Efforts to legalize casino gaming in South Carolina appear to have failed. Legislators sent the measure back to the House Ways and Means Committee.
As a result, the bill likely won’t receive a vote from the full state House of Representatives. South Carolina is one of only a few states without any legalized gambling beyond the state lottery. Most in the Palmetto State saw the prospect of adding casinos as unlikely at best.
Leaders in the Senate were also apparently not in favor of pushing through a casino bill. Additionally, Gov. Henry McMaster (R) was unlikely to sign it into law.
“I’ve always opposed gambling as a means to raise revenue like this, starting back with (former governor) Carroll Campbell, when we really got moving on a lot of things, that has been the state’s position all along,” McMaster said. “I think the majority of the people in the state do not want the casino gambling, and I don’t either.”
Bill Tied To Land Conservation
State Rep. Bruce Bannister (R) introduced the I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act last week. It called for the creation of a gaming commission that could award casino licenses.
Bannister, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee, hoped to add an amendment earmarking 35% of gaming revenue to the South Carolina Conservation Bank, which protects forests and farmland from development.
Bannister hoped that might sway reluctant lawmakers and the governor, who has favored conserving land in the state.
“One of the things that was anticipated was that the governor may be moderating his resistance to the bill,” Bannister told The State newspaper. “He has come out and said that he would veto it under its current form, even with the amendment that we talked about.”
Legislation In 2025 Also Failed
A similar effort in 2025 didn’t find traction in the General Assembly. Developers in the city of Santee had expressed interest in bringing a casino to the area. About 1,000 residents call Santee home. Furthermore, the town is considered one of the state’s most underdeveloped, impoverished regions.
The company behind the effort, the Santee Development Corp., believed the state could see $100 million in annual revenue from a casino. However, the bill never gained traction.
In related news, South Carolina Gambling Recovery LLC recently filed a federal lawsuit against prediction market firms Kalshi and Robinhood. The group argues the platforms offer illegal gambling in the state.
