Gov. Haley Signs Bill Banning Sweepstakes Cafes

Gov. Nikki Haley signed a bill on Friday that banned sweepstakes cafes in South Carolina.

"The governor has always said she doesn’t believe South Carolina needs to settle for gambling, that our great state has too much going for us to sink to that level, and so she happily signed the sweepstakes bill and will continue her focus on bringing good jobs to every corner of this state in a way we can all be proud of."

Previous laws allowed some businesses to operate sweepstakes machines on their premises. The law is aimed to close those loopholes. 

Sen. Larry Martin (R - Pickens) and Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Sens. Mike Fair (R- Greenville) and Chip Campsen (R - Charleston) were sponsors in the Senate. It passed there 40-2, with only Sens. Robert Ford (D - Charleston) and Brad Hutto (D - Orangeburg) voting against.

The complete vote in the Senate is available HERE.

In the House the bill was slightly more contested. Minority Leader Todd Rutherford (D - Richland) had said that it was hypocritical for the state to ban sweepstakes machines while allowing other forms of gambling, such as church raffles and scratch cards.

Rutherford also viewed gambling as a potential revenue and job creation source.

But it still passed the House easily, 88-26. 

The House votes on the bill are available HERE.

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