COLUMBIA, SC (WBTW) – South Carolina could be one of the slowest states to legalize sports betting, according to a study by a gambling research firm.
Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling leaves the decision up to each state, but legislation to allow sports gambling has stalled in South Carolina.
Two bills in the state’s legislature this year called for legalizing sports betting. They expired when the legislative session ended last week. So despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, South Carolina appears to be a huge underdog in sports gambling.
Depending on what state you’re in, Cam Newton’s next touchdown for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers could win you money.
“The world is changing and sometimes you have to change with it,” said Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington.
Sen. Malloy wrote a bill last year to legalize gambling in South Carolina. The bill called for putting the state’s cut of this gambling revenue in the retirement system.
Representatives J. Todd Rutherford and Russell Ott co-sponsored a similar bill in the state house last year. Both bills expired at the end of the legislative session last week.
Sen. Malloy says states like North Carolina and Georgia could capitalize if South Carolina doesn’t legalize sports betting.
“These folks are going to travel across state lines and we’re going to lose the revenue,” Sen. Malloy said.
Gambling research firm Eilers and Krejcik Gaming says sports betting could bring in $91,708,935 annually to South Carolina, even if wagers were restricted to physical casinos or other kinds of sportsbooks. That projection skyrockets to $204,146,100 each year with widespread physical locations and full online access. The numbers are according to a September 2017 study.
Eilers and Krejcik also says South Carolina is among the six states least likely to legalize sports betting quickly because it would require amending the state’s constitution.
“The ease of passing an amendment such as this could be met with significant headwinds, given the populace in South Carolina,” said D.J. Leary, director of business development at Eilers and Krejcik.
The American Gaming Association says even if another state like New Jersey starts online betting, you probably can’t bet legally in South Carolina.
A spokesperson says other states will likely model online apps after those used in Las Vegas and Nevada.
“You are geofenced in from mobile gaming inside the state of Nevada and other states would likely follow suit,” said Casey Clark, who’s the vice president of strategic communications at the American Gaming Association. “There’s still a federal prohibition on gaming across state lines.”
Sen. Malloy says he wants to discuss legal sports betting again next year, but he’s prepared for a tough legislative battle.
“I think that there is going to be a general reluctance,” he said. “So, I don’t think this is a next (legislative) session kind of issue. I think that this more of a four- or five-year process.”
A spokesperson for Gov. Henry McMaster says the governor has always opposed gambling in South Carolina.
Sen. Greg Hembree and Rep. Greg Duckworth, who are both Republicans representing North Myrtle Beach, say their support for or opposition to a sports betting bill would depend on the legislation. They both also say their priority is protecting the state’s education lottery.
Sen. Malloy also said he thinks the Grand Strand would be a strong candidate for sportsbooks if sports gambling is legalized because of its prominence as a tourist destination.
