Anyone aged 18 or older can win cash prizes in South Carolina at all the best online sweepstakes casinos. The Palmetto State has not yet legalized real money online casinos, so social and sweepstakes casino sites offer a great alternative. If you play slots, blackjack, and other casino games, you have access to it all from anywhere in South Carolina.
Online Casino Gaming for Cash Prizes in South Carolina
Our experts have identified the top sweepstakes casinos and social casinos available in South Carolina right now. Claim any of the welcome bonuses displayed below with the sweepstakes promo code, and you can then start playing games for cash prizes, with no purchase required.
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Gambling is for entertainment purposes only. Stay safe and ensure success when you gamble responsibly. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for confidential support. Visit SAMHSA’s National Helpline website for resources that include a treatment center locator, anonymous chat, and more.
How South Carolina Sweepstakes Casinos Work
These South Carolina online casinos use a dual currency system. They will give you Gold Coins, which may alternatively be referred to as WOW Coins, Game Coins, or Lucky Coins at some sites. These coins have no monetary value. They simply allow you to play your favorite online casino games for fun.
You can also earn premium coins, which are normally known as Sweeps Coins or Sweepstakes Coins. Win these coins playing games, and you can redeem the winnings for cash prizes or gift cards. You will receive free Sweeps Coins via bonuses and promotions, or you can earn free Sweeps Coins by purchasing Gold Coins at sweepstakes casinos.
How We Rank the Best South Carolina Online Casinos
We follow a strict set of criteria when reviewing social and sweepstakes casinos that operate in South Carolina. Our reviewers focus on the six areas listed below, and we then compare the SC online casinos against one another before ranking them in order of their all-round quality and value.
- Availability: We begin the process by making a list of every social and sweepstakes online casino that is legally available in South Carolina. Our experts sign up at each online casino to gain first-hand experience of the software.
- Game Variety: The next step is to assess the selection of casino games on offer. Our reviewers are looking for a wide variety of high-quality online casino games. They should be sourced from a broad pool of leading software providers, preferably with a few exclusives in the mix too. The games should cater to all budgets and playing styles.
- Software: We then test out the software powering each sweepstakes and social casino on a range of computers, iOS devices, and Android phones. Our experts consider the design of each casino, along with the navigation system, filters, shortcuts, page loading speeds, and any value-added features that augment the user experience.
- Bonuses: Next, we break down all the no deposit sweepstakes casino bonuses, ongoing promotions, social media contests, leaderboards, loyalty rewards, and prize draws at each SC online casino. Our reviewers seek out sweepstakes and social casinos that offer large no-purchase bonuses and regular opportunities to unlock free coins. You can check out our Florida casino no deposit bonuses as well.
- Payments: We buy coins and redeem cash prizes at each online casino. Our experts assess the range of casino payment options, the ease of the redemption process, the redemption limits, and the payout speeds. We rule out any sites that cannot be relied upon to provide prompt, secure payments.
- Support: Finally, we analyze the customer service that each South Carolina online casino offers. We request support via each available channel, and we make a note of the response times and the helpfulness of the replies. The best sites can provide quick, clear responses via multiple channels. If an online casino offers poor customer service, we will remove it from our list of the best South Carolina online casinos.
South Carolina Online Gambling Snapshot
| Gambling Type | Legal | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Real-Money Online Casinos | No | South Carolina has never legalized real money online casinos, but you can play at social and sweepstakes casinos. |
| Online Poker | No | Real money online poker rooms are also illegal in South Carolina. |
| Online Sports Betting | No | South Carolina is among a dwindling minority of states that have not legalized sports betting. |
| Online Lottery | No | No, the South Carolina Education Lottery does not offer online tickets. |
| DFS Contests | Yes | The state has never officially permitted or prohibited fantasy sports contests, so apps like DraftKings and FanDuel accept players based in South Carolina. |
| Online Horse Betting | No | South Carolina does not allow pari-mutuel wagering. There are no online racebooks, physical horse or dog racing tracks, or simulcast racing parlors in the state. |
Online Casino Games in South Carolina
The best sweepstakes and social casinos in South Carolina offer more than 500 games. They are generally divided into a few large categories:
Slots in South Carolina
Slots are available at every South Carolina online casino. They are simple, fast-paced, and varied, so they appeal to millions of players. These are the main types of slots you can play at sweepstakes casinos in South Carolina:
- Classic Slots | Simple games that typically feature 3 reels and low variance levels. They take inspiration from the mechanical stepper slots that dominated land-based casinos before the advent of video slots.
- Video Slots | Modern slots that use graphics, soundtracks, animations, and bonus features to improve the experience. There are low, medium, and high volatility slots, and they come in many different themes.
- Megaways Slots | Video slots that use the Megaways feature, which exponentially increases the number of paylines on offer. A typical Megaways slot will have more than 100,000 different ways to win.
- Progressive Jackpot Slots | Games that give you the chance to win a large payout from a single spin, whether you use Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins. The top payout on a progressive jackpot slot grows until a player wins it, then it resets.
Table Games in South Carolina
Some South Carolina online casinos allow you to play table games too. These are the most popular games:
Video poker games and virtual table poker games like Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Let It Ride are popular too. Lots of sweepstakes and social casinos offer virtual table games, but only a handful of them host live dealer games. If you visit High 5 Casino, you can stream live casino games such as blackjack, baccarat, and roulette.
More South Carolina Online Casino Games
Some South Carolina online casinos also host bingo games. A host will call the numbers, and you can mark them off on your card as you try to win prizes. There are also video bingo and video keno at some sweepstakes online casinos.
Certain social casinos also have an arcade games section. It will feature games such as Plinko, Minesweeper, Limbo, and crash games. You may also be able to play fishing games. Online scratchcards and Slingo games are often available too.
History of Gambling in South Carolina
South Carolina has historically taken a restrictive approach to gambling. The Palmetto State prohibited all forms of gambling when it unveiled the Code of Laws in 1802.
That situation persisted until the Bingo Tax Act was passed in 1996. The law permitted charity bingo games and raffles. The South Carolina Education Lottery then got underway in 2002, offering in-house draw games such as Pick 3 and Pick 4. South Carolina is now part of multi-state games such as Powerball and Mega Millions, which offer larger jackpots.
No other forms of gambling have been legalized in South Carolina. Sweepstakes casinos can operate in the state, provided they comply with South Carolina’s sweepstakes laws, and fantasy sports apps also accept South Carolinians. However, there are no online sportsbooks, real money casinos, poker rooms, or racebooks.
Lawmakers have tried to change that situation in recent years, but they have not yet gained enough support. In 2021, HB 3395 aimed to legalize sports betting, pari-mutuel betting on races, and casino gaming by amending the state constitution. It died in committee. Another sports betting bill was tabled in 2022, but it suffered the same fate. A bill named HB 3749 was filed in 2023, and it gained bipartisan support, but it still needs to clear more hurdles when the next legislative session begins.
Retail Casinos in South Carolina
There are no land-based South Carolina casinos. The only option is to board a cruise ship called The Big M Casino. There are two ships, departing from Charleston and Columbia for day cruises and evening cruises.
You need to pay a boarding fee, and you can then play slot machines, blackjack, roulette, Let It Ride, and 3 Card Poker when the ship reaches international waters. In 1999, a circuit court ruled that casino boats could accept customers in South Carolina. The South Carolina Supreme Court upheld that decision in 2001.
South Carolina Online Casinos – Bottom Line
We do not expect South Carolina to introduce land-based casinos or real money online casinos in the foreseeable future. You can take a cruise on a casino boat, but that is inconvenient for most players in the Palmetto State. The best option is to sign up with one of the reputable sweepstakes casinos we have recommended above.
These sites offer the same games found at real money casinos in other states. You can always play them for fun with Gold Coins, but you will also be given the chance to redeem a cash prize or a gift card if you play with premium coins. Use the links provided above to visit any of the recommended South Carolina online casinos, as that will ensure you redeem the best welcome bonus.
More Resources for South Carolina Online Gamblers
Online Casinos in Neighboring States
South Carolina Online Casinos FAQ
No, South Carolina has not legalized real money online casinos. However, anyone aged 18 or older can play games at social and sweepstakes casinos online in the Palmetto State. You can play for fun, or you can redeem cash prizes if you earn Sweeps Coins and play them through.
Yes, you can redeem cash prizes at South Carolina sweepstakes casinos. Play with premium coins, usually called Sweeps Coins, and play the games. Any Sweeps Coins you win can be redeemed for cash prizes.
There are no land-based casinos in South Carolina. It is one of only six states without a single brick-and-mortar casino, along with Georgia, Tennessee, Utah, Alaska, and Hawaii. However, you can board The Big M Casino cruise ship, which sails from Charleston or Columbia and allows South Carolinians to play real money slots and video poker in international waters.
You must be 18 or older to enter sweepstakes contests, buy lottery tickets, or play charity bingo games and pull-tabs in South Carolina. The Palmetto State does not permit sports betting, pari-mutuel betting on horse races, poker, or real money casino gaming, so there is no official minimum age for those forms of gambling.
Some sweepstakes online casinos allow you to play live dealer games in South Carolina. They include High 5 Casino, Stake.us, and Chanced Casino. You will connect with a real dealer, who will be based in a land-based casino or a studio, and you can place your bets while streaming the game live on your phone or computer.
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