Online Casinos in South Carolina

The 23rd most populous and the 40th most extensive U.S. state, South Carolina is among the states that frown upon gambling of any kind, to say the least. The gambling laws here are draconic – you can make sure of it by perusing the respective section of the South Carolina Code of Laws – and violators are in danger of being fined and/or imprisoned.

Generally, unless you are about to hop on one of the cruise ships or indulge in playing the South Carolina Educational Lottery, there’s no way to stay on the legal side of the fence (even social gaming might raise questions under certain circumstances). However, there’s still a loophole in the state laws that you might want to take advantage of. What is it? Read on.

Laws Affecting Online Gambling in South Carolina

The language of Chapter 19 of the South Carolina Code of Laws – the one that regulates gambling and lotteries in South Carolina and theoretically, should also contain South Carolina online gambling laws – is detailed, clear, and prohibitive, but it neither mentions online gambling or internet gambling as such nor says anything about the status of online players, which is why it’s only logical to assume that you are free to interpret the law the way you see it.

Answering the popular question ‘is online gambling legal in South Carolina,’ we should say that:

• theoretically, since Chapter 19 of the South Carolina Code of Laws does not explicitly prohibit you from gambling at offshore online casinos, you are free to act as you will;
• it comes down to how you read the law, namely whether you think the provisions of Chapter 19 should apply to online gambling.

Considering everything said above, we would recommend players from South Carolina to use VPN services and anonymous banking methods. And if you want to save your time on choosing the best casino to play from the Palmetto State, there’s a shortcut for you: go to our tailor-made list of top-notch offshore online casinos that accept punters from South Carolina and pick your best venue among dozens of safe and reliable alternatives.

Sports Betting in South Carolina

There are no sports betting facilities in Carolina or any laws that would allow you to place wagers with offshore bookies. The only silver lining in the dark clouds of South Carolina gambling and sports betting happened on January 10, 2017, when the bill H. 3102 was introduced in the House. H. 3102 was to legalize betting on professional sports and pari-mutuel wagering, but the status of the bill hasn’t been changed for years. At the time of writing, it says that the bill is ‘Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary.’

Chances are the long-overdue update of the bill will never happen, but the very fact of the consideration of H. 3102 is a good sign for sports betting and gambling in the Palmetto State. Meanwhile, you can accept the existing risks (minimal) and access international bookies catering to sports betting fans from South Carolina. The best offers are available at the top of the page in the list of top online casinos in South Carolina for 2021.

Interesting Facts About Online Gambling in South Carolina

South Carolina is not the only state where gambling is forbidden altogether (at least two more of them are keeping a stranglehold on gambling: Utah and Hawaii), but it’s the only one that shifted its policy from pro-gambling to anti-gambling. It happened in October 1999, when the South Carolina Supreme Court proclaimed video lottery terminals unconstitutional. Thousands of machines were removed from the bars and restaurants of the state. However, most South Carolinians were against VLTs at the time and wanted them to be eliminated once and for all. All VLTs were shut down by June 2000.

As for South Carolina online gambling, no online game has ever been legal except for the state lottery known as ‘South Carolina Educational Lottery’ and offering terminal games (PowerBall, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life, Palmetto Cash 5, Pick 4, and Pick 3), instant games, and second-chance games.

Getting Help for Problem Gambling in South Carolina

The South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) addresses problem gambling – including the problem gambling helpline – using the funds from the state lottery, whereas the latter itself helps to promote the helpline and raise public awareness. The state has no affiliate to the National Council on Problem Gambling.

The fact sheet on problem gambling in South Carolina is available by the link. Also, there are nationwide resources that you can reach for help:

• National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-522-4700, chat: ncpgambling.org/chat.
• Gamblers Anonymous, an experience-sharing fellowship fighting gambling addiction and gambling-related problems.
• Gam-Anon, a self-help organization for compulsive gamblers.
• GamTalk, an online support forum.

The best help is, though, your consciousness when dealing with the USA gambling market, and awareness of possible unfavorable consequences of excessive gambling.

As long as you are willing to indulge in real online gambling in South Carolina – that is, if you are not content with strictly controlled social games, bingo games, and the state lottery – the only chance you have is to board one of the two ships cruising to the waters where the gambling ban is lifted. Both ships belong to the Big M Casino, and both depart from Little River.

Big M Ship I and Big M Ship II

Whether you are a seasoned sailor or getting seasick the very moment you climb aboard, you are left with no choice but to try & hop aboard a cruise ship, either Ship I or Ship II (both are operated by the Big M Casino), as this is the only legal way to gamble for the residents of South Carolina.

Both ships are state-of-the-art floating casinos equipped with all the bells-and-whistles you could dream of. Be it slots or table games that you crave, you can play them all and then some on the ships’ vast gaming floor. And if you suddenly get hungry, just order something from the restaurant (alcoholic beverages and soft drinks will keep your energy pumping). Last but not least, you can order exclusive Big M merchandise as a memory of your travel.

• Slots. Over 400 electrifying slots and video poker machines will deliver you everything you want, be it one of the traditional favorites (Pot O’ Gold, Wheel of Fortune, etc.) or something more exquisite. Progressive slots are on the deck as well along with the big winnings!
• Table games. Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, 3 Card Poker, and Let It Ride gaming tables of various denominators will satisfy your hunger for the game, while experienced dealers will solve all your issues in no time. The minimum bet is $5 only; the maximum is as high as $500!

Both ships run Free Player’s Club, a program to accumulate bonus points redeemable for cash. The more you play, the more you earn. And yeah, don’t forget about a special Win a Cruise offer, a brilliant chance to embark on sea adventures for free!

The key to online gambling in South Carolina is offshore casinos. There are dozens of classy websites where you can play with no risk and even though online gambling is not regulated (or banned, depending on how you read the law) in the state. As an additional safety measure, we would recommend you to use a reliable virtual private network and untraceable (anonymous) banking methods.

Below are three online casinos for players from South Carolina. The full list of options is in the upper part of this webpage.

• Superlines. You must be used to an all-encompassing range of slots and table games at online casinos – after all, the world is your oyster and you can easily find any game you want on the web – but what if such a casino would also provide plenty of bonuses and comfortable banking methods?! Hold your breath: Superlines does have it all! Moreover, this classy bitcoin casino grants you an instant boost with the welcome package quadrupling your 1st deposit, doubling your 2nd deposit, and tripling your 3rd deposit. Awesome, huh? And that’s only a drop in the ocean of perks you can find here.
• Red Dog. A friendly cartoon dog with red fur and pointy ears inspires you to bet on red and offers a luxurious 225% welcome bonus plus an extra 20% for BTC and Neosurf deposits. Once you’ve taken advantage of the bonus, proceed to the next perks, which are Game of the Month, a 150% bonus plus 50 free spins, and 24/7 Bonus, a pleasant up-to-160% addition to your account balance. Gaming-wise, the casino has everything you need, from simple to advanced slots, from popular table games to special games.
• BoVegas. What about grabbing $5,500 of cash for free? No, that’s not a dream but rather an exclusive offer at BoVegas, a bitcoin-friendly casino with more than 200 slots and games to all tastes. In addition to the welcome treat, the casino offers daily rewards, monthly specials, and VIP campaigns. Some of the bonuses have no cashout limit, so nothing prevents you from turning a few dozen bucks into a few thousand crispy banknotes.