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Gambling Laws South Dakota – Retail is King
When it comes to gambling, South Dakota residents are no strangers to the act of betting money. The state has a long-standing tradition of supporting a legal and regulated retail gambling sector. As such, SD citizens get to enjoy just about all forms of gaming. Below, we have listed all major forms of gambling in South Dakota and their respective legal status:
| 🎲 Gambling Product | ⚖ Legal Status |
|---|---|
| 🎰 Casino | Legal |
| 🏈 Sports Betting | Legal |
| 🐴 Horse Betting | Legal |
| 🎁 Bingo, Lottery & Charity Gaming | Legal |
| ♠ Poker | Legal |
| 💻 Online Gambling | Illegal |
Despite its relatively liberal approach to the land-based gaming industry, the online gambling laws South Dakota maintains can hardly be described as such. It is an interesting state of affairs in any case, and below, we will explore the South Dakota gambling laws in detail. You will find all the available types of gambling along with some interesting information on the subject.
Casino & Poker Laws
The gambling laws in South Dakota have favored casino and poker gaming for a while, though there are certain limitations. The South Dakota Commission on Gaming is the institution that regulates the scene, creating guidelines and laws for slot machines and card games offered at these venues. Based on the current laws, commercial casino establishments are only permitted in Deadwood, Lawrence County. Additionally, Native American reservations are also allowed to maintain gambling venues.
There are more than 20 different land-based casinos, primarily based in Deadwood. However, they are not like the best casinos in Vegas. Most only offer slots and other terminal games, and only the larger venues host table games, such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, etc. Until 2013, the maximum bet on slots was capped to $100 per spin, but it was eventually raised to $1000.
Poker rooms are also allowed under the gambling laws in South Dakota. There are more than ten different retail locations where you can play various poker games. About half of them are situated in Deadwood, while the rest are spread out all over the state.
Sports Betting Gambling Laws in South Dakota
Just like all other states in the US, South Dakota was forced to abide by the federal gambling ban that came as a result of PASPA. Where other forms of gambling flourished in SD, sports betting was unfortunately left to the wayside. But now that PASPA has been repealed and the sports betting laws in the US have been loosened, the state has the opportunity to breathe new life into its bookmaking sector. Now, SD residents can wager on many betting markets, and we’ve listed some of the most popular ones:
- Basketball
- Football
- Baseball
- Hockey
- Soccer
- Ice Hockey
In November 2020, SD lawmakers introduced a new legal framework to liberalize and regulate the sports betting scene. As it happens, the new laws are still quite strict. Moreover, the bookmaker market is not exactly free. Only four land-based casinos located in Deadwood received licenses to run bookmaking operations. These venues began offering odds on 9 September 2021. It is expected that more companies will eventually be allowed to apply for licenses.
If you are interested in horse or dog racing, South Dakota has you covered. Unlike some of the most popular sports betting markets, betting on races has been legal for a long time in the state. There are numerous racetracks all over South Dakota. Wagering is readily available on-site and at specially authorized shops located more than 50 miles from licensed tracks.
Charity Gaming in South Dakota
Other forms of gaming are permitted under the gambling laws in South Dakota as long as they are organized for charity purposes. Specifically, SD residents may enjoy bingo and lottery events provided that the proceeds go to a worthwhile cause. To hold a charity event, an organization needs to apply for a specific license. The licensing is valid for a one-year period and has to be renewed annually. Moreover, the equipment used to run the games must be purchased from regulated vendors.
As far as regulations are concerned, South Dakota is relatively light on those where it concerns charitable gaming. The only significant measure that we could find is the cap of winnings from bingo. Namely, prizes offered cannot exceed $2000 in a single round. Other regulations deal with the logistical aspects of running a charitable gaming event and are not particularly interesting to read about as a player.
Online Gambling Laws South Dakota
Despite the thriving retail gambling sector, South Dakota online gambling laws are still not on the horizon. The state looks to be completely disinterested in bringing any form of online gaming to SD residents, in spite of the surge of USA online gambling sites we are seeing. Right now, all major types of gambling are illegal, specifically:
| 🎲 Online Gambling Product | ⚖ Legal Status |
|---|---|
| 🎰 Casino | Illegal |
| 🏈 Sports Betting | Illegal |
| 🐴 Horse Betting | Illegal |
| 🎁 Bingo, Lottery & Charity Gaming | Illegal |
| ♠ Poker | Illegal |
As things stand, SD residents have no legal means to gamble over the Internet. By the looks of it, South Dakota is looking to preserve its retail gaming by completely ignoring its online counterpart. Even when sports betting was legalized in 2020, there were no serious discussions about introducing new online gambling laws. South Dakota residents have to make do with land-based gambling or turn to non-regulated gambling sites.
This presents a problem since playing at non-regulated gambling providers is illegal under the gambling laws in South Dakota. Specifically, it is a class 2 misdemeanor, and players face fines up to $500 and jail time no more than six months. It is unknown if these laws are enforced, however. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that we won’t see an SD gaming site rivaling the top NJ online casinos any time soon.
Legal Gambling Age in South Dakota
The legal gambling age in South Dakota is pretty much the same as in other US states. In order to participate in casino gambling, poker, and sports betting, you would need to be at least 21 years old. However, this is not the case with gambling on races. To place a bet on the track, the minimum age is 18. The reasons behind this are not clear, but it is definitely unusual.
Conclusion
Overall, South Dakota gambling laws favor the land-based gambling business and make no provisions for the online sector. Judging by the current situation and recent developments, it’s going to be a long time before we see an SD online gaming platform among the best USA online casinos. In the meantime, South Dakota residents can enjoy all the benefits of retail gambling.
Gambling Laws in South Dakota FAQ
If you still want to learn more about this subject, you can check out our brief FAQ below. We have gathered the most important questions and provided clear and concise answers. After reading all we have to show you, you will know everything you need about the South Dakota gambling laws.
