Last week's launch of legal online sports betting in North Carolina gave North Carolinians access to eight betting apps, including industry giants DraftKings and FanDuel. Despite expanded gambling in the Tar Heel State, its neighbor to the south isn't particularly close to legalizing sports wagering.
A bill to legalize sports betting in South Carolina, House Bill 3749, hasn't moved since 2023. The state's 2024 legislative session ends on May 9, and the state's crossover deadline for bills to move into the opposite chamber is April 10.
Given the lack of recent movement for HB 3749 and historical challenges surrounding gambling expansion in South Carolina, it's highly unlikely the bill becomes law in 2024. This could motivate some South Carolinians to cross state lines to use the eight legal North Carolina betting apps.
Why is it so slow to legalize?
South Carolina has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country. South Carolina doesn't allow for horse racing, and there aren't any land-based casinos in the state. The state does have a lottery and some riverboat casinos. Sports betting and online casino gaming are not permitted in South Carolina.