After a failed attempt to legalize sports gambling in 2025, some members of the South Carolina legislature are trying again this year. If approved, H. 3625 or S. 444 would allow the legislature to create the South Carolina Sports Wagering Commission, which would have the authority to grant licenses to businesses for the purposes of engaging in sports betting. The bill would essentially legalize and regulate sports betting. If either bill passes, South Carolina would become the 39th state, along with the District of Columbia, to legalize sports gambling.
“Gambling is not good for South Carolina, and legalizing it takes the independence and strength of South Carolinians and places it into the hands of a predatory industry that only cares about making a profit off the addictions and subsequent problems that will negatively affect our state and our people.”
RaShan Frost, ERLC director of research
At the heart of the issue is South Carolina’s ability to generate revenue from the $150 billion industry. According to a report by the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, South Carolina is estimated to generate between $13 and $31 million in state tax revenue in the first year if it legalizes sports gambling, with expected increases in subsequent years. However, no amount of revenue generated from sports betting is worth the monumental damage it would cause to individuals, families, and communities in South Carolina.
Since the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 in 2018, we now have research that helps us understand the negative impact of sports gambling. As sports betting has increased, so have the associated risks of gambling addiction and other problems. From 2021 to 2023, the National Problem Gambling Hotline saw approximately a 45% increase in calls.
The downstream effects of gambling impact multiple dimensions of our private and social lives, including mental health, interpersonal relationships, and individual and family economics. Gambling addiction affects mental health in several ways, including increased rates of anxiety, depression, social isolation, and aggression. The highs and lows of betting, combined with the ease of access to sports gambling, make for a mental rollercoaster that many people cannot stop. One research study found that in places where sports gambling is legalized, an upset loss leads to an 11% increase in intimate partner domestic violence. In a state where professional sports teams are advocating for legalizing sports betting, their team’s performances, in combination with gambling, may contribute to increased domestic violence in South Carolina.
