Like all its neighbours in the southeast, South Carolina hasn’t legalized online poker, and there doesn’t seem to be any legislative initiative that could change this anytime soon.
Nevertheless, South Carolina players can still enjoy online poker, even though no state-licensed options currently exist. More precisely, you can sign up with a sweepstakes site to bet with virtual currencies or an offshore poker platform if you want to play with real money.
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Great casino offer On this page, we’ll delve deeper into South Carolina’s regulatory landscape and share our top recommendations for the best South Carolina online poker sites. Let’s jump right in!
Can I Play Online Poker in South Carolina?
Yes, you can play online poker in South Carolina. However, since South Carolina hasn’t yet regulated online poker, you won’t find any state-licensed platforms that players in some other US states can access. Instead, you have two options for playing poker from South Carolina: sweepstakes sites and offshore poker platforms.
South Carolina Online Poker Facts
| Available options | Sweepstakes operators & offshore sites |
| State-regulated poker sites | Not available |
| Age limit for South Carolina online poker | 18+ |
| Best SC poker site | CoinPoker |
Best Online Poker Sites in South Carolina
While players from South Carolina can’t sign up with big brand-name poker sites like PokerStars or 888poker, there is still an excellent array of options worth considering. We’ve thoroughly researched the top contenders to bring you the three best online poker sites for South Carolina players:
#1. CoinPoker – The Best Pick for South Carolina Players
CoinPoker is our top recommendation for all South Carolina players who want to play real-money poker online. The platform currently offers No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and Pot Limit Omaha 5, and always has an excellent selection of cash games and tournaments running.
The site helps all players start with a boosted bankroll through its 150% welcome bonus, worth up to $2,000. Moreover, it offers rewarding content, including daily and monthly leaderboards, bad-beat jackpots, and its own version of jackpot spin-and-go tournaments called Cosmic Spins.
The games are generally very soft, but more experienced high-rollers can also find great entertainment on the platform.
#2 ClubWPT Gold – Quality Platform Backed By WPT
If you prefer sticking with sweepstakes sites instead of offshore real-money ones, ClubWPT Gold is our top recommendation. Operating under sweepstakes laws and backed by WPT, this platform ensures a safe and enjoyable experience.
ClubWPT Gold offers soft Texas Hold’em games and a very customizable platform. With the latter in mind, if you’re a desktop user, you can even download a native client, which enables you to multi-table. The site currently offers 8-max and heads-up tables across a wide range of stakes.
#3. Stake US – Free SC Welcome Bonus and 5% Lifetime Rakeback
Stake US is a cryptocurrency-based sweepstakes poker and casino website. Like ClubWPT Gold, it provides very soft, low-stakes action and quality software. Moreover, it outperforms our previous selection in terms of loyalty perks, as Stake US offers 5% lifetime rakeback to all of its players.
This platform offers an advantageous free SC welcome bonus worth up to 55 SC. This excellently pairs up with the site’s very low prize redemption threshold, set at just 46 SC. Stake US certainly doesn’t lack in game variety, as you’ll find Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha in tournament, ring game, and sit and go formats.
Free Poker vs Real-Money Games
The biggest difference between sweepstakes poker and real-money online poker lies in how players participate and win prizes. In traditional real-money poker, players buy in with cash, compete at tables, and withdraw their winnings in cash.
In contrast, sweepstakes poker sites use a dual-currency system that avoids direct gambling. Instead of wagering money, players use virtual currencies like Gold Coins for fun play and Sweeps Coins for redeemable prizes. This model makes sweepstakes poker legal in most U.S. states where real-money poker is restricted, giving poker enthusiasts a legitimate and safe alternative.
Sweepstakes Model Explained
The sweepstakes model operates through a purchase-and-bonus system that complies with U.S. sweepstakes law. For example, let’s say you buy a $10 Gold Coin package, receiving 100,000 Gold Coins for entertainment play and 10 Sweeps Coins as a free bonus.
Gold Coins can’t be redeemed for cash, but Sweeps Coins can be used in special tournaments where prizes are awarded. If you win 50 Sweeps Coins, you can later redeem them for real cash prizes. Sites typically offer a 1:1 ratio, meaning you can redeem your 50 SC for $50.
Many sweepstakes poker sites also offer players the option to enter without purchase via mail or promotional offers, ensuring participation doesn’t require direct wagering and keeping the system compliant with state laws.
Regulation Landscape in South Carolina
South Carolina has one of the most restrictive stances on gambling in the United States. The state’s anti-gambling laws date back to the 1800s, were reinforced in the state constitution, and haven’t been updated to keep up with the emergence of online gambling.
Efforts to modernize gambling laws have surfaced occasionally but never gained momentum. Attempts to introduce casinos or online gambling frameworks have met resistance from lawmakers. Not even sports betting, which is on an upward trend in most US states, has seen significant movement towards legalization.
Looking ahead, online poker regulation in South Carolina faces an uphill battle. The political climate remains highly conservative, and changing the constitution would require both legislative approval and a public referendum.