The South Carolina Senate Subcommittee on Labor and Commerce held a hearing this week on Bill SB 444 to discuss the legalization of online sports betting. Although some legislators are open to the proposal, any legislative progress is likely to face firm opposition from Governor Henry McMaster. The term-limited Republican governor has repeatedly stated, "Gambling harms our culture, there are better ways to create jobs and tax revenue." In plain terms, as long as the governor is in office, the bill is likely to be vetoed. Want to know the latest on gambling legalization in the Southeast US? PASA's official website continues to track legislative dynamics across states.
Details of the Bill: Eight licenses, betting age 18
The SB 444 proposal, initiated by Senators Tom Davis and Matthew Leber, plans to establish the South Carolina Sports Betting Commission. Key provisions include:
Number of licenses: Up to 8
Operator qualifications: Must have operated in at least five other jurisdictions
Tax rate: 12.5%
Betting age: 18 years old (only five states in the US are below 21)
During the hearing, Senator Josh Kimbrel proposed an amendment to reserve two licenses for the PGA Tour and NASCAR, which was adopted by the committee.
Supporters' arguments: Illegal and prediction markets are "bleeding"
Trevor Hayes, Vice President of Government Relations at Caesars Entertainment, pointed out at the hearing that South Carolina residents have long been gambling through offshore sports betting and prediction market contracts. He cited GeoComply data:
During the 2025 NFL season, there were nearly 12 million geolocation checks by South Carolina residents trying to log into legal sports betting accounts
More than 50,000 users drove across state lines into North Carolina to place bets
Hayes admitted that tax revenue is not the main goal (estimated at up to $60 million annually), "but it's enough to solve some problems." He emphasized that the core of legalization is to bring illegal demand into a regulated track.
Opposing voices: Religious groups and the governor join forces
Several religious organization representatives testified against the legalization of online gambling. Although Kimbrel himself does not gamble due to religious beliefs, he acknowledged the concerning situation of rampant illegal gambling, "Since neighboring states have legalized it, simply blocking it is no longer realistic."
However, the biggest obstacle remains Governor McMaster. He has clearly stated that he will veto any gambling expansion bills, having already threatened to veto a casino bill earlier this year. Notably, McMaster cannot run for re-election in 2026 due to term limits—this may leave a window for future legislation.
Prediction markets become a new focus
Legislators expressed concerns about prediction markets already operating in South Carolina. Senator Sean Bennett pointed out the risk of insider trading on these platforms. FanDuel's Director of Government Affairs, Louis Trombetta, explained that prediction markets are regulated by the CFTC and can operate nationwide, but the company prefers to cooperate with state regulatory agencies in licensed gambling markets.
Trombetta admitted, "Before this legal issue is clarified, we have to participate in prediction markets, otherwise we will miss the opportunity." This statement reflects the dilemma traditional gambling operators face with the rise of prediction markets.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel: https://t.me/pasa_news
Original deep channel for gambling: https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
