WOYALE.
What's legal
South Carolina has no legal sports betting. Chapter 19 of Title 16 of the state code covers gambling and lotteries and penalizes unlawful games and betting. No regulator licenses sportsbooks in the state, and no app of any kind holds a license. The state lottery is a separate legal product and does not include sports betting.
North Carolina, next door, has licensed mobile betting. South Carolina residents sometimes cross the border to use it, and that is legal only if you are physically in North Carolina when you place the wager.
Crypto and offshore sites
No licensed operator exists to take crypto or any other payment for sports bets in South Carolina. Licensed US sportsbooks generally do not take crypto deposits.
Offshore crypto sportsbooks are not licensed in South Carolina or in any other state. Bets with them sit outside the law's protection, and a dispute over a frozen balance would leave you with no regulator to call.
What's changing
The Senate bill is S.444, introduced March 12, 2025 by Senators Davis and Leber and referred to the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. It would allow statewide online betting through up to eight licensed operators, with a 12.5 percent tax on adjusted gross receipts and a minimum age of 18. The House bill is H.3625, introduced January 14, 2025 and referred to Ways and Means. The Legislature's records show neither bill has passed out of its committee.
Tax note
South Carolina taxes income, and gambling winnings count as income. Under the law signed on March 30, 2026, the rate from tax year 2026 is 1.99 percent on income under $30,000 and 5.21 percent minus $966 on income of $30,000 or more.
Winnings are taxable no matter where you bet, and federal tax applies as well. Keep records, see the Woyale tax guides for the federal rules, and ask a tax professional about your South Carolina return.
Common questions
Is sports betting legal in South Carolina?
No. There are no licensed sportsbooks, online or in person.
Is South Carolina about to legalize sports betting?
No. S.444 and H.3625 were introduced in 2025, and the Legislature's records show neither has left committee.
Are offshore crypto sportsbooks legal in South Carolina?
No. They are not licensed anywhere in the US, and South Carolina has no licensed market at all.