South Carolina Legislators Hear Sports Betting Bill

Three gaming bills are being discussed at a South Carolina House subcommittee, including a sports betting bill that would allow statewide access to mobile sportsbooks.

Public Support

Many of South Carolina’s lawmakers are in office due to a constituency that advocates conservative and religious values in the Palmetto State. But despite that, sports betting has become so mainstream throughout the United States that much of the stigma tied to it has dissipated.

Public Support 

South Carolina is one of the remaining holdouts, with only a lottery and no land-based casinos or any form of sports betting permitted to operate within the state’s boundaries. However, a public opinion poll taken by Benchmark Research reveals 70% of South Carolinians support sports betting, which could provide the impetus to gain legislative traction.

H3625, also known as the South Carolina Sports Wagering Act, would legalize sports betting, create an oversight commission tasked with awarding licenses, and levy a revenue tax. Earlier this week, the House Ways and Means Committee’s Revenue Policy Subcommittee heard testimony from supporters and opponents of the bill but did not take a vote, preferring to consider amendments to the bill and reconvene at a future date.

Lawmakers Express Concerns

Subcommittee Chair and Representative Bruce Bannister said, “If we’re going to do anything, we’ll reconvene and take action on the bills and amendments at that time.”

Representative John McCravy believes the bill in its present form is too nebulous and would need clarity if it had any chance of passing. McCrary stated that the measure “would need a lot of work to avoid unintended consequences.”

Supporters & Detractors

Bringing sports betting to a state devoid of gambling, with the exception of a state lottery in South Carolina’s case, is not an easy task, but it is not impossible. Hawaii is one of two non-gaming states, with Utah being the other, that has no state lottery, but a sports betting bill is in the works and could become law during this legislative session.

Therefore, sports betting faces a difficult road ahead in South Carolina. Supporters and critics of a sports betting bill have been all too willing to make their opinions heard on the issue.

Industry Support

Michelle McGregor, a spokesperson for the industry trade group the Sports Betting Alliance, testified in front of the committee in support of H3625 and said a sports betting bill would generate $60 million in revenue for the state.

“People here in South Carolina are already betting on sports,” SBA’s Michelle McGregor said to the committee.

“I’m not just talking about the office March Madness pool, but the hundreds and thousands of people who are placing wagers on illegal, offshore websites or with their local bookie. The American Gaming Association estimates that here in South Carolina, roughly $1 billion is wagered annually on these offshore sportsbooks that have no oversight or consumer protections and certainly do not generate tax revenue for the state.”

Religious and Social Opposition

However, opposition voices were also heard with a joint letter released from the Catholic Diocese of Charleston and the South Carolina Baptist Convention condemning any expansion of gambling in the state.

Palmetto Family Director of Communications Justin Hall said, “What you could see in an increase in state tax revenue, you’re also going to be paying more for public safety. You’re also going to be paying more in trying to cancel out or close out some debts. Anything we think would be a positive, that the vast majority of folks think would be a positive, is going to be offset by these rising peripheral costs or some bottom-line costs.”