South Carolina Gambling, Sweepstakes and Casino Information

Sweepstakes Casinos in South Carolina

Sweepstakes casinos are accessible in South Carolina and all of our recommended platforms are available. South Carolina has no specific legislation targeting online sweepstakes platforms, and no enforcement actions have been taken against operators or players. The sweepstakes model — operating under federal promotional sweepstakes law with a no-purchase-necessary alternative entry method — is legally distinct from the gambling activities prohibited under South Carolina's Title 16, Chapter 19 statutes.

South Carolina is one of just six US states with no land-based casino at all (alongside Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Tennessee, and Utah). For residents, sweepstakes casinos are the most practical way to play casino-style games from home.

• MegaBonanza — Our top pick for South Carolina. Large slots catalogue, generous daily bonuses, and a polished free-entry model.
• Crown Coins — A well-regarded sweepstakes casino with a strong game library and smooth redemption process.
• Spree — A growing platform with a clean no-purchase entry model and solid game selection.
• WOW Vegas — Over 1,000 slots plus live dealer games. A consistently top-rated app for South Carolina players.
• Free Spin Casino — A solid option with a wide variety of slot titles.
• American Luck — A US-focused platform with regular promotional offers.
• Fortune Coins — Popular for its large game library and strong VIP programme.

Social Casinos

• 7 Seas Casino — Free-to-play Vegas-style slots. No prizes, no purchase.
• Vegas World — Free slots, poker, and table games.
• Casino World — A broad range of free social casino games.

Tax on Sweepstakes Winnings in South Carolina

South Carolina has a state income tax. Sweepstakes prizes are taxable as ordinary income at both state and federal level. Platforms will issue a 1099-MISC for prizes exceeding $600. Declare all prize income on your South Carolina state tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in South Carolina?

They are accessible and no enforcement action has been taken. South Carolina's gambling laws (Title 16, Chapter 19) broadly prohibit games of chance for money, but sweepstakes platforms operate under federal promotional sweepstakes law with a no-purchase-necessary alternative entry — making them legally distinct from gambling. All major platforms are available. South Carolina's Prizes and Gifts Act (Title 37, Chapter 15) requires promotional operators to honour disclosed prizes without hidden fees, which reputable sweepstakes casinos comply with.

Is sports betting legal in South Carolina?

No — and every attempt to change that has failed. Bills were introduced in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 without a single one clearing committee. In 2026, Senate Bill 444 (sports betting) and House Bill 4176 (I-95 casino) were introduced and held a February hearing — the first public hearing on sports betting in 2026 nationally — but no vote was taken. Legalising sports betting in South Carolina almost certainly requires a constitutional amendment and a statewide voter referendum, given the breadth of the state's anti-gambling constitutional language. Governor Henry McMaster has opposed gambling expansion. The closest legal sports betting for South Carolinians is across the border in North Carolina (launched March 2024) and Tennessee.

Are there casinos in South Carolina?

No land-based casinos at all. South Carolina is one of only six US states without a single land-based casino (alongside Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Tennessee, and Utah). SC law (§ 16-19-40) explicitly bans "any game with cards or dice" and gambling machines. The only exception is The Big M Casino cruise ships from Little River — once passengers are in international waters, gambling is permitted. The Catawba Indian Nation, South Carolina's only federally recognised tribe, has repeatedly sought casino approval and been denied; it currently operates only bingo under its 1993 settlement agreement.

What is The Big M Casino?

The Big M Casino operates two gambling cruise ships departing from Little River, just north of Myrtle Beach near the North Carolina border. Once the ships sail into international waters, passengers can legally play slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, Three Card Poker, and Texas Hold'em. Cruises run six days a week with both daytime and evening departures. Minimum age is 21. This is the only option for land-based casino gaming within South Carolina's borders.

What is the I-95 casino proposal?

House Bill 4176 would authorise a commercial casino resort development along Interstate 95 near Santee (Orangeburg County), adjacent to Lake Marion. The project has been developed by Greenville businessman Wallace Cheves — who also helped establish the Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Supporters argue the Santee location could generate more than $100 million annually in tax revenue for the state. A proposed amendment directs 35% of revenue to South Carolina's Conservation Bank and 30% to the Veterans' Trust Fund, broadening political appeal. The bill received committee hearings in 2025 and 2026 but has not advanced to a vote.

What responsible gambling resources are available in South Carolina?

The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-800-522-4700, 24/7 by phone, text, and live chat. The South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) provides referrals and support for gambling addiction treatment. The South Carolina Education Lottery funds some problem gambling resources. All sweepstakes platforms are required to offer self-exclusion and responsible play tools.

South Carolina Gambling Laws

South Carolina has some of the most restrictive gambling laws in the US. Title 16, Chapter 19 of the South Carolina Code prohibits "any game with cards or dice" and gambling machines. The anti-gambling provisions are broad enough that some legal interpretations would prohibit even social card games with no money involved.

The state constitution's anti-gambling language means that meaningful expansion — particularly commercial casinos or sports betting — almost certainly requires a constitutional amendment passed by the legislature and then approved by voters in a statewide referendum. This double hurdle has blocked every reform effort since 2017.

The VLT collapse of 1999-2000 casts a long shadow. South Carolina had as many as 34,000 video lottery terminals in bars and convenience stores during the 1990s — a multi-billion-dollar industry. The Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional in October 1999, and all machines were removed by June 2000. No other US state has had a large established gambling industry reversed by the courts in this way. The episode created lasting political toxicity around gambling expansion, particularly in conservative communities.

The Catawba Indian Nation is South Carolina's only federally recognised tribe but operates under uniquely constrained terms. Its 1993 settlement with the state placed the tribe under state law rather than the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act for most purposes, limiting it to bingo operations. Multiple legal attempts to expand to casino gaming have failed in court (most recently in 2007 and 2014). The Catawba's opening of Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, North Carolina (2021) — just over the state line — reflects the tribe's strategy of pursuing gaming outside South Carolina's jurisdiction.

South Carolina Gambling History

South Carolina's most remarkable gambling chapter is the VLT era of the 1990s. Establishments including convenience stores and bars began installing video lottery terminals in the 1970s, exploiting loopholes in state law. By the late 1990s, approximately 34,000 machines — effectively video poker terminals — operated statewide, generating billions in revenue that funded school construction, hospital improvements, and other public infrastructure.

Legislators attempted to regulate the machines with restrictions on daily winnings and machine density per venue. A tragic incident — in which an infant suffocated while its parent played video poker — became a political flashpoint. The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled VLTs unconstitutional in October 1999, and all machines were removed statewide by June 2000. This reversal is unique in US gambling history.

The South Carolina Education Lottery was established in 2001 and began sales in 2002, providing a controlled state-managed gambling revenue stream for education. Charitable bingo has operated throughout. All other gambling expansion proposals since 2000 have failed, including pari-mutuel horse racing, commercial casinos, and sports betting. The I-95 casino proposal represents the most sustained recent effort — with Republican-led hearings in 2025 and 2026 signalling the most political movement in decades, though still short of a vote.

Responsible Gambling in South Carolina

• National Problem Gambling Helpline — 1-800-522-4700, available 24/7 by phone, text, and live chat at ncpgambling.org.
• South Carolina DAODAS — Referrals and treatment support for gambling addiction through the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services at daodas.sc.gov.
• South Carolina Education Lottery funds a portion of responsible gambling programming.

References

1. South Carolina Department of Revenue — Bingo Licensing and Enforcement
2. South Carolina Education Lottery
3. Online gambling — are players at risk of prosecution?
4. American Gaming Association