For the second time in three years, a sports betting measure was introduced in the South Carolina legislature. House Bill 5277, sponsored by Republican state Rep. William Herbkersman and Democratic state Rep. Todd Rutherford, would legalize online and retail sports wagering. It was referred to the state Committee on Judiciary.
One unique feature of the bill is that it states cash and cash equivalents—cryptocurrency, digital and foreign currency—could be used for account funding and as ways winner bettors could be paid. In addition to allowing betting on professional and college sports, a provision would permit wagering on eSports, which analysts expect will outpace all traditional sports except professional football in television viewership within the next few years.
The bill would allow eight to 12 online sportsbooks to operate in South Carolina. It would tax adjusted gross sports betting revenue at 10 percent. License applicants would pay $500,000 annual fee and non-refundable application fee. The measure directs 80 percent of revenue from sports betting go toward the education lottery, 15 percent to the general fund for transportation, roads and public buildings and 5 percent to problem and responsible gaming programs.
The measure would establish a nine-member Lottery Commission Sports Wagering Advisory Council to advise on best practices and assist the lottery.
Official league data would be required if a sports governing body requests it. However, observers said as the bill advances, operators are likely to request that the data requirement be dropped.
In 2020, Rutherford introduced HB 3395, which would have legalized sports betting through a constitutional amendment. That bill did not pass.
