Online Casinos in South Carolina
Are real-money online casinos legal in the Palmetto State, and what gambling can you actually do here in 2026?
Short Answer
No. There are no licensed online casinos in South Carolina.
South Carolina has not enacted any iGaming law, and the state licenses no real-money online slots or table games. Article XVII, Section 7 of the state constitution bans lotteries except for the SC Education Lottery, charitable bingo, and nonprofit raffles. Online sports betting is still only a bill, S.444, and brick-and-mortar casinos remain blocked by Governor McMaster's veto threat. Sites pitching "SC online casino real money" are offshore operators with no state oversight.
How It Happened
Video poker industry banned statewide
After the SC Supreme Court struck down the 1999 keep-or-kill referendum, roughly 33,000 video poker machines went dark. It was the largest legal gambling sector outside Nevada at the time.
SC Education Lottery sales begin
Voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 2000, the General Assembly passed the Education Lottery Act in 2001, and tickets went on sale at licensed retailers only. Online lottery sales were not authorized.
H.3625 sports wagering and H.J. 3353 gambling amendment introduced
The 2025-2026 session opened with paired bills to authorize online sports betting and to put broader gambling expansion before voters. Neither cleared committee.
Senate subcommittee hears S.444, takes no vote
Senators Tom Davis and Matthew Leber's sports-betting bill would cap licenses at eight operators with a 12.5% tax on adjusted gross revenue. The subcommittee adjourned without voting; Governor McMaster stayed opposed.
Sweepstakes Casinos for South Carolina
With no licensed online casinos here, sweepstakes sites are the legal way to play slots and table games. These are placeholders until our database is wired in.
Casinos we play at. We earn a commission when you sign up through these.
Why There Are No Online Casinos
Article XVII, Section 7 of the South Carolina Constitution bans lotteries outright, with narrow carve-outs voters added later for the SC Education Lottery, charitable bingo, and nonprofit raffles. Casino-style gambling falls under SC Code Title 16, Chapter 19, where running unlawful games and bookmaking are misdemeanors. The state Supreme Court used this framework to wipe out the 33,000-machine video poker industry on July 1, 2000, and lawmakers have not authorized any replacement product since.
No iGaming bill is filed in the 2025-2026 session. The two live gambling measures are S.444, a sports-betting bill that got a Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry subcommittee hearing in February 2026 with no vote, and H.4176, the I-95 land-based casino proposal that stalled after Governor Henry McMaster repeated his veto threat. Online casino expansion is not on the table while sports betting and even a single brick-and-mortar casino remain stuck.
What You Can Play in South Carolina
The narrow set of gambling options South Carolina law actually allows.
SC Education Lottery
Authorized by a 2000 voter referendum and launched on January 7, 2002. The lottery sells draw and instant tickets, but only at licensed retail outlets. There is no internet purchase channel and no iLottery app. Minimum age is 18.
Sweepstakes & Social Casinos
South Carolina has no statute banning the sweepstakes promotional model. Free-to-play social slots and dual-currency sweepstakes sites are accessible to residents, the closest legal substitute for online casino games here. SC is not among the seven states that banned sweeps in 2025-2026.
Charitable Bingo & Nonprofit Raffles
Nonprofit bingo is licensed and taxed through the SC Department of Revenue. Nonprofit raffles need a $50 annual filing with the Secretary of State. "Casino night" and "Las Vegas night" fundraisers with real wagering are not allowed.
Catawba Two Kings Casino (Across the NC Line)
The Catawba Indian Nation's 1993 federal settlement bars tribal gaming inside South Carolina, so its Two Kings Casino sits in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, about 35 miles from Rock Hill. SC residents drive there to play slots and table games.
Play Responsibly
You must be 18 to play the SC Education Lottery, bingo, or nonprofit raffles in South Carolina. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential help, or read our responsible gambling guide.
South Carolina Gambling FAQ
Are online casinos legal in South Carolina?+
No. South Carolina has not enacted any iGaming law, and no operator holds a state license to offer real-money online slots, table games, or live dealer casino. Any "SC online casino real money" site is offshore and unregulated.
Can I legally bet on sports online in South Carolina?+
No. The closest active bill is S.444, which got a Senate subcommittee hearing on February 19, 2026 but no vote. Governor Henry McMaster is publicly opposed and has signaled a veto.
Why does South Carolina ban most gambling?+
Article XVII, Section 7 of the state constitution bans lotteries. Voters carved out the Education Lottery in 2000, charitable bingo, and nonprofit raffles, but casino games and pari-mutuel wagering have no constitutional or statutory authorization.
Are sweepstakes casinos allowed in South Carolina?+
Yes. The state has no specific sweepstakes ban, and sites operating under the free-entry promotional model are accessible to residents. SC is not among the seven states that have banned sweeps as of May 2026.
Can SC residents play at the Catawba tribe's casino?+
Yes, but it sits in North Carolina. The Catawba Two Kings Casino is in Kings Mountain, NC, about 35 miles from the tribe's South Carolina headquarters in Rock Hill. A 1993 federal settlement blocks tribal gaming inside SC.
How old do you have to be to gamble in South Carolina?+
The minimum age is 18 for the SC Education Lottery, charitable bingo, and nonprofit raffles.
Will South Carolina legalize online casinos?+
There is no iGaming bill in the 2025-2026 session, and the narrower sports-betting and land-based casino bills are stuck under a governor who has promised vetoes. We update this page when the legal status changes.