Legal online sports betting apps launched in North Carolina in March, and a recent article from the Charleston City Paper suggests the move could grab the attention of South Carolina lawmakers.
South Carolina doesn’t allow for legal sports betting, but Stephen Shapiro told the news outlet that North Carolina’s legalization could impact South Carolina.
“The success in terms of the tax revenue generated already in North Carolina will be enticing,” said Shapiro, who works in the University of South Carolina’s Department of Sport and Education Management. “I would imagine that we’re going to see more of those types of [sports betting] bills and that there’s a good chance it would be legalized in the next couple years.”
Shapiro believes South Carolina legislators could be swayed by the potential tax revenue generated by legalizing sports wagering. South Carolina’s neighbor to the south, Georgia, doesn’t allow for legal sports betting, though. South Carolina lawmakers could theoretically wait until Georgia moves on the issue before feeling a need to act.
North Carolina’s Market
North Carolina’s market is one that is friendly to both operators and consumers. The state taxes gaming revenue at 18%, a fair tax rate in line with other states in the country.
As a result, North Carolina customers have access to major sports betting platforms like bet365, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, ESPN BET, DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook and FanDuel. North Carolina is also home to Underdog Sports, a DFS giant that only operates its sportsbook in the Tar Heel State.
North Carolina’s sports betting regulations allow for bettors to wager on in-state colleges, and the state currently allows for college player prop wagering. South Carolina could try to mirror North Carolina’s model, but expect more pushback within the legislature, as there’s a reason several South Carolina sports betting bills have stalled in recent years.
South Carolina's governor, Henry McMaster, is opposed to legal sports betting, whereas North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper was supportive of legalization. That creates a potential roadblock as South Carolina looks to consider legalizing sports wagering in 2025.
