The State of South Dakota participates in the South Dakota Council on Problem Gambling which is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The toll free number is 1 (888) 781-HELP (4357). Calls are referred to Gamblers Anonymous groups near their home town. South Dakota allows gambling in casinos but currently does not allow online casino wagering. Though the state is now home to limited legal casino and other forms of gambling, South Dakota was once its own little gaming hotpot, in the days before the industry was legitimized as a tourist trade.
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South Dakota is a state known for its beautiful Black Hills region, stunning prairies of the Badlands National Park, and historic Gold Rush towns. The state’s development has been influenced by its rich Native American and mining histories. Both of these histories share a close connection to gambling and it is no wonder that the state’s legal gambling sites are located either in historic mining towns or on Indian reservations.
This website breaks down all forms of gambling in South Dakota. This page will discuss the state’s gaming laws so that you know exactly what activities are legal in the state. South Dakota was the third state to formalize legal casino gambling. Topics on this page include land-based casinos as well as online gambling, sports betting and more. For a complete overview, you can read the entire page. If you are looking for specific info, I recommend that you use the ‘contents’ menu below to jump straight to the topic you would like to know more about.
South Dakota Gambling: What is Legal in the State
Contents
- South Dakota Gambling: What is Legal in the State
- Online Sports Gambling in SD
- Gambling in South Dakota: An Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
The ‘word gambling’ can describe a wide variety of activities. Wagers can be made on anything, such as charitable events or bets between friends. This page, however, will zero in on commercial and large-scale gaming activities including casinos, sports betting, poker, and more. Below we will discuss the legality of each popular South Dakota gambling activity so that you don’t accidentally find yourself playing an illegal game.
Land-based Casinos in South Dakota
South Dakota has a lot to offer its visitors and residents in terms of casino gaming. There are two types of casinos in SD: Commercial and Indian. In total, there are over 35 land-based casinos in South Dakota. Every single commercial gaming location is in the historic mining town of Deadwood. SD is one of the few places in the US that limits its commercial gaming by location, games and prize amounts. To learn more about land-based gaming in South Dakota visit our page dedicated to casinos in South Dakota.
In addition to the state’s 25 commercial gambling halls, players can also visit one of the 12 tribal casinos found on Native American territory in South Dakota. In-terms of the games permitted at South Dakota gambling properties, visitors can expect to find numerous gambling machines (slots) and table games, such as blackjack, poker, craps, and roulette. Indian casinos can offer the same games as the commercial gaming locations in Deadwood.
Online Casino Gambling in South Dakota
Online casino gambling is an extremely popular activity around the world, but there has been a lot of confusion with regards to the legality of online gaming in the United States. The confusion stems from the fact that each state has its own gaming laws, so what may be legal in one place, could be forbidden in another. Online gambling is often in some sort of grey area, not legal, but not expressly forbidden. This isn’t the case in SD. The South Dakota gambling laws state clearly that online gambling in South Dakota is illegal. For this reason, we do not recommend that you trust any websites that claim to accept South Dakotans.
- Slots
- Jackpot Games
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Sic Bo
- Baccarat
- Poker
- Video Poker
- Scratch Cards
- Bingo
Above is a list of online games that are usually found in legalised markets. As you can see, online casinos offer the exact same games as the ones found in the world’s most prestigious gambling properties. If you look at worldwide trends, it isn’t unreasonable to predict that online casinos will soon overtake their land-based counterparts in the near future as the preferred gaming method. In many markets, it has already surpassed traditional betting. This, however, won’t be happening in SD anytime soon. The laws regulating gambling in South Dakota are clear on the matter for the time being. Online gambling is illegal.
Sports Betting Options in the State
Sports betting in South Dakota doesn’t face the same uphill regulatory battle as online gambling. The Supreme Court’s monumental decision to legalize sports betting has left I up to states to decide whether or not to permit the activity. Currently, wagering on sporting events is illegal, but this may not always be the case.
In 2018, Deadwood casinos began laying the foundation for sports betting by filing a proposed amendment to the state constitution. The amendment proposes the legalization of wagering on sports at land-based commercial and tribal casinos. If the amendment passes the SD Legislature would be required to create a regulatory framework for the activity as well as a tax structure.
Online Sports Gambling in SD
Sports betting qualifies as a form of gaming, and thus is regulated by the South Dakota gambling laws. As a result, online sports betting is illegal in the Mount Rushmore State. The law Section 22-25A-1 claims that gambling is “to directly or indirectly take…money or any valuable thing with the understanding that…the money or valuable thing will be paid or delivered to a person if the payment…is contingent upon the result of a race, contest, or game or upon the happening of an event not known to be certain.” Because, this definition describes wagering on sports, and since online gambling is illegal in South Dakota, there is no legal way to wager on a sporting event in SD.
Daily Fantasy Sports Contests
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) contests are extremely popular in the U.S. but there is a lot of confusion out there about whether or not it should be classified as a form of gambling. According to a press release by the SD Attorney General, the jury is out on whether or not DFS contests are gaming. Nevertheless, he stated that “it will not be my intent to seek felony indictments here in South Dakota absent a clearer directive from our state legislature.” In short, Daily Fantasy Sports are not technically legal, but aren’t illegal. Until a clearer ruling has been made, South Dakotans can play DFS contests at popular sites such as FanDuel and Draft Kings.
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Is gambling legal in South Dakota?
Yes, gambling is legal in South Dakota. That being said, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, online gambling remains illegal in the state. Second, although gambling has been legalized, only small stakes games are permitted. This means the largest wager a player can make on a single game is $1,000.
Where can you gamble in South Dakota?
There are too many places to count that offer legalized gaming in South Dakota. This is because SD is one of a handful of states that allow non-casino locations to carry electronic gaming terminals. When talking about traditional casino locations, SD offers a total of 37.
What is the gambling age in South Dakota?
The legal gambling age in South Dakota varies based on the activity, in which a gamer wishes to engage. All casinos, whether they be commercial or Native American require that players must be 21 years of age or older to play casino games. For pari-mutuel betting as well as the lottery, players must be 18 years old or more.
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How many casinos are in Deadwood?
There is actually no limit to how many casinos can be in Deadwood at one time. The only rule is that each casino must hold a valid gaming license from the state’s gambling commission. Currently there are over two dozen commercial casinos in the town of Deadwood. Each property carries different games, so I recommend visiting multiple for a well-rounded experience.
What is the Dead Man’s Hand in Poker?
There is much debate surrounding the actual cards in the dead man’s hand. Legend suggests that the term developed after the murder of notorious outlaw Wild Bill Hickok, while he was playing a game of five-card stud poker. It is rumored that Hickok has a hand of two black aces and two black eights while he was shot. The hole-card remains unknown.