South Dakota: status at a glance
| Online casino | Not authorized |
|---|---|
| Sports betting | Retail only |
| Online poker | Not authorized |
| Sweepstakes casinos | No ban found in our sources |
Legal in person, not online
Our status table shows no online casino, no online poker and retail-only sports betting. The state Commission on Gaming's page fits that picture: it describes limited wagering in Deadwood, live horse racing and tribal casinos, and nothing it lists is delivered through a website or app. A resident who wants a regulated game goes to a venue.
What the Commission on Gaming oversees
The Commission is a five-member body appointed by the Governor. Its Enforcement Division runs background and criminal investigations and monitors casino activity, and its Operations Division audits Deadwood casinos for compliance and revenue, inspects slot machines and compiles gaming and racing statistics. It licenses sports wagering service providers, operators and retail sites, makers and distributors of slot machines and associated equipment, and racing hubs and simulcast providers.
Deadwood casinos offer blackjack, craps, keno, poker, roulette, slot machines and sports wagering. The Commission's page gives the maximum bet as 1,000 dollars and the minimum age as 21.
Tribal casinos and racing
The page lists nine tribal casino locations, among them Dakota Sioux near Watertown and Rosebud near Mission, offering the same games as Deadwood, with a minimum age of 21. We did not read a tribal compact, so we say no more about their terms.
Live horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering is held at the Stanley County Fairgrounds in Fort Pierre, historically in the fall, with a minimum age of 18. The Commission says no establishment currently offers simulcast horse and dog wagering.
The statutes behind it
Chapter 42-7B of the Codified Laws deals with limited gaming in Deadwood. Section 42-7B-1 authorizes it, 42-7B-3 puts regulation with the Commission, and sections 42-7B-76 through 42-7B-83 set out sports wagering rules, from separate receipts to who may not bet. We read only the chapter's table of contents, not the section text.
Chapter 22-25 sets the gambling offenses outside those carve-outs. Section 22-25-1 defines gambling and covers keeping a gambling establishment, a misdemeanor, and section 22-25-13 deals with keeping slot machines, with free-play machines excepted. Section 22-25-26 reaches unauthorized bingo or lottery, while 22-25-27 states that the chapter does not apply to the state lottery. A second or later violation is a felony under section 22-25-50. A Commission announcement also says private possession of slot machines is illegal.
Sweepstakes casinos and offshore sites
Our data records no South Dakota law or enforcement action specific to sweepstakes casinos. They hold no license in any state; the explanation is on are sweepstakes casinos legal, and the banned states page lists the states with laws. Offshore casino sites hold no South Dakota license, since the Commission licenses only the in-person products above. See the offshore casinos page for what a foreign license means.
Sports betting and poker
Sports wagering is listed by the Commission as a Deadwood game, with a license for service providers and an approved catalog of sports events and wagers. The state does not license online poker. For other states, use sports betting by state and online poker by state.
Getting help
The Commission's page describes no helpline. The national line, 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), is open to anyone, and the responsible gambling page lists more.
Frequently asked questions
Is sports betting legal in South Dakota?
Yes, in person. The Commission lists it as a Deadwood game and licenses the providers. We found no online sports betting license.
What is the minimum age at South Dakota casinos?
The Commission's page gives 21 for Deadwood and tribal casinos, and 18 for live racing and simulcast sites.
Is there a legal online casino in South Dakota?
No. Licensed casino gaming is at Deadwood and tribal casinos.
Does the gambling law cover the state lottery?
No. Section 22-25-27 says the chapter on gambling offenses does not apply to the state lottery.