Gambling in South Dakota

The gambling halls and casinos of South Dakota provide a unique, historic environment for gambling. South Dakota gambling laws are not as restricting as some other US gambling laws, especially when it comes to table games, such as poker, blackjack and roulette.

Casino Gambling and Betting in South Dakota

“Any person who engages in gambling in any form with […] implements or devices of any kind wherein anything valuable is wagered upon the outcome […] is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor,” clearly states the South Dakota gambling laws. The same applies to the operators of gambling establishments or casinos in South Dakota. However, this does not mean that there’s no gambling in South Dakota at all.

Gambling in South Dakota is allowed in the city of Deadwood and on Native American land. Gambling and Deadwood are closely linked by history. It was a city of saloons, brothels, questionable characters and, of course, gambling. Currently, the historic city has many smaller gambling halls and casinos with various forms of gambling on offer. Since 2015, roulette, keno and craps are also available on top of slots, blackjack, and poker. The bet limit is set at USD 1,000 and the proceeds fund the development and preservation of the historic city. The maximum number of gambling devices is 30 per license.
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The South Dakota gambling compacts were signed in 1993. Today, there are 9 tribal casinos in South Dakota, offering the same games as the casinos of Deadwood. Sports betting in South Dakota is offered in the spring of each year at popular fairs. Other types of sports betting are not recognized by South Dakota gambling laws.

Online Gambling in South Dakota

South Dakota belongs to the group of states with specific online gambling laws. “No person may establish a location or site in this state from which to conduct a gambling business on or over the internet or an interactive computer service,” say the Codified Laws of the state. The violation of these anti online gambling laws of South Dakota is a felony. Since internet casinos are not licensed in South Dakota, it’s against the law to play at them, even if they accept South Dakotans.

Lotteries in South Dakota

In 1986, a referendum decided to amend the South Dakota constitution to allow for a lottery. Launched in 1987, the South Dakota Lottery is run by the state and overseen by the Lottery Commission. In 1989, South Dakota was the first in the nation to introduce state Video Lottery. The South Dakota Lottery is part of the Multi-State Lottery Association. Therefore, residents can play Powerball other US-wide games as well. Lottery tickets can be purchased at licensed resellers and at authorized online retailers.

Daily Fantasy Sports in South Dakota

In 2015, South Dakota’s Attorney General, Marty Jackley, released a statement on the legality of Daily Fantasy Sports in South Dakota. “It will not be my intent to seek felony indictments here in South Dakota absent a clearer directive from our state legislature,” he said. Jackley “provided the South Dakota Gaming Commission with the opportunity to provide guidance” in the matter of Daily Fantasy Sports in South Dakota. According to US gambling news, South Dakota Gaming Commission officials say that they don’t have the legal authority to regulate Daily Fantasy Sports. Even though Daily Fantasy Sports in South Dakota are currently unregulated, all the major sites accept the wagers of South Dakotans.

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