Senate narrows advanced-deposit wagering to on-site bettors at live South Carolina races

The Senate Finance Committee advanced the South Carolina Equine Advancement Act as amended, adopting language that narrows advanced-deposit wagering (ADW) to people who are physically on-site at a South Carolina live racing event.

Sponsor remarks summarized the change: under the adopted amendment, a person attending, for example, the Carolina Cup in Camden could use ADW technology on their phone "if they're physically on-site at the race" and would be allowed to place bets only on races at that event. The sponsor said the bill defines horse racing as "any form of live horse race, which a horse carry a human rider or pull a sulky with a human rider," and explicitly excludes historical horse racing and video-manipulated past races.

Committee members sought assurances about practical safeguards. One senator raised concerns about how the legislation would distinguish a live on-site bettor from someone simulcasting the event elsewhere and asked whether a ticket or parking pass could serve as proof of presence. The sponsor said geolocation and ticketing are expected verification methods and that the amendment was crafted to reduce concerns about remote/expansive wagering.

Members also questioned fiscal effects and licensing. A senator from Greenwood asked how much money would leave South Carolina versus how much would remain; the sponsor said the amendment narrows scope and would therefore make fiscal impact "much more narrow and smaller," but admitted no fiscal-analysis numbers were available for this amended version and the bill does not currently set license fees.

The committee adopted the Young amendment and reported the bill as amended; the committee chair and several members signaled intent to continue oversight and to consider license and fee structures on the floor.

What happens next: The bill moves to the Senate floor for further consideration; sponsors said they may add licensing or fee language and anticipate monitoring implementation and geolocation safeguards.