By admin 
Issue: Gambling in SC
Outside the South Carolina Education Lottery, gambling is illegal in the Palmetto State. However, pushes have been made to allow for more gambling avenues in the state. None have been successful.
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Alan Wilson, GOP nominee for governor
Attorney General Alan Wilson, the Republican nominee for governor, said at a Lexington County Republican Party meeting earlier this year he was in favor of allowing online sports betting but not casino gambling.
“I made it abundantly clear that I have serious concerns about casinos in South Carolina, because I’m talking to law enforcement, faith leaders in other states, and they have voiced concerns that they wish they could go back and roll back the clock on having them in their state,” Wilson said.
However, he said online sports betting is already taking place, even though technically not allowed in South Carolina. Wilson said he wants to put guardrails around it in the state.
“(The) internet is everywhere, and obviously, anybody can go online. I don’t want to criminalize conduct that people are doing on their phone,” Wilson said in an interview. “I think brick and mortar gambling is very different than what people do on their phones. But at the same time, I just want to make sure that we’re very thoughtful about it.”
Jermaine Johnson, Democratic nominee for governor
State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, D-Richland, has said he has a personal issue with gambling because gambling addictions led to his family, while he was growing up, living in motels. However, he acknowledged gambling already is taking place in the state, even though most of it is illegal.
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Johnson said he would want to see a referendum to ensure there’s public support, and added guardrails would be needed to prevent drug trafficking, human trafficking and other crimes.
“The design of the place would have to be drastically different than any other casinos that we see around,” Johnson said in an interview. “It would have to be something so drastically different for me to support something like that because we know with places like that, there’s potential for high crime areas and things like that. We need to have make sure that there (are) resources in there for addictions, gambling addictions as well.”
Background on gambling
Outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster has been against a gambling expansion in the state as efforts to allow betting on horse racing or allow a casino at Lake Santee only gained momentum in the House.
Even though gambling on sports is illegal, many find a way to participate in it in South Carolina.
The lottery was legalized in South Carolina after voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2000 to allow the game. The lottery helps pay for college scholarships and other higher education initiatives.
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