SC bill to allow use of debit cards for lottery purchases
Columbia S.C. (WSPA) – In South Carolina, you can only purchase lottery tickets with cash. However, many state lawmakers, including Governor Henry McMaster, are interested in changing the law to allow South Carolinians to buy lottery tickets using their debit cards.
As of now, South Carolina is one of three states that has a cash-only requirement for lotter purchases. Senator and Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Greg Hembree, believes there are many benefits to allowing debit cards.
'Technology and the way we use it has changed over the decades. We're simply catching our statute up to the modern way people use money,' he said.
Not everyone is interested in this bill. Lawyer Sue Berkowitz said it will only increase gambling addictions.
'If they spend that limited resource, and if something happens like a blip and if they do get overcharged, or they do get a hit on it with an overdraft, that could be the difference in rent getting paid or food on the table.'
Today, Senator Hembree suggested the removal of lottery courier services from the bill, comparing the concept as 'Uber Eats for lottery tickets.' It would let third party companies be allowed to purchase lottery tickets on the customer's behalf.
'Quite frankly, we have debated and really vetted the debit card statute previously. The courier service is really a brand-new idea that is going to require more study and more effort to figure out where the right answer is there.'
When Berkowitz heard about the removal of lottery courier services, she stated 'Why would we allow that, that really is buying into allowing everyone else to make money off of people who might not have a whole lot to spend.'
The South Carolina Lottery Commission estimated that the state is losing $50 million in revenue annually by only allowing citizens to buy tickets using cash.
The next step for the bill is to be seen in front of the Senate Education Full Committee, and then it could be debated next on the senate floor.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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