legislation. These laws provide for the licensing of non profit organizations to operate bingo games. At present, these laws do not address nor permit online bingo by onshore operators. Accordingly, online bingo sites that do accept South Carolina players are based offshore (which is the same as online casinos and sports betting sites).
The recommended online bingo sites all accept players from South Carolina. They offer advanced features that include instant messaging, fun bingo games and protocols that ensures bingo participants play together in a civil enjoyable manner. Due to the social aspect of bingo, there is a cultural aspect to bingo which cannot be found with casino or sports betting. As an example, A LOT of acronyms form part of instant chat messaging. If you are not familiar with online bingo lingo, do not be afraid, learning it is one of the most fun parts!
Legal Minimum Gambling Age
The legal minimum gambling age in South Carolina is 21.
Gambling Laws
- Legislation does not expressly cover online gambling, but it is implied to be prohibited
- Onshore online operators are unlawful
- Casino gambling is unlawful, with the exception of cruise ships
- Limited betting on horse races at Springdale Race Track is permitted
- Charitable organizations may operate limited forms of bingo for charitable purposes
Gambling Taxes
Surplus from the lottery is circulated to fund charitable purposes in South Carolina
Regulation and Governance
Gambling Legislation
South Carolina Gambling Market Developments
Background
South Carolina Casinos List
- South Carolina has some of the most restrictive gambling laws in the US and statutes imply a broad prohibition on gambling, subject to certain limitations.
- Casino gambling is limited to cruise ships operating in international waters, but the majority of these have a small capacity.
- The Supreme Court ruled Texas Hold’Em Poker, in private residencies to be unlawful in November 2012. This was the result of two subsequent appeals in the case of Chimento v Town of Mount Pleasant No. 2009-CP-10-001551.
- Gambling expansion is not projected within South Carolina, at least in the short term.
South Carolina Indian Casino
January 2017
Representative Todd Rutherford introduced a bill to the house to authorize and regulate pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, sports betting, skill-based casino games and games of chance with the use of electronic devices or gaming tables. If passed, H 3102 would put the question of whether to expand gambling in the state on the next statewide ballot scheduled to be held on 6 November 2018.
February 2018
International Game Technology PLC (IGT) was awarded a ten (10) year contract to provide the lottery system to the South Carolina Education Lottery. The contract was scheduled to take effect in May 2018.
January 2019
Constitutional amendment bills were introduced to both chambers of the legislature to legalize:
- Casino gaming
- Sports betting on professional sporting events
- Pari-mutuel betting on horse races
In order to be enacted the legislation must be passed by the state legislature and approved by a majority of voters in a statewide referendum. The next statewide vote was scheduled to take place on 03 November 2020.
April 2020
The State Lottery awarded a six (6) year instant game management contract to Scientific Games covering both retail and online channels.
FAQ
Is it legal to gamble online in South Carolina?
Gambling laws vary for each type of game. Online games are not permitted to be offered by onshore gaming operators. As a result, online operators are based offshore at regulated and licensed jurisdictions. South Carolina players are accepted by the offshore operators. In regards, to player legality, the laws neither explicitly declare online gambling as illegal or legal. As a result South Carolina players can continue to enjoy playing online games.
What is the legal minimum age to play at online casinos?
Legal minimum ages vary from online casino to online casino, however their requirement is that the higher of the player’s jurisdiction the the online casino’s own legal minimum is taken to be the determine age limit. Therefore, for South Carolina players the legal minimum age is 21.
What are the best South Carolina Online Casinos?
The best South Carolina online casinos have quality casino bonuses – Welcome and Ongoing, safe and secure payment methods, a good variety of game play, and prompt and accessible service. At the time of writing the best online casino is El Royale Casino.