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Legislation that would open the door to online horse race betting in South Carolina has cleared its first major hurdle, moving from committee to the Senate floor.
The bipartisan measure, known as the Equine Advancement Act, is being led by Sen. Michael Johnson of Tega Cay and promises to keep wagering tied strictly to races within the Palmetto State.
Supporters say bets could only be placed through a phone app while physically present at the race, a safeguard meant to limit the scope of gambling in a state that has generally maintained a strong stance against the vector.
The Senate Finance Committee advanced the bill on a 12–6 vote, making it the most successful SC gambling bill so far. Previous attempts to expand gambling, including a casino bill, stalled before reaching a full vote.
Measure would help boost SC’s $2 billion equine market
Advocates argue that South Carolina is missing out on millions in potential revenue as betting grows both legally and illegally elsewhere.
They also see the measure as a lifeline for the state’s struggling equestrian community, with a portion of proceeds set aside for grants to horse-related programs and businesses.
“The goal is to take the proceeds from this and pump that directly into our equine industry, horse training, horse farms, horse racing, all of those things, so that they have an opportunity to compete with the other states that already have this,” Johnson said previously in a News From the State report.
The equine sector already plays a major role in South Carolina’s economy, generating close to $2 billion each year and supporting nearly 29,000 jobs, according to a Department of Agriculture study.
The plan is designed to keep betting tied closely to South Carolina’s horse racing calendar. Wagers would only be allowed through approved apps, and those apps would use location tracking to confirm that the bettor is physically at the race before a bet can be placed.
At present, the state hosts five major events where this rule would apply: the Carolina Cup and Colonial Cup in Camden, the spring and fall steeplechases in Aiken, and the Steeplechase of Charleston, which was recently brought back.
Proposal still to face multiple roadblocks, including Governor McMaster’s desk
Even with the support of Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler, the measure faces an uphill climb in a Legislature that has long resisted gambling.
Lawmakers recall past battles over video poker, which once grew into a $3.5 billion industry before being outlawed by the state Supreme Court 25 years ago. Opponents warn that any new betting allowance could reopen old doors, and some senators remain firm in their stance not to let that happen again.
The current bill makes clear that the ban on slot machines and video poker stays in place, but skeptics say caution is still needed. Senator Greg Hembree, who voted in favor, admitted he hopes all loopholes have been closed but stressed that lawmakers must be ready to act if problems arise.
Even if this proposal advances further, Governor Henry McMaster has consistently opposed gambling and is expected to veto any measure that lands on his desk.
Religious groups, including the Palmetto Family Council and the South Carolina Baptist Convention, have also lobbied hard against gambling bills this year.
A history of failed gambling bills
This is the third time a horse racing bill has reached the Senate floor, with earlier versions never receiving a vote.
Other gambling proposals have had similar outcomes. A casino bill that once advanced to the House floor was quietly sent back to committee earlier this year, a move that effectively killed it.
A proposal that would have brought online sports betting to the Palmetto State also stalled in a Senate subcommittee, while a plan to allow bingo machines for veterans’ groups was returned to a lower panel by the Finance Committee.
Hembree, who supported the current horse racing bill, predict that gambling advocates will return in a few years to push for broader allowances, with others expecting the fight to come sooner.
