South Carolina Growing Game Trends

Living in the United States means that you might be unable to scratch your gambling itch easily. 

Why? Because many states don’t allow online gambling or even have physical casinos. In fact, there is even a law (the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act or UIGFA) specifically designed to stop people from paying for online play. 

Despite this, there has been a slow change in how betting and gambling have been viewed since 2018. This is thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision to allow country-wide sports betting, which has led to a national overhaul of gambling regulations. 

Although this overhaul has been an incredibly slow process, it has been accelerated slightly by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns. This shift has caused a shake-up as more players find a way to play online, and one of the best ways to do this is by looking for slot offers in your state. 

Physical Casinos vs. iGaming in South Carolina

If you enjoy the feel of a physical slot machine or casino table, you’re bound to be disappointed living in or visiting South Carolina. This is because SC is one of eight states with no physical casinos. However, there is work underway to change this. 

Introduced toward the end of 2020, the House Resolution 3395 bill seeks to change local laws regarding gambling and sport betting in the state. According to the bill, all profits will then be used to maintain road infrastructure in the state—with many citizens offering support for the bill. 

Sadly, because this bill has made almost no headway, physical gambling in the state is unlikely to appear on the horizon any time soon. 

Luckily, the massive and ever-expanding iGaming industry allows you to satisfy your online slot needs—even from South Carolina—because many of the best online casinos operate from outside the state and even the country. 

Due to a grey area in the local law, online gambling is entirely legal in South Carolina—as long as the casino isn’t based in the state. Therefore, you can easily play many slot games online, regardless if you’re a beginner to slots or a seasoned pro. 

Contributions to iGaming Popularity

Aside from the fact that online casinos are the only way local players can enjoy the thrill of the game, many other factors contribute to the growing player base in the state. Some of these include:

Cryptocurrency

As cryptocurrency has gained popularity worldwide, many online casinos have begun accepting crypto as a valid form of payment. This allows players to deposit securely and, in some cases, even anonymously. 

The UIFGA law cannot block your deposits, and you can play knowing that the blockchain of your chosen crypto fully secures all your transactions. 

Live Casino Option

Another contributing factor to the rise in iGaming popularity is live casinos. These games let you play with a real-life dealer that you can see on your screen. Better than this, it allows you to play against other players from the world—all in real-time. 

This personal and human feel has attracted many players to the online casino arena they previously would have avoided due to it being too digital and technological. Instead, players now feel like they truly are at a table with other players—from the comfort of their own homes. 

Land-Based Restrictions

As mentioned, states like South Carolina don’t have any physical casinos. The only physical casinos in the state are boat casinos, like Big M Casino, that take you into international waters so that you can gamble freely. 

Since there are no land-based casinos, players have no option but to take a little cruise like that or head online and join the growing trend of online gaming. 

Online Gaming Variety

A slot machine in the USA costs a casino between $15,000 and $20,000. Due to this excessive price, many casinos operate using the same machines for almost as long as the machines can survive—bringing in only a few new games periodically. 

However, for online casinos, this is entirely different. Due to the nature of the technology, online casinos can constantly sign deals with new game developers to feature the latest slots or table games. As a result, there is almost always something new to play. 

While the variety may seem overwhelming, many players enjoy the vast array of choices offered by iGaming. This is especially true considering iGaming incorporates slots, table games, dice, bingo, and even online lotteries. 

Economic Considerations

Aside from the above factors influencing the growing trend in gaming, some economic considerations are significantly adding to the uptake of iGaming in South Carolina and North America as a whole.

Many policymakers across the US understand that online casino gaming is more profitable than traditional sports betting (which has been legal in SC since 2018). This realization has uncovered the potential revenues that the country is currently losing to offshore markets.

To tap into this rush of economic activity, many policymakers are drafting or supporting bills that aim to allow the authorization of online and iGaming services. The attempted 2020 House Resolution 3395 bill in South Carolina is proof of this growing trend.

Bills like this are expected to become more common as local authorities try to create local and regulated iGaming platforms. By default, this will also decrease the country’s unregulated iGaming industry, allowing the state and national government more control over activities. 

Final Say

While South Carolina has a long way to go in becoming a welcoming destination for players wishing to gamble, there is no doubt that change is on the way—whether fully legal or within grey areas. This is apparent in the gaming trend both in the state and the country as a whole. 

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