South Carolina Sports Betting: Expected Legal SC Betting Sites & Sportsbooks

The unprecedented wave of U.S. states passing sports betting legislation to legalize online sports betting and gambling websites over the last few years has not materialized in South Carolina.

Its governmental bodies, namely Governor Lindsey Graham, have been staunch opponents of any legalized sports gambling (and any online gambling, for that matter), with a lone cruise ship casino and state lottery currently the only completely legal forms of gambling.

But there's always hope that South Carolina sports betting could become a reality. The 2018 Supreme Court ruling to overturn the ban on state authorization of sports betting has opened the door for more than 30 states to bring legal online sportsbooks to their locations.

We believe it's only a matter of time before the remaining states, including South Carolina, get on board. With that in mind, let's take a look at the best sports betting sites that could make their way to The Palmetto State if and when legal sports betting becomes a reality.

South Carolina sportsbooks aren't live yet, and online betting still appears to be a distant afterthought.

But things can change quickly in states when it comes to regulating sports betting, and the South Carolina Lottery Commission will be ready to hand out licenses to the best online sportsbooks in the country if and when that time comes.

Based on what has happened in more than 30 states already, we can project with confidence which of the major legalized sports betting sites are likely to come to South Carolina if legislation is ever passed.

⭐ DraftKings South Carolina

DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the largest sports betting companies in the country and has one of the largest presences in the industry.

Their variety of promotions as well as a stellar welcome bonus that guarantees bonus bets into a player's account make DraftKings one of the most attractive destinations for sports bettors. Players of all shapes and sizes in South Carolina will love what it has to offer.

• Expected Offer: Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets
• Expected Go Live: 2023 to 2024
• Retail Partner: TBD
• Live Betting: Yes
• Boosted Odds: Yes
• App Offered: App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android

⭐ FanDuel South Carolina

FanDuel has made a huge presence for itself in the legal sports betting industry thanks to its marketing pushes and sponsorships with sports leagues and individual teams.

With a simple interface and quick load times, FanDuel South Carolina provides a great user experience and is among the best sites to use for live betting among its many other great features, which includes an excellent Daily Fantasy Sports page.

• Expected Offer: $1,000 No Sweat First Bet
• Expected Go Live: 2023 to 2024
• Retail Partner: TBD
• Live Betting: Yes
• Boosted Odds: Yes
• App Offered: App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android

⭐ BetMGM South Carolina

BetMGM began in 2018 from a partnership between MGM Resorts and Entain Group. BetMGM Sportsbook is one of the most popular sports betting sites in the country while operating in more than a dozen states.

Their website and mobile app are incredibly easy to operate, providing bettors with a great user experience and the ability to maximize their profits on the bets they make. There's something for everyone at BetMGM South Carolina.

• Expected Offer: Up to $1,000 risk-free initial bet
• Expected Go Live: 2023 to 2024
• Retail Partner: TBD
• Live Betting: Yes
• Boosted Odds: Yes
• App Offered: App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android 

⭐ Caesars South Carolina

It doesn't get much bigger than Caesars Sportsbook, with the sports betting online site being the official betting co-sponsor of the NFL. In 2021, Caesars Entertainment purchased UK gaming powerhouse William Hill for $4 billion and became an industry giant overnight.

It offers some of the most competitive odds in the industry and dozens of boosted odds that mean players can get the best bang for their buck when playing here. Their expected welcome bonus is the largest potential dollar amount of any operator in the online gambling space.

• Expected Offer: Up to $1,250 first-bet insurance
• Expected Go Live: 2023 to 2024
• Retail Partner: TBD
• Live Betting: Yes
• Boosted Odds: Yes
• App Offered: App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android

⭐ BetRivers South Carolina

Summarize the brand history and attributes that make this sportsbook/betting site great. If they have a partnership with a team or arena in South Carolina reference that or anything newsworthy to sell this operator’s strong points.

What differentiates this sportsbook from other great betting sites, where do they have an advantage as a sportsbook and what type of bettor do they appeal to?

BetRivers may not have the brand recognition of some other operators on this list, but don't let that fool you. It's a mainstay in the sports gambling space, and it caters well to local fans by providing constant boosts and promotions on in-state teams like South Carolina football.

BetRivers opened in 2018 in New Jersey once the Supreme Court ruled to allow states to legalize online betting on sports.

Offering a great initial promotion, BetRivers is a great sportsbook to use for those just getting started in sports betting. In South Carolina, we expect BetRivers to provide the same promotions as they do for other states.

• Expected Offer: 100% deposit match up to $250
• Expected Go Live: 2023 to 2024
• Retail Partner: TBD
• Live Betting: Yes
• Boosted Odds: Yes
• App Offered: App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android

It's unknown at this point which operators will launch once South Carolina sports betting becomes legal. That being said, we have some context based on which operators have launched in the most recent states to pass legislation such as Kentucky, Vermont, and North Carolina.

Because legalized sports betting is now live in more than 30 states, it's likely that the heavy hitters listed above will come to South Carolina if and when the time comes.

When South Carolina sports betting is legalized, bettors will be able to download a free mobile app of the operator of their choosing (you can play with as many operators as there are available in the state) and use the appropriate sportsbook promo code attached to that online sportsbook to earn a welcome bonus and begin your experience with a leg up on the competition.

Online sportsbooks know players have options when it comes to betting in South Carolina.

That's why all major operators will feature welcome bonuses that can be unlocked by using sportsbook promo codes during your registration for a new account.

Online sportsbooks want you to use their operation, and you want a head start on the first bets you place.

It's a win-win for everyone involved, and players will want to take advantage of these welcome bonuses if and when they sign up. They're always free to earn, with the sportsbook promo code and registration being your only "hurdles" toward unlocking them.

🎁 Risk-Free Bets 

Risk-free bets are among the most common types of sportsbook promo codes. Online sportsbooks will offer bettors who lose their first wager with a second chance to earn back their funds.

For example, if you wager $700 and lose, you'll receive $700 in bonus bets that can be bet again. Note that the bonus bet amount is not returned in any winnings, so placing and winning a $700 bonus bet on -100 odds will return $100, not $800.

🎁 Deposit Match

Deposit matches are put in place by sportsbooks to double bettors' dough before they ever place any sports bets. Most deposit match promotions are 100% match up to a certain amount of money.

For example, if you make a deposit of $250, the online sportsbook will provide you with $250 in bonus bets. Again, those bonus bet amounts are not included in any winnings, but it does put you "up" funds before you start betting on professional sports.

🎁 Referral Bonuses

The more, the merrier. Online sportsbooks don't mind if you do their marketing for them, and they'll reward you for it. Referral bonuses are given when you share a referral link with a new customer.

Once that player uses the referral link to sign up for a new account, both of you will receive a bonus (usually bonus bets).

🎁 Odds Boosts

Odds boosts are always a great promotion to grab when they become available. In short, boosted odds mean you'll receive more winnings for the exact same price. Odds boosts are typically featured on the biggest sporting events of a given day.

For example, an online sportsbook may boost the Chiefs' Monday Night Football moneyline odds from -150 to +110. That means a $100 bet would win $110 instead of $66.67. There are usually limits on the amount of money you can bet on boosted odds, but it's increased payouts for players at no additional cost to them.

🎁 Parlay Insurances

Much like risk-free bets, parlay insurance provides bettors with a potential second chance if their parlays are unsuccessful. Typically, operators will provide bettors with a certain amount of money back (as a bonus bet) if one leg of their parlay loses (and sometimes if more legs lose).

It won't be a large amount, but it's always nice to have something coming back your way in the event your parlay (which are always more difficult to win) comes up short.

🎁 No Deposits

Though more popular in casino gambling, no-deposit bonuses are simply free bonus bets deposited into your account before you ever touch your virtual wallet.

It's a nice little head start for bettors, who usually need to wager that no-deposit bonus before they can take advantage of another offer. We typically see these types of promotions when a state launches its online sports betting, so South Carolina bettors should keep their eyes peeled for operators who offer it.

🎁 Reloads

Reload bonuses are very similar to deposit matches, where the sportsbook will match a certain percentage of your deposit.

Be sure to keep an eye on your sportsbook's promotions page to see if there are any available reload bonuses, as these are essentially free bonus bets that don't require you to place as many real-money bets to receive.

There are no professional sports teams in South Carolina, but that doesn't mean there is a lack of action for South Carolina sports betting fans.

The closest professional teams outside of the state are the Carolina Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, and the state features amateur sports from the SEC and ACC that will keep the action going at gambling websites all season long.

What's more, bettors can always place bets on international sports in addition to all the other action in professional and amateur sports taking place across the country.

🏆 Clemson Tigers

Clemson football has become an annual powerhouse under head coach Dabo Swinney. The Tigers won the 2019 national title and have won double-digit games every year dating back to 2011.

They are annually in the conversation for an ACC Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff, and the men's basketball team has quietly put together seven straight winning seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances.

🏆 South Carolina Gamecocks

The University of South Carolina competes in the SEC, meaning some of the country's best athletes battle it out year-round.

The women's basketball team has 11 national titles and has been to three straight Final Fours under head coach Dawn Staley, including a national title in 2022.

The men's football team has hit a lull in recent years, but Oklahoma transfer Spencer Rattler is now under center and could have the South Carolina Gamecocks competing in the SEC East.

Sports betting in South Carolina will include playing with real money, so it's important that the online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps you choose have solid banking methods.

That's the case with the major online sportsbooks that will launch when everything is legalized. These operators have perfected smooth transactions, with bettors being able to play with deposits immediately while receiving their withdrawals in a matter of days, and typically a much shorter turnaround time than that depending on your banking method.

Your funds are always secure, so you won't need to worry about your information being compromised.

Withdrawals and deposits can be made using a number of major banking methods, including checking account links; credit and debit cards; PayPal; PayNearMe; Apple Pay; Skrill; and others.

Check the banking section of the online sportsbook you're playing at to see what's available to you, but just about everyone will find something that works easily for them.

Online sportsbooks want their players to spend less time going through a long registration process and more time placing bets.

It's why the South Carolina sports betting registration process will be an easy one. Bettors will need to choose with operators they want to play with and then follow these four simple steps to begin placing bets and taking advantage of the welcome bonus they receive.

• ➡️ Choose your sports betting app of choice via the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, or go to the website of the sports betting operator and begin your registration process; enter the appropriate promo code early in your registration, as you won't be able to to back and add it later on once your registration is complete
• ➡️ Provide the online gambling site of your choice with the relevant personal information required to create your account and prove your identity. This typically includes name, email, address, phone number, and potentially a username and password (some sites will just have your email address be your username)
• ➡️ Gambling laws in all states require that players prove they are at least 21 years old (by providing the last four digits of their Social Security number) and that they are physically located in South Carolina (meaning turning your location on or downloading a Geolocator app when using the online gambling site of their choice). Sign up for a new account and use a promo code if applicable, and then make your first deposit
• ➡️ Make a qualifying deposit to fund your new account and get ready to start placing bets

And that's it. There may be some specific requirements for each individual operator when it comes time to register to use South Carolina sports betting apps, but this is pretty much all that it will entail.