South Dakota is guided by an extensive list of gambling rules. As the third state to legalize gambling in the United States, the first casino in South Dakota was established in 1989. South Dakota has one of the most liberal gambling rules in the United States; however, the state is also one of the few states where commercial gaming is restricted according to winnings, games, and location.
Racing was the first version of gambling that was legalized in South Dakota. As far back as the 1940s, individuals could wager on horses and greyhounds. The only form of online gambling that is explicitly legal in the state is horse racing. Currently, there are two horse tracks in the state- Brown County Fairgrounds in Aberdeen and Stanley County Fairgrounds in Ft. Pierre, however, dog racing is prohibited in the state. Other forms of gambling that are allowed in South Dakota include lottery games, charitable games, tribal (reservations) casino, and bingo games.
Sports betting and all forms of online gambling are outlawed in South Dakota. Despite the somewhat liberal gambling laws, the state enacted a law titled Chapter 22-25A which prohibits “individuals in the gambling business” from betting online. This law enforces a strict felony charge for casino operators who accept online wagers. They can; however, offer play for free slot games without it being against the law.
Deadwood Casinos generate around $100 million annually and an estimated $10 million in taxes. The legal gambling age for live horse racing is 18 years, individuals younger than 21 years old are prohibited from gambling at Deadwood Casinos and Indian Casinos.
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Interesting State Facts
South Dakota emerged from the western expansion of the country. With an exciting gambling history as a result of the legendary Black Hills Gold Rush and Deadwood, the state is one of the most sought after gambling destination for tourists.
South Dakota is home to historical Native American tribes including the Lakota Sioux, Yankton Sioux, Ponca, and Cheyenne tribes. The historical Little Big Horn Battle where a coalition of Indian tribes in the Black Hills defeated the U.S. Cavalry led by General George Cluster was fought in South Dakota.
The popular HBO series ‘Deadwood’ was based on the historical mining town of Deadwood which is the gambling capital of South Dakota. January Jones, Brock Lesnar, Hubert Humphery, and Chad Greenway are some celebrities who are from South Dakota.
Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore are two iconic structures carved into Black Hills. Mount Rushmore, popularly called President’s Mountain, is a historical site of attraction where the faces of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson are depicted on its surface. The biggest sculpture in the world is Crazy Horse Memorial which is 641 feet long and 563 feet high. The third longest cave in the world – Jewel Cave is located outside Custer, South Dakota.
Maryland Gambling Venues
Deadwood is the premier gambling town in South Dakota so the majority of the casinos are concentrated here. There are 31 traditional casinos in South Dakota.
South Dakota is home to 9 tribal casinos. Most tribal casinos offer slots and video poker only. Tribal casinos are located in Watertown, Mission, Mobridge, Flandreau, Pickstown, Pine Ridge, Lower Brule, Sisseton, and Martin. Off-track betting shops are located in Rapid City and North Sioux City.
The biggest casino in South Dakota is Dakota Sioux Casino which offers 400 slot games, a poker room, and numerous table games. Royal River Casino is the second-largest casino, offering 386 gaming machines.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not. South Dakota has several clear laws against internet gambling all though no one has been arrested for it in the past. Some of the laws are targeted at offshore websites, and also notes that any kind of bet, whether at a real money online casino, online poker site, or sportsbook, are illegal. So to be on the safe side, don’t gamble online in South Dakota. Even if no one has been arrested for gambling online in South Dakota, be safe and stay vigilant because online gambling is still illegal in South Dakota.
Yes, you can. Most online casinos in South Dakota have mobile applications and can also be played on the mobile phone’s web browser. Also, game software developers make sure their games are compatible with different kinds of mobile devices to ensure that players get the best out of the online casino and casino games. No one has been arrested for gambling on their mobile phones even though online gambling is illegal in South Dakota.
The best real money online casino sites in South Dakota allow players to play for real money despite it being illegal. Players can easily make cash deposits and withdrawal based on the various payment options available on the different online casino websites.
With the strict guidelines as regards online casinos in South Dakota, playing video slots is regarded as illegal. Although most online casinos have a huge collection of games, players from South Dakota can choose any games because of online gaming. Despite the fact that no one has been arrested for internet gambling, internet gambling in South Dakota is illegal.
