A bill that would legalize commercial land-based casino gaming in certain areas of South Carolina is set to be considered again in 2026, potentially with significant changes about how to use the resultant revenues.
Under the title of the I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act, House Bill 4176 would legalize commercial casino gambling in some economically deprived counties close to the busy Interstate 95 that runs nearly 2,000 miles down the East Coast.
“The General Assembly recognizes and further finds that certain counties along Interstate 95 (I-95) represent rural and impoverished school districts,” reads part of the summary of the bill, which was first introduced in March 2025. “The General Assembly further finds that casino gaming in these counties is consistent and compatible with their economic, labor and tourism profiles and that revenue, job creation and economic improvement from such gaming would substantially enhance the educational opportunities of children living in these areas.”
Bill would create gaming commission, approve one casino
South Carolina currently restricts mainstream legal gambling to the state lottery and bingo, but some legislators pushed last year to add either brick-and-mortar casinos or sports betting.
HB 4176 stalled after receiving a favorable Ways and Means Committee report last spring. In its current form, the bill would create the South Carolina Gaming Commission to license, regulate and oversee casino gambling. The language of the bill suggests the state would issue only one license for a single casino and would tax that casino’s revenue at 15%.
Of the tax revenue generated, 97% would be deposited into the state general fund to be used for various measures.
Amendment would fund farmland conservation
Local media reported this week that lawmakers were hard at work over the legislative break to make the bill more appealing. A proposed amendment would dedicate a large chunk of casino tax revenues to the South Carolina Conservation Bank, which oversees state-wide conservation efforts. Estimates reportedly suggest that could net the agency around $35 million annually.
House Ways and Means Chair Rep. Bruce Bannister told reporters that the new plan would give 35% of the revenue to the state conservation bank to support preserving working farmlands and forests. Another 30% would go to a veterans trust fund and 26% to the state general fund. Counties would get a smaller slice.
“Most of the members are sort of lukewarm, but if it helps something they care about, like conservation, they would be more favorable,’” said Bannister, as quoted by The State. “Having that farm security that we can grow our own food and having those lands in South Carolina conserved would be a huge deal.”
While Bannister is hopeful the changes will sway the House this year, the state Senate has rejected attempted gambling expansion before, as has Gov. Henry McMaster.
Sports betting suggestions made no headway
The casino proposal wasn’t the only way in which South Carolina legislators suggested expanding in-state gambling in 2025. A bill filed for last year’s session would have legalized sports wagering, again creating a new gaming commission to oversee activities.
Sen. Thomas Davis‘ Senate Bill 444 would have allowed up to eight sportsbooks and taxed them at 12.5%.
However, that bill and a similar measure filed in the House both failed to gain any traction in their respective chambers and did not make any progress beyond committee discussion.
