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Read Full BioLawmakers in South Carolina are ready to debate legalizing casinos in the state after an agreement was made on how gaming revenue would be shared.
House Bill 4176 was introduced last year and has bipartisan support in the House. Rep. Courtney Waters was the latest to sign on as a sponsor of the legislation that would allow retail casinos within select rural counties in the Palmetto State. The bill now has 19 co-sponsors.
Rep. Bruce Bannister, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, said the changes in revenue sharing could appease lawmakers, who have no particularly strong feelings about bringing the first casino to South Carolina.
Speaking to the Post and Courier, Bannister stated, “The vast majority of members are sort of neutral on whether they care for a casino or don’t care for a casino, but they all have issues that they really like to see a recurring source of revenue put towards.”
Farmlands & Veterans Among Potential Beneficiaries
If the legislation is approved, the state would divide tax revenue as follows:
- 35% to the state conservation bank, half of which would be committed to preserving working farmlands.
- 30% to the Veterans’ Trust Fund.
- 26% to the General Fund.
- 5% to the host county.
- 4% to counties in the Interstate 95 corridor.
The I-95 corridor has been targeted as a potential site for the casino. Developer Wallace Cheves has drawn up plans to build a $1 billion casino at the abandoned Santee Outlet Mall site in Orangeburg County.
Cheves says the project would be privately funded. He said, “This is South Carolina-owned. I’m a native of South Carolina. We’re willing to invest our money in the project and not ask for any incentives.”
He believes the development could attract 4 million visitors per year, create up to 4,600 jobs, and contribute $75 million in annual tax revenue.
Opposition to Gambling Remains
Despite several lawmakers indicating support for a casino, there remain challenges to approving gambling legislation in South Carolina. Gov. Henry McMaster has been a vocal critic, stating, “Gambling is bad for our culture. It’s not part of our heritage, and there are better ways to make money, to give jobs, to generate tax money, to generate a thriving economy, than gambling.”
Pastors in the state have also come out against plans to develop a casino. Last week, a group of 200 pastors descended on the statehouse to protest against the legislation.
Matt Suttle, a pastor at Santee-based Faith Church, which is planning to build a new church near the proposed casino site, warned lawmakers not to chase revenue at the expense of residents.
“There’s a lot of money there,” said Suttle. “We want to tell people that we’re not for sale, and that our community is worth investing in good things, not things with the potential to do harm.”
North Carolina Reaps Increased Revenue From Gambling
Proponents of legalization argue that the state is losing out on revenue to its neighbors. North Carolina‘s sports betting industry has grown since it legalized it in 2024. The state reported record betting handle in November, with over $800 million wagered, some of which will undoubtedly be from South Carolina residents crossing the border.
Handle fell to $665 million in December, but the state continues to collect substantial tax revenue. It has collected $71 million in taxes since July last year, a 29% increase from the $55 million collected in the same period in 2024.
While South Carolina deliberates over opening the state’s first casino, another tribal development could open north of the border. The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina gained federal recognition at the end of last year and could eye I-95 as a potential site for a casino.
