The 2026 SC Legislative session got off to a bang with S.C House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister introducing legislation on Casino Gambling. Bruce Bannister is attaching a $300 million promise for conservation in a Hail Mary strongarm approach towards getting the bill passed.
Who is backing Bruce Bannister on this? Bruce Bannister is one of the most powerful men in the state. As S.C. House Ways and Means Chairman, he manages and controls S.C.’s $39.2 billion annual budget.
Understanding the Influence of Bruce Bannister
Why doesn’t Bruce Bannister just sport sponsorship logos like every other race car driver? He is driving a $39 billion budget!
Enter former Video Poker businessman Wallace Cheves. Wallace Cheves is a Greenville Gambling businessman who worked tirelessly with Lindsay Graham and Chuck Schumer to get the the Catawba Tribe recognized by the U.S. Government.
In short, this means the tribe can build a casino.
By the end of 2025, Cheves was in the process of securing permits for the demolition of a facility located on I-95 at Santee, S.C. He established a company named Santee Development Corporation, which he envisions will eventually turn this area of Orangeburg County into a vibrant casino resort featuring a hotel, spa, dining options, and shopping venues.
“I know how challenging things can be when it comes to anything new in South Carolina,” Cheves said. “We tend to really overthink anything that could be deemed as progressive. But you look in the Southeast and see how much gaming has grown. You’ve seen how popular our lottery has been. You see how popular sports betting has been, how big tribal gaming has become in North Carolina. We’re surrounded by competitors.”
According to the American Gaming Association, 43 states in the U.S. currently permit some form of commercial or tribal casino gambling, with 38 states allowing retail or online sports betting. The industry as a whole supports 1.8 million jobs and contributes $328.6 billion to the economy. In North Carolina, the three tribal casinos have produced $262 million in tax and tribal revenue, while the 11 licensed online sports betting operators have contributed an additional $105.1 million.
“We’re losing a lot of money,” Cheves said. “It’s a sad thing, but sometimes South Carolina is slow to adapt. I think there are a lot of people who didn’t like the way that video gaming was handled in the 1980s and ’90s, which is very thoughtful. There are things about it that I didn’t like, either. But there’s a thoughtful way to do it where you have one facility that’s protected, it becomes a destination, it’s not in your face. You actually have to want to go there and show state ID that you’re 21 or older. I think that would be the proper stepping stone.”
Several steps are required before proceeding, including an amendment to South Carolina law. To address this, House Bill 4176, known as the “I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act,” was proposed in March 2025. This legislation aims to create a gaming commission in South Carolina authorized to issue casino licenses in counties that have a portion of I-95. A 15 percent tax on revenues would be implemented, with three percent allocated to the respective county, according to the most recent version of the bill, while the remainder would contribute to the state’s general fund.
MyrtleBeachSC News is informed that Candidate for Governor Pamela Evette supports the Casino Gambling idea.
Fortunately, we do have S.C. Senators who can stop any legislation in the General Assembly.
Senator Lee Bright of South Carolina, who secured his District 12 position last fall by defeating Hope Blackley and Justin Bradley, is a senator focused on the interests of his constituents and is expected to strive to ensure that the legislation does not come to a vote.
One Horry County Representative stated emphatically today that this legislation, pushed by Bruce Bannister, is dead on arrival.
