South Carolina S 344: Eddie Lee Stringer

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 344 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 20, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 344

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Report

March 18, 2026

S. 344

Introduced 
by Senators Johnson, Ott, Graham, Adams, Peeler, Leber and Young

S. Printed 3/18/26--S. [SEC 
4/20/2026 12:40 PM]

Read the first time February 13, 2025

________

The committee on Senate Finance

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 344) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws so as to enact the "South Carolina Equine 
Advancement Act"; by adding Chapter 61 to Title 11 so as to establish the South, 
etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered 
the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

 Amend the bill, 
as and if amended, SECTION 2, by striking Section 11-61-110(1) and (2) and 
inserting:

 (1) "Advanced deposit account wagering" means a 
method of pari-mutuel wagering conducted in this State in which an individual 
may establish an account with an entity licensed by the commission to place 
pari-mutuel wagers electronically through an application while the individual is physically present within the 
confines of the horse racing event. Advance deposit account wagering 
does not mean or include historical horse racing, nor any televised, video, or 
computer screen depicting a video game of chance, or slot machine.

 (2) "ADW licensee" means any person or entity 
licensed by the commission to offer advanced deposit account wagering to 
residents of this State who are physically present 
within the confines of the horse racing event.

Amend the bill 
further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 11-61-110(6) and inserting:

 (6) "Pari-mutuel wagering" means any system 
whereby wagers with respect to the outcome of a horserace are placed with, or 
in, a wagering pool conducted by a licensed person and in which the 
participants are wagering with each other, not against the operator. 
Pari-mutuel wagering shall not include betting on a race that has occurred in 
the past, is considered historical horse racing, where bettors are not wagering 
on the same live or simulcast horse race, where 
bettors are not physically present within the confines of the horse racing 
event, or bettors do not share in the total amount of bets taken.

Amend the bill 
further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 11-61-110(8) and inserting:

 (8) "Historical horse racing" means any horse 
race that was previously conducted at a licensed any racetrack, concluded with results, and concluded 
without scratches, disqualifications, or dead-heat finishes.

Amend the bill 
further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 11-61-120(D) and inserting:

 (D) The commission's rulemaking authority, and 
any other authority whether derived from this chapter or another provision of 
law, shall relate to only to horse racing as 
expressly authorized in this chapter and shall not include the authority to 
expanding gambling, nor the authority to approve or regulate historical horse 
racing, slot machines, video games of chance, and other gambling devices, by 
means of rulemaking, a contested case hearing, the review and approval of a 
plan of operation or proposed or amended plan of operation, the approval of any 
proposal or request, or any other commission or agency action.

Amend the bill 
further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 11-61-130(9), (10), and (11) and 
inserting:

 (9) to collect fees and 
charges in connection with the use of a licensed horseracing related advance 
deposit application;

 (10)(9) to administer the Equine Industry Development 
Fund, which includes:

 (a) making grants to qualified recipients to 
finance the eligible costs of qualified projects;

 (b) entering into contracts or agreements 
related to providing grants and other financial assistance;

 (c) receiving and expending funds in the 
performance of its duties in the administration of the Equine Industry 
Development Fund; and

 (11)(10) to do such other things 
as may be necessary to perform the duties prescribed in this chapter adopt rules and policies to ensure that an ADW licensee 
only allows individuals to place pari-mutuel wagers who are physically present 
within the confines of the horse racing event.

Amend the bill 
further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 11-61-140(B) and inserting:

 (B) An ADW license shall be for one year, subject 
to renewal for an additional year. An applicant's 
initial application shall be accompanied by a five-thousand-dollar fee. Renewal 
applications shall be accompanied by a one-thousand-dollar fee.

Amend the bill 
further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 11-61-140(D), (E), and (F) and 
inserting:

 (D) On a monthly basis, a 
license fee of one percent of all wagers made within this State pl