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South Carolina · S.C. Code 16-17-690

South Carolina bans fortunetelling as a trade and as a sales lure

Quote checked October 14, 2026 Text match only; current legal status and enforcement not verified.

What the law says

“It shall be unlawful to engage in the business, trade or profession of fortunetelling, palmistry, phrenology, clairvoyance or the prediction of future events by cards or other means or to offer to tell fortunes or predict future events by palmistry, astrology, clairvoyance, cards or other means as an inducement to promote some other business, trade or profession.”

Penalty

“Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisonment for not less than fifteen nor more than thirty days.”

History note

“HISTORY: 1962 Code”

As printed on the official page.

The earliest year in this note is 1962. That's the earliest year the note prints. It doesn't establish when this wording was enacted, took effect or first appeared.

In plain English

Our reading

The quoted provision lists engaging in fortunetelling and related trades, as well as offering fortune predictions as an inducement to promote another business. Its list includes palmistry, astrology, clairvoyance, cards and phrenology. The section states a misdemeanor penalty.

Written by Silly Rules from the quoted text above. It's a plain reading, not legal advice. We haven't researched how courts read this section or how often anyone enforces it.

Code
South Carolina Code of Laws
Section
S.C. Code 16-17-690, “Fortunetelling for purpose of promoting another business”
Topic
Odd jobs and trades
Source
www.scstatehouse.gov

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Every quote on this site was matched against its official page on October 14, 2026. Text match only; current legal status and enforcement not verified.