What online sports betting might look like, once it’s legal in South Carolina

South Carolina has a strong sporting history, with many sports stars such as Stephon Gilmore and Sidney Rice calling SC home, and not to mention Myrtle Beach being known as the “Golf Capital of the World”. Still, South Carolina is a part of the 16 states that has not legalized sports betting either in-person or online, although it is only a matter of time.

In Australia, sports betting has been legal since 1983, and if down under’s newest betting site JustBet, is anything to go off – the hardest thing that an Aussie bookmaker has to do these days, is to come up with an interesting name. Clearly, they’re starting to struggle. There are now over 140 betting sites in Australia (for only 21 million people 18+), and with new ones opening monthly.

The US only has 55 sports betting sites, and for a much larger country (259 million people 18+). When South Carolina legalizes sports betting, and presuming the rest of the country has by that stage – if the demand for sports betting sites continues to grow, and becomes as strong as in Australia, there would an opportunity for 31x the current available options (1,705 total), bookmaking entrepreneurs to enter the market.

While that number is pretty ridiculous – with less barriers to entry countrywide, it is very likely the amount of sports betting sites in the US could easily double.

Why it will soon be a reality in South Carolina 

There have been four efforts in the past 5 years to introduce a bill, which have all been fruitless. However, now that North Carolina has allowed sports betting with a launch date in 2024, and with continuous pressure and a legislation currently proposed, South Carolina will likely follow in the near future.

It is estimated that $2.3 billion in illegal bets are already placed in South Carolina, and instead of pretending it isn’t happening, following North Carolina’s footsteps would be another way to increase state revenues without raising taxes, and to help eliminate dodgy bookies that are operating unregulated.

In a few years time, South Carolinians may be spoilt for choice when it comes to sports betting, and may be able to use any of the growing list of all US sports betting sites as they please.

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