News writer
New month, new way to play — maybe. South Carolina Lottery players might notice a change at the counter starting July 1, but only if their local store is on board.
A small tweak in state rules could bring a big shift in how players buy their tickets, though not everyone's sold on the idea just yet. Could this be the push that gives lottery proceeds a much-needed boost, or is it a gamble for retailers?
New month, new rules in place
A new month has arrived, and that means some new rules have been implemented by the South Carolina Lottery. Starting on July 1, any stores that sell lottery tickets for purchase can opt in to allow customers to use debit cards for their purchase, or they can stick with the standard cash-only payments.
These changes take effect after state legislators approved an executive budget for FY 2025-2026. As part of that budget, there was a provision allowing the option for these cashless payments. If the lottery retailer chooses to accept debit card payments, they would be available to use for any lottery product.
An increase in lottery proceeds?
With these changes in place, lottery officials are expecting a $15 million increase in proceeds this year. In this day and age, many people don't carry cash on them, so it's easier to use their debit card to make a purchase. If they can pay with a debit card for a lottery ticket, they may be more likely to buy one instead of going to an ATM to get cash and then make a purchase.
While it was passed by state lawmakers, Governor Henry McMaster did voice some concerns earlier this year about a $31.9 million drop in education lottery proceeds and investment earnings. South Carolina Education Lottery's Holli Armstrong explained to WYFF4:
It's just been a wait-and-see. We've just waited. It's something we've wanted because we are moving toward a cashless society. We want our lottery products to be relevant.
South Carolina has been cash-only for lottery purchases since 2022. Before these changes took place, they were one of three states that still used cash only for lottery purchases. The other states, which still only accept cash payments, are Tennessee and Wyoming.
Concerns for retailers
While this is exciting news for lottery players, some lottery retailers are concerned about how much this will cost them and are not ready to make the move yet.
One lottery retailer told WYFF4:
Every single transaction that we have, [whether] debit card or a credit card, we have to pay a transaction fee on it. So, there's not a huge upside. We also get fees on the ATM, so we would be losing those fees.
Because of that, this owner said they are opting out of the debit card option right now. They will weigh the pros and cons and see if it's worth the risk when they are more familiar with the idea.
How the new changes would work
Under these new rules, lottery retailers would be able to set a minimum purchase amount for customers using debit cards to buy tickets. This would help retailers to offset the cost of fees. While debit cards are being added into the mix, they will not replace the use of cash, and customers can still use cash for their purchases. However, credit cards are still prohibited for use.
Armstrong stated:
We're not going to guess that the number of retailers that are going to agree to use debit cards right out of the gate. But we are confident that as time goes on, more and more retailers will accept debit cards.
For each debit card purchase, 25 cents will go directly into the state's education funds, which helps fund scholarships. Lottery officials said 75% of the state has played the lottery at some point, which has helped bring in $8.9 billion since the lottery debuted.
Enjoy playing the South Carolina Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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