In South Carolina, the only legal form of gambling is the state lottery. But state Rep. Todd Rutherford recently filed a bill to legalize sports betting, as well as horseracing, card and dice games and electronic gambling devices throughout the state. Rutherford said, “This is about the ability to do something that people are already doing and take advantage of that and let South Carolina benefit from that.”
It’s not the first time Rutherford has sponsored sports betting legislation. But he thinks his bill stands a chance this year due to bipartisan support and the growth of online sports betting. He said, “You have major corporations, MGM, Caesars, that want sports betting to come. I think that’s going to move the needle towards more progression and more freedom.”
Legalized sports betting could generate $40 million in annual revenue for the state, analysts said. Rutherford’s bill would direct that revenue toward highway, road and bridge maintenance, construction and repair. A portion also would be directed to education. “We’ve got to keep up. We’ve got to make sure that we are competitive,” Rutherford said.
If the legislature passes Rutherford’s bill, a voter referendum would determine the fate of expanded gambling in South Carolina.
Palmetto Family Council President Dave Wilson said his group is concerned that expanded gambling would lead to increasing societal problems. He said, “What it actually does is it sets up the structure for doing all forms of gambling in South Carolina. What we have to find out is whether or not the voters in South Carolina actually want to see that happening in our state.”
