Online Gambling License in South Dakota

The South Dakota Commission on Gaming is the main regulatory body overseeing, regulating and licensing limited stakes gambling in this state. The Commission consists of five members, citizens of South Dakota, appointed by the Governor of the State.

The main goal of this Commission is to govern and supervise the limited slot machines and card games in the City of  Deadwood, as well as limited betting. Moreover, the Commission is also responsible for controlling pari-mutuel horse racing and simulcast racing.  

The Commission has two divisions: Enforcement and Operations. The first one, the Enforcement Division, is tasked with supervising casino activities. Moreover, the Division also conducts due diligence, background checks, and criminal investigations related to all permitted gaming operations in the state.  

At the same time, the Operations Division controls casinos in Deadwood by regularly checking their revenues and compliance with regulations. The Division conducts slot machine inspections and reviews all the data on gaming and racing activities within the Commission’s jurisdiction.

Although online gambling in South Dakota is still not legal, players from the state can still enjoy several forms of limited stakes gambling and pari-mutuel wagering.

Types of Gambling Regulated by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming

The story of gambling in South Dakota goes back to the 1980s. The state first permitted the South Dakota Lottery in 1987, and in 1989, South Dakota legalized casino games in just one city – Deadwood.

It’s worth noting that there are several tribal casinos in the Mount Rushmore State. Commercial and tribal casinos in the state are allowed to offer slot machines, table games (blackjack, roulette, craps) and poker. The state also permits video lottery terminals (VLTs), pari-mutuel wagering, bingo and lottery.

Deadwood Land-Based Casinos

Deadwood is the only town in South Dakota, besides Nartive American-run establishments, where casino gambling is legal. There are more than 20 properties in Deadwood licensed by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming.

We will name a few:

• Buffalo Bodega Complex
• Deadwood Mountain Grand
• First Gold Gaming Resort
• The Lodge at Deadwood
• Deadwood Saloon No. 10.

You can play various games at these casinos, like slots, blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, and keno. Wagering on sporting events is accepted, too. It’s worth noting that the maximum bet amount at these casinos is $1,000. The allowed legal age for gambling at these casinos is 21 years.

Tribal Casinos

Nine tribes in South Dakota run several Class III land-based casinos thanks to the tribal-state gaming compacts. These physical gambling facilities are authorized by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

Here are all the locations where you can enjoy casino games in the state:

• Fort Randall Casino, near Wagner
• Dakota Sioux Casino,  near Watertown
• Royal River Casino, Flandreau
• Dakota Connection, Sisseton
• Prairie Wind Casino, near Pine Ridge
• Lode Star Casino, Ft Thompson
• Golden Buffalo Casino, Lower Brule
• Rosebud Casino, near Mission
• Grand River Casino, Mobridge

These casinos are authorized to offer the same games as casinos in Deadwood. In other words, you can enjoy playing slot machines, popular table and card games, and keno and place sports wagers on-premises. You must be at least 21 years old to be able to visit and play games at these casinos.

Horse Racing

If you are a horse racing fan and reside in South Dakota, you can legally place bets during popular events. The Commission on Gaming in South Dakota regulates pari-mutuel wagering limited to live horse races at the Stanley County Fairgrounds in Fort Pierre and Brown County Fairgrounds in Aberdeen. These races are held every spring.

Off-track simulcast horse and dog wagering is available at Triple Crown Casino in North Sioux City.

Moreover, the state authorizes horse racing betting sites, thus allowing players to bet on various events nationwide. If you want to wager at simulcast locations and live horse racing events, you must be at least 18 years old.

Sports Betting

Since March 2021, sports betting has been legal in South Dakota, but only in casinos within the city limits of Deadwood or in the state’s tribal casinos. Simply put, in-person sports betting is permitted at land-based establishments. Unfortunately, online sports betting and mobile betting are still not legalized.  

Casinos in Deadwood can apply for Sports Wagering Services Providers License if they want to run retail sportsbooks on-premises. You can bet on international leagues and other popular professional sporting events. The legal age to bet on sports in South Dakota is 21.   

Lottery

The South Dakota Lottery was officially launched in 1987. The net income from this state-run lottery goes back to South Dakotans, financing education and the Capital Construction Fund. The money from the Fund goes to local communities to fund rural water systems, community drinking water and wastewater improvement projects.

You can purchase tickets for major multistate games like Powerball, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life, or Lotto America. However, you can also try your luck playing Dakota Cash. Finally, if you like scratch cards, you can play various scratch games, like Gift Tag Cash or Peppermint Red.

The minimum legal age for participating in lottery and scratch games is 18, but if you want to play video lottery, you must be at least 21 years old.   

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily Fantasy Sports competitions are not explicitly banned in this state. However, DFS contests are not completely legal, either, leaving this vertical in the gray area. As a result, many reputable DFS operators from the US accept gamers from South Dakota. You must be at least 18 years old to be able to join these sites and play.   

The South Dakota Commission on Gaming Regulatory Framework

The South Dakota Commission on Gaming was established under Chapter 42-07B of the South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL). The main goal of this Commission is to ensure that gaming establishments in the state adhere to the laws and regulations and issue licenses for limited stakes gaming, including sports betting, and pari-mutuel horse racing.

The Commission also issues different types of Business Licenses and Live Racing & Simulcast Licenses. Business Licenses include Sports Wagering Services Provider, Operator License, or Retail License. On the other hand, Live Racing and Simulcast Licenses are Multi-Jurisdictional Totalizer Hub License, Simulcast Provider License, and  Simulcast Site Application.

Slot machine providers must submit a Slot Machine or Distributor License Application to be authorized to supply and distribute these games in licensed casino establishments. Some of the well-known brands that have received a license from the Commission are IGT, Light & Winder, Konami, Aristocrat, Every, and Novomatic.

When it comes to the lottery, the South Dakota Lottery Commission is a division of the South Dakota Department of Revenue. The Commission is in charge of establishing policy and overseeing the operations of the South Dakota Lottery, including the sales of lottery tickets and scratch-off games.

Finally, in the case of problem gambling, the Commission provides help from the South Dakota Council on Problem Gambling.

FAQs about The South Dakota Commission on Gaming