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Checked Oct. 21, 2026

SC ยท Checked Oct. 21, 2026

Prediction market law in South Carolina

No public action found

South Carolina officials have not sued or issued orders; private plaintiffs are suing prediction markets under an old gambling-loss recovery law.

South Carolina's attorney general has not filed suit against prediction markets, and no 2026 prediction-market bill was found. In late 2025, Gov. Henry McMaster's office said it views the markets as illegal sports betting in the state. Private plaintiffs have sued Kalshi, Robinhood, Polymarket, DraftKings Predictions and others under an 18th-century statute that allows recovery of gambling losses. South Carolina joined the June 2026 amicus brief supporting Ohio.

Timeline of state actions

  1. Other development, Kalshi

    South Carolina joined a 37-state coalition (36 states plus California) that filed an amicus brief in the Sixth Circuit supporting Ohio's enforcement position against Kalshi (date is the coalition announcement).

    Source: California Attorney General press release

  2. Other development

    A spokesperson for Gov. McMaster said the governor's office considers prediction markets illegal sports betting in South Carolina; the AG's office had not filed suit (date is the article date).

    Source: The Post and Courier

Laws and bills

No enacted laws or pending bills specific to prediction markets found.

Court cases

  • South Carolina Gambling Recovery LLC v. Kalshi Inc., et al.U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina (removed from the Oconee County Court of Common Pleas), 8:25-cv-12859 (consolidated with 8:25-cv-12867-BHH); 2025CP3700563 (Oconee County)Pending
  • Hughes v. DraftKings Inc., et al.U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina (removed from the Charleston County Court of Common Pleas), 2:26-cv-03838; 2026CP1004063 (Charleston County)Pending
  • South Carolina Gambling Recovery LLC v. Kalshi Inc. et al. (private suit; defendants also include Susquehanna, Robinhood and Webull entities)Oconee County Court of Common Pleas (S.C.); removed to U.S. District Court, D.S.C., 2025CP3700563 (Oconee Cty.); 8:25-cv-12859 (D.S.C.)
  • Hughes v. Polymarket, DraftKings Predictions et al. (private suit)Charleston County (South Carolina state court)

Sources

  1. The Post and Courier
  2. California Attorney General press release
  3. Sports betting status