Is Sports Betting Legal In South Carolina?
There is a lot to love about living in South Carolina. The state is home to some of the world's finest beaches, you can get some of the best barbecue, the biggest fireworks on the 4th of July, and of course, some the biggest and best ballgames. With such a thriving sports culture with college programs like the Gamecocks, there are usually a lot of questions buzzing around sports betting in South Carolina, and we're here to help.
The answer to one of the first questions usually asked is whether or not sports betting is legal for South Carolina residents. Luckily, the answer is yes. It is not punishable by law to participate in sports betting in South Carolina, only to facilitate it. What this essentially means is that the only people who are able to be legally prosecuted when it comes to sports betting are those who stand to make a profit without actually placing any wagers. This means bookies, business owners, etc. If you are an honest citizen merely participating in a sports betting hobby, you will not be prosecuted.
There has been an effort to make legal state-regulated sports betting in South Carolina a reality, but that effort has seen little traction. SC HJR 3395 was prefiled for the 2021 legislative session and would have put the topic on the 2022 November ballot. But that bill never saw the light of day in the 2021 session. SC sports bettors need not worry as using online sportsbooks operated overseas is still very much a legal option.
Land-Based Sports Betting in South Carolina:
This obviously brings up a problem. Sure it's perfectly legal to bet on sports, but what good does that do you if it's illegal for anyone to host you doing it? Unfortunately, this is a bit of a death blow for land based sports betting in South Carolina. The only option South Carolina residents are left with is to seek out illegally run, underground sports betting rings. This action is obviously not recommended for several reasons. Aside from the risk you run to your own person by seeking out this kind of thing, these are exceptionally unsafe places to put your money. Although you still cannot be legally prosecuted for merely playing with illegal factions, their shifty nature makes them a bad place to put your hard earned money.
Legal Online Sports Betting in South Carolina:
Luckily, there is a solution. Since most online sports betting sites are based overseas they do not fall under the jurisdiction that prevents land based betting in South Carolina. Many of these legitimate businesses have been operating for over a decade and have developed pristine reputations for customer service and safety. Giving your money to these legitimate online sportsbooks is as safe as giving your money to an online retailer like Amazon or eBay, and many will accept American players from all over the continental United States.
Bovada Sportsbook - Industry Leading Bonuses And Mobile
Many South Carolina residents looking for a great sportsbook would do well to go with their instinct and visit Bovada. This South Carolina betting site comes verified by major news outlets like FOX Sports and ESPN, so it ranks very highly in the legitimacy department, but perhaps even more importantly, betting here is a lot of fun. Bovada will frequently release their odds well before other websites, giving their account holders and edge on jumping into the betting pool.
Forgetting how legitimate, easy to use, and fun Bovada is, they still have one feature that may be even better than all of those: unparalleled customer service. Whether you have a question about placing a bet, receiving a payout, or anything in between, they are definitely going to be there for their customers. Not only do they offer services like phone or email support, but if you log on to their website, you will find that they have a chat service that can connect you to a live human being 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These are just some examples of the lengths this online sportsbook will go to provide you with excellent service.
Top South Carolina Sports Betting Sites
What's The Bottom Line? Will I Get In Trouble For Betting On Sports?
Now that you know how safe and legitimate sports betting should be, nothing should be stopping you from getting even more excited about the Gamecock's upcoming season. Be careful with those fireworks, wipe the barbecue sauce off your chin, and get to betting!