Could South Carolina Make Sports Betting Legal in 2023?

2022 is reaching its end and for those hoping this would be the year that betting on sport became legal in South Carolina are still disappointed. As we prepare to enter 2023, is that going to be the year everything changes?

Gamblers in South Carolina have been looking on with jealous eyes at how other US states have made sports betting, particularly online, legal. Doing so in states such as New York, New Jersey, hasn’t just pleased gamblers and betting companies but also boosted state revenues. All that tax revenue has become increasingly welcome as financial problems continue.

Gambling on cruise ships and playing the lottery is possible in South Carolina. However, despite the support of  former Governor Joe Cunningham, sports betting becoming legal is still a dream.

It’s a frustrating situation and becomes even harder to accept as an increasing number of states make gambling legal. Doing so was a pipedream until 2018 when a US Supreme Court Judge made a groundbreaking ruling. He changed everything by ruling that it was up to the individual states to decide whether or not to legalize gambling.

Over 30 US states have gone ahead and done just that. Not South Carolina though and the wait goes on. Four years after that ruling, Cunningham said it was “time to give South Carolinians the same freedom” that those living where sports betting had been made legal were now enjoying.

With a politician’s hat on, he also spoke about the “new revenue” (at least $40 million dollars a year) that could be raised by making sports betting legal.  It all looked very promising then but talking about the desire to change the laws on gambling is a lot easier than going ahead and actually doing it.

Now betting on primeira liga is almost the most popular in the whole world, even residents of South Carolina can make these bets.

It’s such a frustrating situation that South Carolina finds itself going into the new year. Neighboring states have legalized sports betting and if NFL fans want to place a bet on the major matches, all they need to do is pop across the border and place their wagers.

Every one of those bets raises even more tax revenue for those states. Not a cent spent by gamblers goes to South Carolina but still the desire to legalize sports betting in South Carolina is nowhere near that needed to pass a bill. No wonder Cunningham spoke of being “tired” of watching North Carolina and Georgia benefiting from the situation.

One problem that would be solved by making sports betting legal would be to increase the protection of gamblers. Those who are against legalization talk about the dangers of gambling.

However, that is already happening with frustrated gamblers heading to the unregulated underground gambling market. There’s no protection there but would be if a regulated gambling industry was created in South Carolina.

June was a terrible month for those who hoped legalization was just around the corner. The two-year legislative session came to an end on June 15. That happened without HB5277 even being discussed. That was a bill which would have finally seen retail and online betting in South Carolina become a reality.

What happens next? It is likely that another attempt will be made to introduce a bill that would legalize sports betting. Whether it actually gets to the discussion stage is another question of course.

It does feel strange though that it is possible to play lottery games with millions of dollars (even over a billion dollars in the Mega Millions draw) to be won. That is much more enticing than placing a few dollars to try and get a win on the next NFL or NBA match.

An uphill battle is likely though with the opposition to legalizing gambling seemingly as high as ever. Other states have had land-based tribal run casinos and they have been able to add sports betting to what they have on offer for their customers.

An attempt to legalize commercial casinos in South Carolina took place seven years ago and failed to receive support. It seems unlikely sports betting would be made legal when there aren’t any land-based casinos in the state.

There is one fact that could slightly increase the chance of a new attempt to make sports betting legal have a bit more success. 2023 doesn’t have an election taking place and politicians might be more willing to talk about the subject favorably if there isn’t an election around the corner. 2024 of course would be a different story.

Those who want to see sports betting made legal in South Carolina have an uphill task. Might a worsening economy be a factor that leads to a change? Those states who have made sports betting legal haven’t suddenly become big fans of gambling. It’s the tax revenue they want to receive and that might prove increasingly attractive if state budgets become a major concern.

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