A bill that would legalize online sports wagering in South Carolina finally received its first legislative hearing this week, but lawmakers adjourned without advancing it out of committee, leaving its future uncertain.
Senate Bill 444 — officially titled the South Carolina Sports Wagering Act and available for review here — was heard Wednesday morning before the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee’s five-member subcommittee. The discussion marked the first public consideration of the proposal in 2026, though the panel took no vote and did not set a follow-up session.
Lawmakers instead spent the session hearing testimony from supporters and critics on the merits and risks of legalizing sports betting in a state that currently prohibits all forms of online and retail wagering. South Carolina remains one of fewer than a dozen states without legal sports betting.
Amendment Approved, But Bill Stalled
The only formal action taken by the subcommittee was approval of an amendment, by a narrow 3-2 vote, to allow professional organizations such as NASCAR and the PGA Tour to hold sports betting operator licenses under the framework of S. 444.
Beyond that, however, lawmakers chose not to vote on the bill itself, instead opting to continue gathering information and feedback. With no crossover deadline in South Carolina — the legislative session extends until May 7 — S. 444 could still be reshaped or reconsidered later in the session, though no future hearing date has been announced.
What S. 444 Would Do
If approved, S. 444 would allow statewide online sports wagering, creating a new South Carolina Sports Wagering Commission to regulate the market. The bill caps the number of digital operator licenses at eight and sets the minimum betting age at 18.
Licensing costs would include a $100,000 application fee and a $1 million licensing fee, with the state collecting a 12.5 % tax on sportsbooks’ adjusted gross revenue. Operators could deduct promotional spending and federal taxes before calculating state tax liabilities, and net losses could be carried forward month to month.
Proponents of legalization highlight the potential for significant new tax revenue. Trevor Hayes of Caesars testified that conservative projections place annual tax receipts from legal online betting in the $50 million-to-$60 million range — revenue that could fund various state needs and curb the flow of betting activity to neighboring states with legal markets.
Advocates Highlight Resident Demand, Critics Cite Risks
Testimony from industry data also underscored strong demand among South Carolinians for wagering options. GeoComply data presented during the hearing showed nearly 12 million geolocation checks blocked last year as residents tried to access out-of-state sportsbooks, and more than 415,000 accounts tied to South Carolina users already exist with legal operators in other states.
Critics, including faith-based groups and some public health advocates, urged caution, warning lawmakers about problem gambling and other social costs tied to expanded wagering. Those concerns mirror debates playing out in other states weighing similar legislation.
Next Steps Unclear
With no vote taken on S. 444, its prospects for passage this session remain uncertain. Backers may need to build additional consensus and address lingering concerns before the bill can advance out of committee and onto the Senate floor. Opponents, meanwhile, continue to make their case about gambling’s potential harms.
As the 2026 session unfolds, South Carolina lawmakers will continue to weigh the economic promise of regulated sports betting against social and regulatory questions — a balancing act familiar in other states that have recently debated similar measures.
Image credit: DXR / CC BY-SA 4.0