If you know anything about the South and their Conservative nature, it goes without saying that there are not many gambling options. In fact, to say that there are not many gambling options is an understatement. There are absolutely no ways by which you can pursue casino-style gambling in the state of South Carolina.
In the state of South Carolina there are no casino-style gambling options on land. With that being said, the overall gambling landscape is arguably the second-worst in the country, behind Utah. The following few sections will discuss how gambling exists in the state of South Carolina.
South Carolina Online Casinos
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’ customers. Theoretically speaking, online gamblers could be charged with unlawful gambling based on the existing regulations, but this theory hasn’t been tested in the court so far and it’s highly doubtful that the authorities would be able to get a conviction.
As a result, online gambling enthusiasts are essentially left to their own devices and are free to use any US-facing iGaming platforms they want. South Carolina residents have plenty of online gambling sites to choose from, which might be problematic for inexperienced iGaming enthusiasts who don’t know how to find quality poker networks, casinos or sportsbooks. If you aren’t sure which site to pick, we recommend you to follow our set of basic guidelines.
If you’re looking for a poker room, always try to focus on finding sites that give you access to the largest player pools, as their size ultimately determines the quality of cash games and the tournament prizes. If you want to try an online casino, you might want to focus on getting the best promotions instead, but don’t forget about keeping an eye out for sites that excel in terms of game selection. Last, but not least, if you’re a sports betting enthusiast, try to compare different sportsbooks in terms of prices or event coverage and pick one or two that seem to outclass the competition.
South Carolina Casinos
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Gambling in South Carolina
South Carolina gambling laws are very restrictive, as the idea of allowing more forms of real money gaming within the Palmetto State has never been popular among the local politicians. The only regulated form of gambling available to South Carolina residents is the state-controlled lottery.
Casino games and pari-mutuel games are illegal. Fortunately, South Carolina doesn’t have any dedicated iGaming laws, so the local gambling enthusiasts are still essentially free to play their favorite games using offshore gaming sites.
Riverboat/Cruise
In South Carolina there are technically no casinos. With that being said, the expansive coastline of the state offers a boatload of water-based gambling options. This is the case in that there are a number of cruises that make their way out into international waters and are then allowed to offer any type of casino game they would like.
Once you are a certain distance into the ocean, the laws that govern South Carolina are no longer in play. This means that even though casino-style gambling is illegal in South Carolina, it is completely legal once you are sailing the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, apart from gambling on the open ocean there are absolutely no gambling options in the state.
South Carolina Casino History
From the first day that South Carolina had laws, all types of gambling were outlawed. Nowadays, any type of gambling that involves cards, dice, or any combination of the two is deemed to be illegal. Even cash games, like cash poker games between friends, are illegal if there are real money prizes.
The way the law is worded prevents just about any type of gambling from sliding through the cracks. Even in states like North Dakota, there are laws preventing casino-style gambling, but the existence of tribal casinos somewhat augments that. In South Carolina, even the prospect of tribal gaming is something that has barely even been considered. Since the early 1990s, native tribes have been trying to get any sort of gambling going, but have been blocked each and every time. In 1993, for example, there was an effort to push for the legalization of high-stakes bingo games, but this was quickly done away with. There are some bingo games able to be played, however they are all played at private venues and the state places strict restrictions on the amount of money that can be played for.
Even the water-based, mobile casinos that make their way into the Atlantic Ocean could not stay out of the firing line. In 2008, there was an effort on the part of coastal counties to have the casino boats that docked in these counties banned. Though the ban was almost successful, it ended up being thrown out.
If you are looking for any form of gambling whatsoever, there is a state lottery. To put in perspective just how far behind the times South Carolina is with regard to their offering of gambling options, the state lottery was only made available in 2001. In many other states, a lottery had existed for well over 20 years.
South Carolina Online Gambling FAQ
How Do I Get Started?
Getting started is easy if you know what to expect. Quite obviously, the first step is to pick a site that you’d like to play on. Once that’s out of the way, sign up for a gambling account, make your first deposit and wait for the account to be verified, which shouldn’t take more than 48 hours.
How Do I Get My Money if I Win?
A cash out request may be placed via the cashier menu at any point in time, but usually takes between 24 and 48 hours to process. Most sites rely on traditional wire transfers when it comes to handling transactions of this kind, so your winnings usually arrive between 7 and 10 days later.
What is the minimum age to gamble online in South Carolina?
South Carolina-friendly sites require their customers to be at least 18 years old. Please note that the legal land-based casino age in South Carolina, which is set at 21, is pretty much irrelevant here.
How do I open an account?
If you want to open an account, you just need to submit a registration form with some basic personal information. The site’s staff will ask you to confirm your identity – once you send them a scan of a photo ID or a similar document you should be good to go.
Where can I open my account from?
Offshore gambling accounts can be set up from anywhere in the United States.
From where can I access South Carolina online gambling sites?
You can access those sites from anywhere in the country, but you should be careful about using gambling sites in Washington and Utah, as both of those states have very strict anti-iGaming laws.
Where can I familiarize myself with the official regulations over gambling in South Carolina?
The local gambling regulations are all listed in various sections of South Carolina Code.
How do I deposit to my online gambling account?
Most sites prefer credit card payments, which shouldn’t be all that surprising since this method is quick and reliable as long as you use Visa or MasterCard cards.
How do I withdraw my winnings?
The easiest way to withdraw your winnings is to request a bank wire transfer, but some sites also allow their customers to cash out via a check delivered by courier.
Is my money safe?
Your money is perfectly safe with the sites listed here, as they’ve been vetted by our iGaming experts. If you’d like to try a different site, you should definitely consider doing some research before you commit any significant amounts of cash.
What body regulates gambling in South Carolina?
Regulated gambling in South Carolina is managed by South Carolina Department of Revenue.