South Carolina voters will have a chance to vote on whether to relax the state’s gambling laws for charitable events. On Tuesday, South Carolina’s state Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to put the gambling questions on the ballot for voters to decide, though that decision wasn’t without controversy.
Two bills were approved for a vote yesterday. One would allow charitable raffles and the other related bill would amend the current gambling laws to allow non-profit organizations to hold a “casino night.” A third bill that would address the legality of casual gambling within private residences, has been delayed and probably will not be addressed until after voters decide on the first two bills.
Currently the state of South Carolina does not allow any raffles or casino nights, even if 100% of the proceeds go toward charity. Time and again, it has been shown the casino nights and raffles are good ways to raise money for causes, so proponents of the bills have suggested amending the gambling laws. Instead of making the decision on their own, the legislature decided to put it to a vote, so the residents can decide.
According to the lawmakers, non-profit organizations currently hold raffles on a regular basis, even though they are illegal. State law allows charitable bingo games and the state has its own lottery, but raffles are banned, with a penalty of up to a year in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Democrat Brad Hutto, who supports the bills, said that they are well thought-out and aren’t “opening the door” for gambling expansion, as some critics worry. Republican Glenn McConnell, the Senate President Pro Tempore, said that the government banning charities from holding raffles and casino nights is another example of the “overreaching nanny state trying to micromanage everyone’s wallets and lives.”
Though there is bipartisan support for the bills, not everyone is a proponent. Republican Phil Shoopman supports allowing raffles but not casino nights. Democrat Joel Lourie wants a limit placed on the number of casino nights the non-profit organizations can hold.
If South Carolina voters approve the two bills, non-profit organizations would be able to hold raffles as long as at least 90% of the proceeds go to a charitable cause. The exception would be a “50-50 raffle,” where the proceeds are equally divided among a charity and the winner of the raffle.
