Advocates are pushing for the establishment of South Carolina's initial casino, voicing it as a matter of personal liberty rather than gaming.
Casino Plans for South Carolina's Midlands
Looks like we might get a casino in the Midlands soonβonce it's legally allowed, that is!
As it stands now, the state's only making a profit from gaming via the lottery. State Rep Todd Rutherford believes it's high time we changed that situation:
"This ain't about gambling, it's all about freedom. Right now, folks are piling onto their church buses, heading up to Cherokee, North Carolina, hitting the casino. South Carolina's missing out while the Tar Heel State's cashing in."
The I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act could legalize South Carolina's first casino. Momentum's building as a private company, the Santee Development Corporation, has already mapped out the blueprint and snatched up some choice land along I-95.
Thing is, the current legislation's not looking too rosy. House Bill 4176, aiming to approve commercial casinos along I-95, including a $1 billion casino resort in Santee, isn't expected to pass in 2025. The bill got stranded in a House subcommittee, with no vote cast before the session ended, effectively putting the brakes on progress for the year[1][4].
Despite this setback, there's a growing mood among legislators in favor of gaming, hinting at potential future developments. Furthermore, other gambling-related proposals, such as legalizing horse racing betting and online sports gambling, are under consideration[2][4].
So, Santee Development's plans might have to remain on hold at least until next year, unless there's a drastic shift in the legislative landscape[1][4]. The corporation's larger goal is to stimulate economic growth in rural areas through casino development, but for now, it seems they're stuck in a holding pattern.
In the context of Casino Plans for South Carolina's Midlands, if the I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act legalizes casinos and House Bill 4176 passes, we could witness the emergence of casino-culture, with numerous casino-games offered at South Carolina's first casinos. Notably, this could provide opportunities for prominent casino-personalities to thrive, creating a significant shift from the state's current lottery-based gaming.
