South Carolina gambling laws

South Carolina gambling laws: the short answer

South Carolina gambling laws center on Title 16, Chapter 19 of the state code. Its two key sections ban card and dice games and gaming devices (§16-19-40) and ban bookmaking and the recording or forwarding of bets on contests (§16-19-130). No statute authorizes an online casino, a sportsbook or a commercial casino, so the state has no gaming regulator to license one.

What the chapter does not contain is just as telling. Its text has no section aimed specifically at internet gambling, which is why the online question is often described as a gray area. That description goes too far. The general bans are broad, and nothing in state law makes online casino play an approved activity. For the bigger picture, see the South Carolina online casino guide.

People in Charleston, Columbia and North Charleston still see offshore casino sites advertised. Those sites are licensed (if at all) outside the US, and the sections below explain exactly what state and federal law say so you can decide with the facts in front of you.

What S.C. Code §16-19-40 says about unlawful games and betting

Section 16-19-40 is the core of the state's gambling ban. It targets games with cards or dice and gaming devices, and it reaches both the people who play and the people who run the game. You can read the full chapter on the South Carolina Legislature's code page (opens in a new tab).

The gap between the player penalty and the operator penalty shows where the law puts its weight. Even so, a player-level offense is on the books. We can't tell you how prosecutors use it, and this page isn't legal advice. If you need a firm answer for your situation, a South Carolina attorney is the right person to ask.

Sports betting and bookmaking under §16-19-130

Sports betting is not legal in South Carolina. Section 16-19-130 makes bookmaking a misdemeanor and also covers recording or forwarding bets on contests, which captures informal betting pools run as a business. Since the US Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Murphy v. NCAA, states may legalize sports betting, but South Carolina hasn't.

That leaves no licensed sportsbook, retail or mobile, anywhere in the state. Our South Carolina sports betting page tracks the topic, and the Murphy v. NCAA explainer covers why some states moved and others didn't.

Are online casinos legal in South Carolina?

No state law authorizes them, and there is no license a South Carolina online casino could hold. The offshore sites that accept South Carolina players operate outside any US licensing system. Some publish an overseas license: Silver Oak names Anjouan in its terms, while third-party reviewers give conflicting answers for Planet 7, from Costa Rica to no license at all.

Federal law adds a layer. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, in 31 U.S.C. § 5362 (opens in a new tab), defines unlawful internet gambling by reference to the law of the state where the bet is placed, and it targets the payment side rather than the player. Our offshore casinos legality page covers how these pieces fit together.

Our partner casinos are offshore. No US state, South Carolina included, licenses or regulates them. That means no state regulator to complain to and no state-backed protection of your balance.

Every form of gambling in South Carolina: legal status at a glance

The table sums up each form of gambling as it stood on October 28, 2026. Where we couldn't confirm a point from an official or reliable source, it says so rather than guessing.

The sweepstakes line matters because several states have recently banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos, including New York, New Jersey, California and Tennessee. South Carolina has not joined that list so far. Our sweepstakes casinos in South Carolina page and the national sweepstakes casino bans tracker follow the trend.

Who regulates gambling in South Carolina?

No agency licenses casinos or sportsbooks, because neither is legal. Enforcement of Chapter 19 falls to ordinary law enforcement and prosecutors rather than a gaming commission. That is a sharp contrast with the seven states that license online casinos, where a regulator approves operators, tests games and handles complaints.

In practice, a South Carolina resident who has a dispute with an offshore casino has nowhere official to turn inside the state. Some casinos point to a dispute process of their own; Silver Oak's terms, for example, require disputes within three days of a wager. Our guide to state regulators shows which states have one and what they do.

Federal gambling laws that apply in South Carolina

Federal statutes don't legalize anything in South Carolina, but they shape how gambling businesses and payments work. The main ones are summarized below.

The First Circuit's ruling in New Hampshire Lottery Commission v. Rosen (opens in a new tab) is the source of the sports-only reading of the Wire Act. The Illegal Gambling Business Act explains why federal cases tend to target organized operations. More detail is in our Wire Act and UIGEA explainers.

Legal gambling age in South Carolina

We couldn't confirm a statutory minimum age for any form of gambling in South Carolina from an official source for this page. With no legal casino or sportsbook, there is no casino age to set. Offshore casinos apply their own rules instead: Silver Oak's terms say 21, or the local legal age if higher, and third-party reviewers report 21+ at Planet 7.

Our site shows offers only to adults 21+ (18+ where allowed). The national gambling age by state table compares the rules elsewhere.

Recent gambling bills: what has changed in South Carolina

As of October 28, 2026, we haven't confirmed any enacted South Carolina bill that changes the online casino, sports betting or sweepstakes picture. Bills are filed in many sessions, so a proposal may exist that we haven't verified; the Legislature's own site is the place to check.

At the federal level, the Congressional Research Service listed several 2025–2026 bills on prediction markets, some of which define "casino-style games" to keep them off CFTC-regulated exchanges. None was listed as enacted. Our prediction markets page follows them.

1. Search the South Carolina Legislature's site for bills on gaming, sports wagering or sweepstakes.
2. Read the bill's status line: introduced, in committee, passed one chamber, or signed.
3. Check the effective date in the bill text, since signed laws often start later.
4. Compare the bill against Title 16, Chapter 19 to see which section it would change.
5. Recheck before you rely on news coverage, which can lag behind amendments.

Gambling taxes for South Carolina residents

Gambling winnings are taxable federal income, whether or not the gambling was legal where you played. The IRS instructions for Form W-2G (opens in a new tab) set a $2,000 reporting threshold for slot, bingo and keno winnings paid in 2026. Offshore casinos may not issue a W-2G, so keeping your own records is up to you.

For tax years from 2026, the 2025 federal tax law is reported to cap the loss deduction at 90% of wagering losses, and only up to your winnings; check IRS guidance. State income tax treatment isn't covered here, so ask a tax professional. Our gambling taxes page explains the federal side.

Problem gambling help for South Carolina residents

We couldn't confirm a South Carolina state helpline number for this page, so use the national line. The National Problem Gambling Helpline, run by NCPG, is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), free and confidential, with call, text and chat on NCPG's help and treatment page (opens in a new tab).

Gamblers Anonymous holds in-person and online meetings, and blocking apps like Gamban can lock gambling sites on your devices. Our blocking software guide compares the options. Gambling is entertainment that costs money, and the house edge means losses are likely over time.

Offshore casino offers shown to South Carolina readers

We show these offers knowing South Carolina law authorizes no online casino. Both casinos are offshore and are not licensed by South Carolina or any US state, so read the sections above, check the law for yourself and weigh the risks: no state complaint route, no state protection of balances, and payout rules the casino sets. Both were named in Michigan's April 9, 2025 cease-and-desist release (opens in a new tab) as illegal offshore operators there. You must be 21+ (18+ where allowed), and terms apply.

• Silver Oak Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's own terms list 40x wagering on slots (its offer page says 30x) and 60x on table games and video poker, deposits from $30 and a weekly withdrawal cap from $2,500; its site advertises a different package with no free spins, so the terms at sign-up apply.
• Planet 7 Casino: $2,750 Welcome Bonus + 45 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report 30x (bonus + deposit) on slots, a $1,000 max cashout on a coded match and a $2,500 weekly cap; Planet 7's own terms couldn't be confirmed, so check them at sign-up.

Bonus funds are slot-focused, and table games are often excluded or weighted lower. Before you claim, read the Silver Oak review for its Anjouan license details and the South Carolina casino bonuses page for the wagering math. We earn a commission from partners, and our order is commercial.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).