- Bradford Long
The Greenville News:Letters:S.C. needs to pass Equine Advancement Act to make wagering on races safe
Gaming and wagering already occur on a large but unofficial scale in South Carolina, putting residents who participate at risk of financial fraud, identity theft, and other forms of malicious activity when dealing with illegal books and untrustworthy individuals domestically and internationally.
The S.C. Equine Advancement Act offers a platform and opportunity to regulate the ever-growing gaming industry while simultaneously capturing revenue to revitalize our equine industry in the Palmetto State.
If passed, the bill would allow three gaming providers to operate in South Carolina, offering horse wagering in the form of advanced deposit wagering (ADW), which is arguably the safest form of wagering. ADW is a common form of secure, regulated wagering where users pre-deposit funds before being able to place a wager, preventing users from wagering funds they do not have.
Similar to the South Carolina Lottery Commission, this legislation would create the S.C. Equine Commission to create and oversee enforcement measures, increase transparency and education on safe play, and ensure gaming providers adhere to all state laws and reporting requirements.
The S.C. Equine Advancement Act was passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives in April of 2023 and will need to be passed by the Senate and signed into law in 2024 to start protecting South Carolinians from bad actors in the gaming arena.
By passing this key piece of legislation, our state leaders can ensure South Carolinians are able to safely participate in wagering activities while benefitting our state’s economy and equine communities.
-Bradford Long
Mt. Pleasant