South Carolina H 3353: Legislative Audit Council

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3353 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3353

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A joint Resolution

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVII OF THE CONSTITUTION 
OF SOUTH CAROLINA, RELATING TO MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS, BY ADDING SECTION 16 SO 
AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY LAW, IN SPECIFIED AREAS OF THE 
STATE, MAY PROVIDE FOR THE CONDUCT OF GAMBLING AND GAMING ACTIVITIES ON WHICH 
BETS ARE MADE TO INCLUDE PARI MUTUEL BETTING ON HORSE RACING, SPORTS BETTING ON 
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, CASINO ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS CARD AND DICE GAMES WHERE THE 
SKILL OF THE PLAYER IS INVOLVED IN THE OUTCOME, AND GAMES OF CHANCE WITH THE 
USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES OR GAMING TABLES, ALL OF WHICH STRICTLY MUST BE 
REGULATED AND MAY BE CONDUCTED IN ONE LOCATION OR IN SEPARATE LOCATIONS WITHIN 
THE SPECIFIED AREA SUBJECT TO SPECIAL LAWS, INCLUDING CRIMINAL LAWS, ENACTED BY 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, APPLICABLE ONLY IN THE SPECIFIED AREA, WITH THE REVENUE 
REALIZED BY THE STATE AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO BE USED FOR HIGHWAY, ROAD, AND 
BRIDGE MAINTENANCE, CONSTRUCTION, AND REPAIR; AND BY PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO 
SECTION 8, ARTICLE XVII OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, RELATING TO 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS, BY DELETING SECTION 8 WHICH MAKES IT UNLAWFUL FOR A 
PERSON HOLDING AN OFFICE OF HONOR, TRUST, OR PROFIT TO ENGAGE IN GAMBLING OR 
BETTING ON GAMES OF CHANCE, AND REQUIRES THE OFFICER'S REMOVAL FROM OFFICE UPON 
CONVICTION FOR A GAMBLING OFFENSE.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. It 
is proposed that Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended by 
adding:

 Section 16. The 
General Assembly by law may provide in specified areas of the State for the 
conduct of gambling and gaming activities on which bets are made to include 
pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, sports betting on professional sports, 
casino activities, such as card and dice games where the skill of the player is 
involved in the outcome, and games of chance with the use of electronic devices 
or gaming tables, all of which strictly must be regulated and may be conducted 
in one location or in separate locations within the specified area, with the 
revenue realized by the State and local jurisdictions to be used for highway, 
road, and bridge maintenance, construction, and repair.

 Notwithstanding 
the provisions of Section 14, Article VIII or any other provision of this 
Constitution, the General Assembly, in establishing the specific locations 
provided, may alter the application of the criminal laws of this State or any 
of its political subdivisions and the penalties and sanctions for violations in 
these locations and may enact special legislation, including criminal laws, 
relating to or arising from gambling and gaming activities and applicable only 
in these locations.

SECTION 2. The 
proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next 
general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various 
voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

 "Must Article XVII of the Constitution of 
this State be amended so as to provide that the General Assembly by law, in 
specified areas of the State, may provide for the conduct of gambling and 
gaming activities on which bets are made to include pari-mutuel betting on 
horse racing, sports betting on professional sports, casino activities, such as 
card and dice games where the skill of the player is involved in the outcome, 
and games of chance with the use of electronic devices or gaming tables, all of 
which strictly must be regulated and may be conducted in one location or in 
separate locations within the specified area, with the revenue realized by the 
State and local jurisdictions to be used for highway, road, and bridge 
maintenance, construction, and repair, and to allow the General Assembly to 
enact special laws, including criminal laws, applicable only in the specified 
area in which gambling is allowed pursuant to this new section?

Yes o

No o

Those voting in favor 
of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square 
after the word 'Yes,' and those voting against the question shall deposit a 
ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."

SECTION 3. It is proposed that Section 8, Article XVII of the 
Constitution of this State be amended to read:

 Section 
8. It shall be unlawful for any person holding an office 
of honor, trust or profit to engage in gambling or betting on games of chance; 
and any such officer, upon conviction thereof, shall become thereby 
disqualified from the further exercise of the functions of his office, and the 
office of said person shall become vaca