South Carolina Sweepstakes Casinos: Laws and History
Casino-style gaming fans in South Carolina had long lacked options in this state. Both live and online casino gambling are illegal, albeit you can board one of the few casino boats and take a trip to international waters to play. The good news is that social and sweepstakes casinos have been widely available for several years, offering cash prize redemptions.
But how do SC sweepstakes casinos operate and by which laws? They are not gambling platforms but gaming sites with sweepstakes. We’ll elaborate on that on this page, tell you about their history in the state, and list the best sweepstakes casinos in South Carolina, so keep reading.
Rules and Regulations on South Carolina Sweepstakes Casinos
Most forms of gambling are illegal in South Carolina, with the State Lottery being the primary option. However, sweepstakes casinos don’t have to follow the same laws. But they need to respect the state’s sweepstakes regulations, which are largely the same as in most other states.
This means that standard sweepstakes casinos that operate entirely free but offer the option of prize redemption are completely legal in South Carolina. Moreover, there are no special considerations or rules you need to worry about, meaning that all reputable sweepstakes casinos are allowed to operate in the state.
Most known social and sweepstakes casinos offer their services in South Carolina, while only a handful are not available to the adult residents of the Palmetto State. The legal playing age is 18 years.
History of Social and Sweepstakes Casinos in South Carolina
The history of gambling in South Carolina is relatively brief because the state has always been against most forms of gambling. To illustrate their opposition, consider that the law bans all games with cards or dice, even if they don’t involve money.
The State Lottery was introduced in 2002, and it remains the state’s only legal major gambling option. Charitable gambling, primarily bingo and raffles, has been legal for much longer, specifically since 1976, but they are strictly regulated.
There are no land-based commercial or tribal casinos as they are both banned, but the state has considered sports betting, although the latest bill has been stalled in the House since 2023.
Sweepstakes casinos have, technically, been legal for a long time because the state largely follows the same sweepstakes regulations as most other states. This has led to these platforms spreading and gaining popularity in the last several years, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, you’ll find several dozen of them in South Carolina.
Best Social Sweepstakes Casinos in South Carolina
As mentioned, South Carolina is home to a lot of sweepstakes casinos. In such a saturated market, finding the best platforms that will offer high-quality games, a wide range of free promotions, and an overall exciting gaming experience can be difficult.
To make it easier for you, we’ve reviewed the market and found several sites we believe can provide you with what every fan of sweepstakes casinos needs. Here are the best sites:
• Fortune Coins
• Pulsz
• Spree
• Stake.us
• WOW Vegas
Once you join one of these, you’ll get a welcome no deposit bonus with a bunch of gold coins and likely a few sweepstakes coins. One or both might have a different name but always function similarly.
Gold coins are a virtual currency for playing with no real value. You get them for free through promotions like the no deposit bonus, or you can purchase one or more of the gold coin packages if you lack enough coins to play.
Sweepstakes coins are also used for playing, but they can also be redeemed for cash prizes once specific conditions are met, mostly revolving around having to play with them at least once before using them in redemption requests. You get these coins entirely for free through promotions and gold coin packages. You can also request them through mail.
You can play with both currencies, but you’ll only get to redeem sweepstakes coins, and you can’t exchange one type for another. Thanks to the various methods of getting more coins, you’ll always have a chance to continue playing on these platforms, but you’ll also need to be careful with sweepstakes coins, as that balance will always be lower.
FAQ
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in South Carolina?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are entirely legal in the state and have no special rules they need to follow, only the standard sweepstakes regulations.
Can I win real money at SC sweepstakes casinos?
No, South Carolina sweepstakes casinos are not real money sites, nor are they gambling platforms. However, you can use sweepstakes coins to play, and once you’ve met the requirements, you can redeem them for cash prizes.
Can I claim bonuses at South Carolina sweepstakes casinos?
SC sweepstakes social casinos don’t have standard bonuses, but they do have free promotions, including no deposit bonuses like the welcome signup offer and a daily free login bonus. Many other free promotions exist as well, like casino-specific offers, discounted gold coin packages, social media contests, giveaways, and tournaments.
