South Carolina Takes Another Shot at Legalizing Sports Betting with House Bill 3625
A new push to legalize sports betting in South Carolina is underway with the introduction of House Bill 3625, also known as the “South Carolina Sports Wagering Act.”
Key Elements of the Bill
Filed in early December 2024 by Representative Chris Murphy (Republican), the bill has garnered bipartisan support from Heath Sessions (Republican) and J. Todd Rutherford (Democrat).
The proposed legislation has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, and South Carolina’s legislative session is set to kick off on January 14, 2025.
If passed, HB 3625 would pave the way for a change to South Carolina’s constitution, legalizing sports betting and introducing a structured regulatory framework. Here are the bill’s major components:
- State Constitution Amendment: The bill calls for an amendment to the state constitution to allow legal sports wagering.
- Eight Licenses for Digital Sportsbooks: Up to eight licenses would be issued to online sports betting platforms operating in at least five other states.
- Fees for Applicants and Operators: Sports betting operators would be required to pay a $100,000 application fee and a $1 million licensing fee to secure authorization.
- Taxation: Mobile sports betting operators would be taxed at a rate of 12.5% on their adjusted gross revenues.
The primary motivation for the bill is to generate substantial revenue for the state. Estimates project that legalized sports betting could bring in tens of millions of dollars annually. Under the bill, 80% of this revenue would go into South Carolina’s general fund, supporting state programs and services.
What’s at Stake?
South Carolina remains one of the few states in the Southeast without legal sports betting. Advocates of the bill see this as a missed opportunity to capitalize on an untapped revenue stream while providing a safe, regulated environment for residents to place bets.
However, opponents may raise concerns about gambling expansion in a traditionally conservative state, a hurdle that previous efforts failed to overcome. Still, bipartisan sponsorship and the financial incentives tied to HB 3625 could sway lawmakers when the session begins.
The bill is currently awaiting review by the House Ways and Means Committee. If it clears the committee, it will head to the House floor for further debate.
Recommended