South Carolina Casino Developer Proposes $1 Billion Project in Forgotten Santee Outlets
- Grant For SC
- Mar 10
- 2 min read
March 10, 2025
South Carolina is inching toward legalizing casino gambling and opening its first retail casino in the Santee River Valley.
Greeneville, SC businessman and casino developer Wallace Cheves recently unveiled plans for an ambitious $1 billion casino-resort at the former site of the Santee Outlet Mall, now known as the Santee Village Square, which has been closed for more than a decade.
Officials in Santee and nearby town Vance plan to meet with Cheves this week, according to The Times and Democrat.
A seismic proposal
Cheves, speaking on behalf of the Santee Development Corporation, said that the project would be privately funded despite its gaudy price tag.
“We strongly believe that this investment should be driven by private enterprise, not taxpayer dollars, ensuring no financial risk to the public sector,” said Cheves.
South Carolina is one of the very few states that have resisted the nationwide explosion of gambling interest. The only form of legal gambling belongs to the state lottery, meaning that sports betting, land-based and online casinos, Daily Fantasy Sports, and sweepstakes casinos are all prohibited.
House Bill 3353 aims to change those restrictions. Submitted by Rep. Todd Rutherford (D-Rochland) and Rep. Hamilton Grant (D-Richmond) in December 2024, the proposal calls for the legalization of slot-machine gamine, live-dealer table games, sports betting, and parimutuel betting.
The bill would still require approval from state voters even if it clears the General Assembly.
Unfortunately for the pro-gaming crowd, the bill has been stuck in the House Judiciary Committee since mid-January and does not seem likely to advance in a State House that is composed of 88 Republicans and 34 Democrats.
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