Online Poker in South Carolina – Is It Legal? Get $5,000+ at the Best Real Money SC Poker Sites

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If you’re a poker enthusiast and you’re wondering to yourself, “Can you play online poker in South Carolina?”, then you’re in the right place for those answers.  Although players won’t find major poker tournaments or high-quality South Carolina poker rooms, you can be pleased to know that there are wonderful alternatives for legal online poker play. With the convenience that the internet offers, online poker sites bring classic casino games and more to South Carolina online poker residents.

On this page, we answer questions like, “Is online poker legal in South Carolina?”, and provide an insight of the five leading online poker sites that South Carolina has to offer. Have a look at our in-depth evaluation of our most recommended sites for poker enthusiasts that live in South Carolina!

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The Best Online Poker Real Money South Carolina Sites

Online gambling sites have become more popular throughout recent years which means there are quite a few to choose from. However, we have picked a handful of the highest quality and most reputable websites for players to enjoy South Carolina Online Poker.

  1. BetOnline – Best South Carolina Online Poker Site
  2. Bovada Exceptional Poker Tournaments for loyal players in South Carolina
  3. Everygame – Online South Carolina Poker Site for Events
  4. Ignition – Best South Carolina Poker Site for New Players
  5. Sportsbetting.ag – South Carolina Online Poker Site with Low Buy-Ins

Top Online Poker South Carolina Sites Reviewed

These five sites for poker South Carolina below are the very best out there. We have thoroughly reviewed our top picks to show you what makes them better than any other South Carolina Online Poker Site. These mini-reviews also include their strengths and weaknesses.

1. BetOnline – Best South Carolina Online Poker Site

BetOnline Poker SiteBetOnline is the number one, best South Carolina Online Poker site offering rewarding bonuses and much more. Having been in existence since 2011, BetOnline has made a name for itself within the gambling world and is standing strong.

Players at BetOnline can enjoy an easy-to-use site, high-quality software, great games with a variety of limits, and access from any device. As the best online poker in South Carolina, you can pick from poker games such as Limit, Pot-Limit, and No-Limit Texas Hold’em as well as Omaha and 7 Card Stud.

Following the great selection of games are the epic tournaments such as the $1 Million Windfall, Sunday Majors, Rebuy Frenzy, Sit & Go’s, and Progressive Bounties. This can all be accessed once you have become a member at BetOnline and if you aren’t yet a member, you can sign up and then claim your 100% up to $1,000 Welcome Bonus. To claim this, you’ll need to use the promo code: NEWBOL at the cashier as you make your very first deposit.

What we like:

  • Mobile and Desktop Poker App
  • $1 Million Windfall Jackpot
  • $1,000 Poker Bonus Offer
  • Big selection of Table Games

What we don’t:

  • 6% Transaction fee for Credit Cards

2. Bovada – Exceptional Poker Tournaments for loyal players in South Carolina

Bovada poker siteBovada is an exceptional poker site available for South Carolina players. As an operator that’s been around since 2004, making it one of the oldest poker sites available to US-based players.

It’s reliable, user-friendly, and a leading site whether you download the app or play poker directly from the website. Furthermore, poker players can expect dependable payouts, a wide range of great games, and tournaments.

At Bovada, players can sign up for as many as 8 tournaments at a time. The most popular tournaments include the Monthly Milly which has $1 Million prizes guaranteed. However, you can also enjoy the $150K Guaranteed Jackpot or the $75 High Roller Tournaments once you’re a regular and existing player.

When you create your account here, you can claim your Bovada promo code welcome bonus which is a 100% Match Bonus up to $500. There are also regular promotions and reload bonus for returning players.

What we like:

  • Speedy payouts
  • Sit & Go Poker Tournaments
  • Daily poker Events
  • Easy to use website

What we don’t:

  • Welcome Bonus on the small side

3. Everygame – Online South Carolina Poker Site for Events

Everygame Poker SiteEverygame previously known as Intertops is the leading online poker site for special events. It also is well known for quick payouts, low rakes, and plenty to offer to new players as well as more experienced players. This poker site is registered with the gaming commission in Curacao, one of the leading regulators in iGaming. With this license, players can be sure they are safely gambling at a responsible offshore poker site.

Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Telesina, 7 Card Stud, and a variety of other poker games some with huge jackpot payouts are available at Everygame Poker. South Carolina online poker players can also use the Everygame Instant Play Poker App to gamble real money and win big at a variety of poker tables.

When joining Everygame poker site as a new player, you can claim your Welcome Bonus which is a 200% up to $1,000 offer that also comes with 25 Free Casino Spins. However, to claim it, you first have to register for an account and use the Everygame promo code at the cashier when making your first deposit.

What we like:

  • Sponsored WSOP tournament entry
  • 200% Poker Offer up to $1,000
  • Customer support is available 24/7

What we don’t:

  • To access Poker Bonus funds, Frequent Player Points are necessary

4. Ignition – Best South Carolina Poker Site for New Players

Ignition Poker SiteIgnition is one of the newer faces of the online poker gambling industry as it launched not too long ago in 2016. This online gambling site attracts many players from South Carolina but also from several other states and is known for having the highest player traffic around.

Ignition hosts small and big tournaments with real money cash prizes including the Golden Spade Poker Open and Monthly Milly. What’s more, this poker site caters to low and high-risk players with table limits ranging from as low as $0.02 up to $60.

As a new player at Ignition, players can claim a 150% First Deposit Bonus up to $1,500 when depositing with Bitcoin. This is a match bonus, meaning that your deposit will be matched, dollar for dollar up to $1,500.

In addition, once you’ve claimed your Welcome Offer and become a regular player here, you can experience and take advantage of the $2,500 Weekly Poker Freerolls which are available for Ignition Reward Players.

What we like:

  • High Jackpot Tournaments
  • $2,500 Weekly Freerolls
  • A large selection of table games

What we don’t:

  • Software is a bit dated

5. Sportsbetting.ag – Online Poker South Carolina Site with Low Buy-Ins

Sportsbetting.ag Poker Site

Sportsbetting.ag has is one of the best South Carolina poker sites and has been up and running since 2012. Itoffers poker enthusiasts a platform that is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices. Players can enjoy a great range of high-quality casino games including poker games, tournaments, and promotions.

Sportsbetting.ag offers fantastic online poker tournaments, promotions, and bonuses to new and returning online poker players in South Carolina every day. You can also participate in rotating Bad Beat Jackpot Tables, where you can split large reward pools with other players if you are beaten by a bad beat.

New players can claim their 100% First Deposit Poker Bonus with the promo code: NEWSB. Apart from this, existing players of Sportsbetting.ag can also participate in the various tournaments that are available like the Bad Beat Jackpot, $1 Million Windfall Jackpot, and the Guaranteed $150K Jackpot. Lastly, players can use cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Ripple, for instant transactions.

What we like:

  • $1 Million Windfall Tournament
  • Low Rakes
  • A huge range of poker titles is available
  • $5 buy-ins

What we don’t:

  • Banking fees can be on the higher side

More on gambling in South Carolina…

Learn about all types of online gambling in South Carolina in our expert guides below:

Online Poker South Carolina – The Top Sites Compared

How do our best online poker sites for South Carolina players compare? We put our top selections to the test on game variety, bonuses, cash stakes, and the poker tournaments that are available to play.

Poker Site Poker Variety Poker Bonus Cash Stakes Poker Tournaments Poker Freerolls
BetOnline Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Six Plus Hold’em, Windfall Poker 100% up to $1,000 with Bonus Code: NEWBOL $0.05/$0.10 – $5/$10 Sunday Majors, Nightly Monsters, $1 Million Windfall, Progressive Bounties, Rebuy Frenzy, Windfall Sit & Go
Bovada Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Zone Poker 100% up to $500 with Bonus Code: PWB500 $0.02/$0.05 – $10/$20 The Monthly Milly, Million Dollar Weekend, Knockout Tournaments, Jackpot Sit & Go
Everygame Texas Hold’em, Omaha 200% up to $1,000 with Bonus Code: 1000EGP $0.02/$0.04 – $3/$6 Wipeout Series, Summit Series, Sunday Six Max SUEPRSTACK, Sundowner, WSOP, Sit & Go Tournaments
Ignition Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Zone Poker 150% up to $1,500 $0.02/$0.05 – $10/$20 $2,500 Weekly Freerolls, Super Millions, Progressive Knockout Series, Golden Spade, Poker Open, Black Diamond Poker Open, Festival of Felt, Jackpot Sit & Go
SportsBetting Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Six Plus Hold’em, Windfall Poker 100% up to $1,000 with Bonus Code: NEWSB $0.05/$0.10 – $5/$10 Sunday Majors, Nightly Monsters, $1 Million Windfall, Progressive Bounties, Rebuy. Frenzy, Windfall Sit & Go

Is Online Poker Legal in South Carolina?

Unfortunately for poker enthusiasts based in South Carolina, every single form of poker is illegal including poker among friends. There is not even one land-based casino, card room, bar league, or charity poker game available. In South Carolina, the law has made it clear that any game that’s played using cards, counts as gambling. However, thankfully today with the internet and its infinite possibilities, there are several great online gambling sites open to South Carolina poker players. The five in our list are some of the most well-known and reliable sites for playing real money poker.

Video Poker

Video poker is a more simplified version of poker that can be played at both land-based casinos and online casinos that offer it. It’s often referred to as a unique combination of slot machines and poker. Additionally, it’s like 5 Card Draw where you get five cards and can exchange them in one round. In video poker, you’ll do this at the beginning of the round, and you don’t play against other players, you play against the house.

Many people enjoy playing video poker and opt for it because the rounds are very quick, and you can play more than one hand at a time increasing your chances of winning more. Also, you don’t necessarily have to have an in-depth strategy to play video poker. The most important goal of it is to pick the cards you want to keep at the beginning of the game and have them replaced.

You can find video poker games at the top online casinos we have covered in this guide. Some of the most popular video poker games you’ll find are Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, and Double Bonus Poker. And of course, you’ll also find poker variants like Caribbean Stud, Pai Gow Poker, and Oasis Poker. As well as plenty of slot machines and other popular casino games to choose from.

Casual Poker

Casual poker is often referred to as a group of friends playing poker around a table where the pressure is low, the snacks are yummy, and the mood is easy-breezy. This can have low stakes or high stakes depending on the type of poker players and the desired outcome of the game. However, in South Carolina, even a game of casual poker is not allowed. In fact, it’s illegal, even if there aren’t any wagers involved. With that said, it’s best to keep your poker play to a legal offshore gambling site like BetOnline.

South Carolina Poker Laws

As mentioned above, any form of the game that involves cards, dice, or other forms of betting are strictly illegal in the state of South Carolina. Players cannot participate in live poker or online poker real money South Carolina that’s operated from any organization within the state. There have been prosecutions for people who have participated in a home poker game. And as of now, even video poker machines aren’t allowed. So, as you can see, there isn’t any place to participate in a live game of poker. The only “land-based” option that residents in South Carolina have is to board the Big M Ship II and play the two poker table games that are available there. But there aren’t any tournaments of any kind and for that, players would probably have to go out of state unless they resort to offshore poker sites like BetOnline and Bovada.

Online Poker Guides State by State

South Carolina Online Poker Laws

The South Carolina online poker laws are just as strict as the regular poker laws of South Carolina. Considering this state doesn’t even have any casinos on the ground and residents aren’t allowed to participate in home poker games, it’s not too surprising that online poker is also banned. And that’s the great thing about the top offshore poker sites we have mentioned on this page is that they fall within a grey area that allows US players in SC to play poker without the fear of getting prosecuted. It’s operators, businesses, or individuals that illegally run an online poker site from within South Carolina that have something to worry about. There have been tons of poker enthusiasts from South Carolina that have enjoyed poker games and tournaments at these sites daily without any issues.

South Carolina Poker – Live and In Person

It’s very clear that live and in-person poker is not a common trend or theme in South Carolina. In previous years, players most likely had to go to another state for some poker action. The reason is that the only casinos that can operate from South Carolina are cruises that are based on ‘open waters’ for legal gambling. On these boats, there are classic table games and slot machines however, there are only two poker tables included in these offerings. These cruise ships are known as the Big M Ship I and Big M Ship II. These two ships look very similar and have somewhat similar offerings.

Big M Ship I

Phone Number: +1 843 249 9811

Address: 4491 Waterfront Ave., Little River, SC 29566

On the Big M Ship I, players can choose from 158 slot machines as well as games like Wheel of Fortune, Pot O’ Gold, and Video Poker. There is also a selection of progressive jackpots and table games like Blackjack, Roulette, and Craps available. There’s also plenty of food onboard like pizza, hot dogs, subs, and wraps, for anyone who gets hungry while gambling.

Big M Ship I

Big M Ship II

Phone Number: +1 843 249 9811

Address: 4491 Mineola Ave., Little River, SC 29566

Big M II has 248 slot machines for South Carolina players to choose from while also having Wheel of Fortune, Pot O’ Gold, and Video Poker on board. Progressive jackpots and table games like Craps, Roulette, Blackjack, 3 Card Poker, and Let It Ride can also be enjoyed here. There’s also a dining deck that offers soft drinks, pizza, hot dogs, soup, and more.

Big M Ship II

South Carolina Online Poker

There are many South Carolina poker sites offering various tournaments to participate in. Some of these tournaments are very popular and run weekly if not daily at most of the top sites mentioned here with real money bets. On the other hand, other tournaments are exclusive to a single operator. Have a look at our comparison of the South Carolina Poker sites and tournaments they offer.

Online Poker Site Poker Tournament #1 Poker Tournament #2 Poker Tournament #3 Poker Tournament #4 Poker Tournament #5
BetOnline $1 Million Windfall Jackpot Sit & Go Tournaments Windfall Sit & Gos – Winner Takes All Sunday Majors – Win Prizes from $1,000 up to $150,000 Nightly Monsters – $1,000 up to $20,000 Guaranteed Progressive Bounties – Guaranteed Prizes
Bovada Monthly Milly – $1 Million Prize Pool Jackpot Sit & Go’s Daily Turbo Tournaments $150K Guaranteed Poker Tournament $100K Guaranteed High Roller Tournament
Everygame Bounty Tournaments – Progressive Bounty Wipeout Series – Win Cash Prizes from $2 – $20 buy-ins Sit and Go Tournaments – Win $10K in Cash Prizes Sunday Sundowner Special – Guaranteed Prize Money of $10K Sunday Six Max Superstack – Various Cash Prizes
Ignition Casino Weekly $2,500 Bitcoin Depositor’s Freeroll Jackpot Sit & Go Tournaments – Win up to 1000x your buy-in Sit & Go Tournaments (different types with special features) $150K Guaranteed Poker Tournament every Sunday $2 Million Guaranteed in Weekly Prize Pools
SportsBetting.ag $150,000 Guaranteed Weekly $1 Million Windfall Jackpot – win up to 100,000x your buy-in Bad Beat Jackpot – Progressive Fast Fold Poker Boost Bad Bead Jackpot – Progressive Prize Pool N/A

Making South Carolina Online Poker Deposits

The best offered online poker sites legal in South Carolina offer more than just one way to deposit funds into their poker accounts. The most trustworthy and reputable sites offer a variety of methods ensuring that they can reach a wide range of South Carolina players. The best of the best will have fast payouts while also offering instant deposits.

Each of these SC online poker sites hosts a range of cryptocurrencies that offers the quickest deposits and payouts of any available payment method for playing online poker in South Carolina.

Poker Site Payment Options Crypto Deposit Limits Deposit/Withdrawal Speeds
BetOnline Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ripple, Stellar, USDCoin, Tether, Dogecoin, Cardano, Chainlink, Money Orders, Cashier’s Check, Bank Wire, Person to Person $20 – $500,000 Instant / 24 – 48 hours
Bovada Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Bitcoin, Bitcoin. Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, MatchPay, Zelle $10 – $15,000 Instant / 24 hours
Everygame Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Money Global $25 – $2,500 Instant / 48 hours
Ignition Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, MatchPay, Zelle $10 – $5,000 Instant / 24 hours
SportsBetting Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ripple, Stellar, USDCoin, Tether, Dogecoin, Cardano, Chainlink, Money Orders, Cashier’s Check, Bank Wire, Person to Person $20 – $500,000 Instant / 24 – 48 hours

Playing Online Poker in South Carolina

It can be overwhelming to check out a single online South Carolina poker site with all the options that are available. That’s why we thought we could help you out by summarizing the options available to you. To start off, BetOnline is the very best online poker site for players in South Carolina for it has a great selection of tournaments, a high-quality poker app, as well as a diverse range of poker games.

On the other hand, if tournaments are more of what you’re after, then we suggest SportsBetting.ag, BetOnline, and Everygame for this. For instance, Everygame offers huge prize pools and other cash prizes for playing online poker in South Carolina. Also, Everygame has sponsored players to enter live WSOP tournaments.

Further, Bovada is a great poker site for loyalty points which can earn you a seat at exclusive poker tournaments. And finally, if you want to be able to play poker while on the go, then the best site for this is Ignition.

Tips for Online Poker Real Money – South Carolina

When you start playing poker at the best South Carolina online poker sites, you’ll probably want to follow some of these tips. To help poker players in South Carolina, we’ve put together some of the best tips for playing online poker for real money.

  • Refrain from playing every single hand – Playing every hand you are dealt isn’t necessary, and you don’t want to burn through your gambling budget. Even the most experienced poker players know when to hold because they have learned to accept when they aren’t dealt a very good hand.
  • Understand the basic rules – It’s important to know the rules of the poker variant you chose to play as well as learn the hand rankings. Understanding the hand rankings will assist you in building strong hands and stand the best chance of beating your opponents.
  • Watch your opponents – If your opponents are performing well, keep an eye on their moves as it’s always possible to learn a thing or two from them. For example, watch how they fold or how they choose to place bets. This is a major tip for beating the competition by learning their strengths and weaknesses.

How to Play Online Poker in South Carolina

To play at an online poker site in South Carolina, couldn’t be much easier to do so. To play the various poker variants and participate in the tournaments, you can easily sign up at the top poker sites with ease. We’ve chosen to show you step-by-step how to do so at our most recommended top site, BetOnline, so you can have an idea of the process.

Step 1 – Sign Up

The very first step is to register for an account at a poker site like BetOnline. The process is fast and simple, requiring only a few personal details to begin. When you are on the BetOnline homepage, simply click on the ‘Join Now’ button to be brought to the registration form. Follow the steps and input your information as asked which includes your name, a valid email address, and address. You’ll also have to choose your log-in credentials like a unique username and strong password.

BetOnline Sign Up Step 1

Step 2 – Deposit funds into your account

After you have successfully created your online poker account, you’ll need to make your first deposit to claim your Welcome Offer as well as play your favorite poker games for real money. All you must do is head to the cashier section and use the dropdown menu to select your desired payment method. Then, choose an amount that matches your budget and follow the required prompts to finish the process. Once completed, the funds should appear directly in your poker account.

BetOnline Sign Up Step 2

Step 3 – Account Verification (KYC)

The third step is an important one and is required by every plater at a licensed offshore South Carolina online poker site. Account verification is often referred to as the Know Your Customer (KYC) process and it’s just a way for the operators to guarantee no financial crimes are being committed while using their casino platform.

This process is not difficult at all. All you must do is upload a copy of your government ID and proof of address. From BetOnline’s side, this should be verified within 48 hours after you send it in.

Step 4 – Participate in the Poker Tournaments and Play Poker!

Now that your account has been verified and approved, you can indulge in everything that BetOnline gambling site has to offer. To enjoy the poker games and tournaments, all you must do is head over to the designated poker section and select your desired form of entertainment. There is also a selection of video poker games in the casino section!

BetOnline Sign Up Step 3


Other Online Poker Guides you Might Like

Learn more about the different types of online poker games and options available online and where to best enjoy them:


Conclusion – Playing Poker in South Carolina

The selection of real money poker in South Carolina can be limiting if you are looking solely within state lines considering this is one of the strictest states when it comes to gambling and more specifically poker. However, luckily with offshore casinos such as BetOnline and Bovada, there are plenty of game variations to choose from, exciting poker tournaments, and rewarding promotions to benefit from!

Best BetOnline Promo Code in 2023
BetOnline Sports logo

50% up to $1000 Welcome Bonus

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SC Online Poker FAQs

Does South Carolina have a casino?

Is it illegal to play cards in SC?

Is poker legal in SC?

Can you play online poker in South Carolina?

Alan is an experienced writer of online betting and casino guides. He is one of the main editors of Basketballinsiders.

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