Essential Guide to South Carolina Gambling Laws
On this page, you will find relevant information about the current South Carolina gambling laws. We will list all administrative regulations associated with betting within the state and will mention the forms of gambling that are considered illegal. In the end, we’ll answer several popular inquiries associated with the topic.
South Carolina Gambling Laws Overview
We will probably disappoint many of you by saying that the South Carolina gambling laws are immensely restrictive. South Carolina is one of the very few American states that forbid online gambling, gambling at land-based casinos, and all other casino games, such as poker, baccarat, and so on. Not only this, but social gambling is not allowed, as well. In other words, residents are not permitted to organize private meetings with friends and play poker with real money. All additional details regarding the South Carolina gambling laws are presented below.
History of the South Carolina Gambling Laws
In South Carolina, gambling is considered an activity that is morally degrading. Thus, it is far from surprising that the state has some of the strictest regulations when it comes to both online and land-based betting. Prior to 2000, there were video poker machines in SC, and betting on them was not illegal.
Nonetheless, this changed, and today, there are no such machines anywhere in the state. Over the years, the South Carolina gambling laws became more and more stringent, and today, there are very few legal forms of betting residents of the state may engage in. In the following sections, we’ll focus on each one of them individually.
Online Betting in South Carolina
It goes without saying that if you are a fan of online slots, you will not be able to indulge in your hobby while you’re in the state. The reason being is that, according to the South Carolina gambling laws, all forms of online wagering are hazardous and degrading. Therefore, if you embark on a quest of finding a US casino you can join while staying in SC, you’ll be quite disappointed with the outcome.
Nevertheless, offshore wagering is not considered illegal. There are no specific regulations that prohibit players to register on websites registered outside the US. However, providing your personal data and depositing funds on such platforms come with risks. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct thorough research about the respective operator before you proceed with the signup process.
Land-Based Gambling in South Carolina
As many of you probably know, tribal casinos are present in some American states, such as Wisconsin and Minnesota, for example. Nevertheless, South Carolina is not part of the list of states that allow for tribal gambling. In other words, there are no gambling facilities in the state. And we are not talking only about casinos. Residents will not find any poker rooms, racetracks, or off-track betting facilities. The latter is due to the fact that the South Carolina gambling laws do not allow betting on horse or dog racing.
The state South Carolina Lottery, on the other hand, is something all people of legal age can make use of. It offers a number of different lottery tickets everyone who is 18 or older may buy. In addition to this, in 2004, electronic bingo machines became legal, as well. Although most bingo events are charitable, individuals may still try out their luck with the machines for real-money prizes.
Gambling on A Cruise
And last but not least, we would like to focus our attention on the casino cruises people may go on. Some of you probably know that gambling cruises allow clients to engage in various casino activities. Fortunately, the South Carolina gambling laws do not prohibit this form of gambling. Cruises are organized on a regular basis, which means that all enthusiasts will have the opportunity to have some fun.
The most popular casino cruises in SC are the two Big M Casino Cruises, which are at customers’ disposal throughout most of the week. There, visitors will be presented with many fun activities, including poker sessions, blackjack games, and so on. To access such a venue, however, you should be of legal age, which, in the case of South Carolina, is 21.
FAQ
Now that you know all the essential information about the South Carolina gambling laws, it is time to present you with a few more specific inquiries with respect to the topic. Below, you will find factual answers to several questions most people are interested in. We picked questions regarding both online and land-based betting in the state.
1️⃣ Are online casinos permitted by South Carolina gambling laws?
Unquestionably, the diversity of top online casinos in the US is endless. Sadly, however, residents of South Carolina state are not permitted to join online casinos or sports betting websites. They are only permitted to register on offshore platforms, but this is often associated with many potential risks.
2️⃣ Are there any casinos based in South Carolina?
According to the South Carolina gambling laws, betting at land-based casinos is prohibited. Thus, at present, there are no commercial or tribal casinos located in SC. Off-shore betting is prohibited, as well, which means that people don't have access to such facilities, as well.
3️⃣ Are South Carolina gambling laws strict?
Without a doubt, we may say that the South Carolina gambling laws are immensely stringent, and this state is considered one of the most non-friendly gambling US states. The only legal types of gambling include casino cruise gambling and playing on electronic bingo machines.
4️⃣ Who can bet at casino cruises as per the SC gambling laws?
As per the South Carolina gambling laws, the legal gambling age in this American state is 21. Therefore, everyone who wants to take part in any gambling activity on a casino cruise should not be younger than that. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to enter the premises of the venue.
5️⃣ Have the South Carolina gambling laws always been so stringent?
Although South Carolina has never been a state where gambling was well-received by the authority, there were times when the South Carolina gambling laws were a bit less stern. According to SC gambling history video poker machines used to be available. In 2000, however, they, too, became prohibited.