South Carolina is not the home to any major league sports teams, however, NCAA teams are alive and well in the Palmetto State. They also neighbor states with major league teams that fans tend to back.
Sports betting is booming in the United States with the federal governments repeal of the national ban on sports betting in 2018 opening the door for state by state sports betting regulation. South Carolina is lagging behind in this department though as operating a sportsbook in South Carolina is still not legal. That said, South Carolina residents are joining and placing bets through online betting sites more than ever before.
On this page I will go over the legal status of betting within the state as well as show you my top-rated sportsbooks that can be used by South Carolina residents today to bet on sports.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in South Carolina?
Currently, operating a sportsbook in South Carolina is not legal.
That said, South Carolina residents can bet through online betting sites that are licensed and regulated outside of the United States (so long as they accept American players). Both betting sites I’ve recommended below fall into this category.
**Sports betting bills were introduced in South Carolina in 2019, 2021, and 2022, but all bills quickly failed which does not bode well for bills that will be introduced in future South Carolina legislative sessions. Check back for updates.
Best Sports Betting Sites for South Carolina Residents
Here are the top-rated offshore sportsbooks for South Carolina residents interested in betting on sports online. Both of these sports betting sites are well known and trusted by bettors across the USA.
- Built for American bettors
- Wide variety of competitive betting lines
- Easy to navigate betting platform
Offline Sports Betting in South Carolina
There has been no movement in legalizations as mentioned above. If you find somewhere within South Carolina accepting wagers on sports, they are doing so illegally.
The only option for South Carolina residents looking to place sports wagers is through online betting sites that accept US players. Check out our two recommended sites above.
Major Sports Teams in South Carolina
South Carolina has no major league sports teams, but some of their NCAA teams have a big following. Here is a brief list of the teams below.
Charleston
- The Citadel Bulldogs (NCAA)
Clemson
- Clemson Tigers (NCAA)
Columbia
- South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA)
Conway
- Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (NCAA)
Orangeburg
- South Carolina State Bulldogs (NCAA)
Horse Racing in South Carolina
Horse race wagering is not allowed in South Carolina, even in-person at the track. For this reason you won’t find any thoroughbred horse racing tracks in the state because without betting they simply aren’t financially viable.
Instead, steeplechase races are all the rage in South Carolina. The Aiken Triple Crown, The Carolina Cup and the Steeplechase of Charleston are the big three horse racing events in South Carolina annually (all steeplechase races).
The Carolina Cup is the most well-known and prestigious horse race held in the state each year. The race takes place at Springdale Race Course in Camden, South Carolina every year. The race holds the record for attendance at a steeplechase race in the United States.
The fact that horse race wagering is not even allowed in South Carolina makes me think the state is likely far away from regulating in-state betting. In the meantime South Carolina residents should bet on sports and horses through Bovada.lv.