South Dakota’s gambling landscape is primarily defined by two major sectors. These are the historic limited gaming within the city of Deadwood, and tribal casinos. The latter operates across the state under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
Deadwood, known for its gold rush past, was the first area in the state to authorize casino-style games in 1989. This was done mainly to fund historic preservation efforts. Meanwhile, tribal operations were established through compacts with the state, offering similar gaming options.
The state also operates the South Dakota Lottery and allows pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing. However, the regulatory environment is relatively strict regarding expansion. They are particularly stern when it comes online gambling, Legislators tend to keep the focus heavily on the retail experience.
Best Online Sportsbooks in South Dakota
Best Online Gambling Sites in South Dakota
Recent Gambling News from the State of South Dakota
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Overview: South Dakota Tribes and Their Role in State Betting
The role of the sovereign Native American tribes is indispensable to the South Dakota gambling industry, representing a substantial portion of the state’s total gaming market.
Nine federally recognized tribes operate Class III gaming facilities, which offer games like blackjack, craps, roulette, slot machines, and poker. These are the same games authorized in Deadwood. This dual regulatory structure is a key characteristic of South Dakota’s gaming environment.
Moreover, the authorization for tribal casinos stems from tribal-state gaming compacts negotiated under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
The compacts mandate that tribes appoint a gaming commission to supervise and license all gaming activities, ensuring compliance and integrity. While the state aids in background investigations and machine inspections, the tribal commissions maintain ultimate authority over their operations.
Significantly, the revenue generated from these tribal casinos primarily benefits the tribal governments. They use the revenue for funding essential services, economic development, and member welfare.
A majority of the compacts do not require a revenue share with the state, though some extensions, like one signed by the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, include payments in exchange for increased gaming allowances.
This system ensures the economic self-sufficiency of the tribal nations while providing broad access to casino gaming across South Dakota, often in areas far from the Deadwood gaming hub.
Key South Dakota Tribes and Their Operations
Tribal gaming is authorized through compacts between the State of South Dakota and nine distinct Native American tribes.
These sovereign nations operate numerous Class III gaming facilities that provide a significant economic engine for their communities and the surrounding regions. Such facilities offer a full array of casino games, including slot machines, table games like blackjack and craps, and poker, mirroring the permitted games in Deadwood.
A profile of key tribes and their operations includes:
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
This tribe operates the Dakota Sioux Casino near Watertown and the Dakota Connection near Sisseton. These facilities are important regional destinations, providing employment and tourism draw in the northeastern part of the state.
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
The tribe runs the Royal River Casino & Hotel in Flandreau. The tribe’s compact has been a point of legislative discussion, notably for an agreement that allows them to offer more gaming machines in exchange for payments to the state, demonstrating a direct revenue contribution model that differs from most other compacts.
Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Located near Mission, the tribe operates the Rosebud Casino, serving the south-central area of the state. Like other tribal operations, it is a crucial source of governmental revenue and employment.
Oglala Sioux Tribe
This tribe operates the Prairie Wind Casino near Pine Ridge, providing vital services and economic stability to the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
The tribe’s operation is the Golden Lucky Bonanza Casino near Lower Brule. The casino has a resort component that includes a motel and convention center, capitalizing on its location on the Native American Scenic Byway.
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
This tribe runs the Lode Star Casino in Fort Thompson. Their casino is promoted as a full resort destination with a hotel, cabins, RV park, and access to fishing and other outdoor recreation.
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
The tribe operates the Grand River Casino in Mobridge. They also has a casino in North Dakota, the Prairie Knights Casino & Resort. This is due to the fact that the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation spans the border of North and South Dakota.
Yankton Sioux Tribe
This tribe operates the Fort Randall Casino near Wagner. Their casino is close to the Missouri River and Fort Randall Dam. As a resort, it includes a hotel and dining options, serving as a key local employer and a generator of revenue to support the tribe’s operations and welfare programs.
Each tribal casino operates under the supervision of a dedicated Tribal Gaming Commission, ensuring regulatory oversight for the protection of patrons and the integrity of the games.
Current South Dakota Gambling Laws
South Dakota Constitution, Article 3, Section 25
This fundamental law generally prohibits games of chance, lotteries, and gift enterprises, but provides key exemptions. It is the basis for authorizing a state lottery, video games of chance, and the specific forms of limited gaming within the city of Deadwood (roulette, keno, craps, limited card games, slot machines, and sports wagering).
South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) Title 42
Title 42, Chapter 7: Horse Racing and Pari-mutuel Wagering
This authorizes and regulates live horse racing and simulcast pari-mutuel wagering within the state. The South Dakota Commission on Gaming also oversees this area.
Title 42, Chapter 7A: State Lottery
This law establishes the South Dakota Lottery and regulates the operation of traditional draw games, instant scratch tickets, and Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs).
Title 42, Chapter 7B: Limited Wagering in Deadwood
This statute governs the operation, licensing, taxation, and regulatory oversight of casino-style gaming, including sports betting, within the Deadwood city limits. It defines the maximum allowable bet limit ($1,000).
SDCL 42-7B-3.1: Sports Wagering
This statute lists specific statutory language defining the scope and restrictions for sports wagering, limiting it to the premises of licensed gaming establishments in Deadwood and tribal casinos, and prohibiting certain bets (e.g., on in-state college teams).
Latest South Dakota Legislative Updates
IGT Contract Extension
In November 2023, the International Gaming Technology (IGT), a key vendor, signed a five-year contract extension with the South Dakota Lottery. This ensures the continuation of the current video lottery system and draw game technology platforms.
SJR 502: Mobile Sports Betting
This Senate Joint Resolution proposed an amendment to the state constitution to allow for online sports betting throughout South Dakota, not just within Deadwood casinos. It passed the Senate but was defeated in the House of Representatives, effectively maintaining the current
retail-only sports betting model.
SJR 501 / Constitutional Amendment B (Voter Approval)
This joint resolution placed a question on the November 2020 ballot asking voters to approve an amendment to the state constitution to allow wagering on sporting events within the city limits of Deadwood. The measure was approved by voters, paving the way for the legalization of retail sports betting.
SB 44: Sports Betting Enabling Legislation
Following the voter approval of Constitutional Amendment B in 2020, this bill was passed and signed into law by Governor Kristi Noem. It established the rules, licensing framework, and tax structure for retail sports betting to begin operating in Deadwood casinos and tribal facilities, leading to the official launch in September 2021.
South Dakota Land-Based Sports Betting
Status: Legal
Land-based sports betting is legal and regulated in South Dakota, strictly confined to two types of locations: licensed casinos within the City of Deadwood and the state’s sovereign tribal casinos.
The legalization was a multi-step process, starting with voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 2020, followed by enabling legislation (SB 44) in 2021. This framework created a limited retail market focused on the historic Deadwood gaming district.
All sports wagers must be placed in person at a licensed sportsbook counter or a self-service kiosk located physically on the premises of the casino. Unlike in some states, mobile or in-app wagering is not permitted even when physically present on the Deadwood property, though a facility could theoretically offer an app for in-person transactions only.
The tribal casinos offer sports betting under their compacts, which allow them to provide any form of Class III gaming that is legal in Deadwood. The state law imposes significant restrictions on the types of bets that can be accepted, including outright prohibitions on wagers involving high school games, minor league events, and any games or individual prop bets related to in-state colleges and universities.
The minimum age for sports wagering is 21 at Deadwood and tribal casinos. The South Dakota Commission on Gaming is the body responsible for regulating the Deadwood sportsbooks, ensuring compliance with the restrictive legal framework.
List of Land-Based Sports Betting Operations in South Dakota
BetMGM Sportsbook (Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort / Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort)
Operator: BetMGM
BetMGM operates two retail sportsbooks in Deadwood through a partnership with the resort owners, offering a full range of permitted wagers via counter and kiosk service.
Cadillac Jack’s is one of Deadwood’s largest full-service casino and hotel resorts, and it hosts a branded BetMGM Sportsbook. It provides a full spectrum of betting options, including competitive odds for major sports, parlays, prop bets, and futures.
Meanwhile, Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort, also located on Deadwood’s Historic Main Street, offers its own branded sportsbook experience in conjunction with BetMGM. Similar to its partner resort, it offers an extensive range of in-person betting markets, including live in-game betting options.
Gold Dust Casino Sportsbook
Operator: Gold Dust Casino & Hotel
The Gold Dust Casino Sportsbook provides a classic, in-person betting experience in the heart of historic Deadwood, South Dakota. This is an independently branded retail sportsbook, operated directly by the Gold Dust Casino & Hotel, without being branded under a major national sports betting operator (like BetMGM).
Wagering is conducted strictly in a retail format. Patrons can place their bets via an attended sports betting counter or use easily accessible self-service kiosks situated on the casino floor.
Dale’s Sportsbook
Operator: Deadwood Mountain Grand Casino & Hotel
Dale’s Sportsbook is an in-house branded operation, meaning it manages its sports wagering services directly under the Deadwood Mountain Grand banner, without using a major national sportsbook brand for its primary identity.
The sportsbook caters to patrons by offering a retail wagering counter and self-service betting kiosks located within the property, adhering strictly to South Dakota’s law requiring all sports bets to be placed on the casino’s physical premises.
BetLodge Sportsbook
Operator: The Lodge at Deadwood Gaming Resort
The BetLodge Sportsbook is the in-house sports betting venue of The Lodge at Deadwood Gaming Resort, a major resort and convention complex located just outside the main downtown area of Deadwood, South Dakota.
It is an independently branded retail sportsbook, meaning it is owned and operated by the resort itself, without the branding of a major national sportsbook entity. Consistent with South Dakota law, all wagers must be placed physically on the premises, either at a staffed betting counter or through self-service kiosks.
Dakota Nation Sports Book
Operator: Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel
The Dakota Nation Sports Book is the retail sports betting venue located at the Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel, which is owned and operated by the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribe.
The sports book is integrated into the casino floor, providing a dedicated space for patrons to watch games on high-definition screens and engage in sports wagering while having access to the casino’s other amenities.
The sportsbook offers wagering via a staffed service counter and/or self-service kiosks within the casino premises.
Royal River Casino Sportsbook
Operator: Royal River Casino & Hotel
The Royal River Casino Sportsbook is the retail sports betting offering located at the Royal River Casino & Hotel, which is owned and operated by the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe. Like other tribal facilities, it offers sports betting as a Class III game authorized by its gaming compact with the state of South Dakota.
Wagers are strictly in-person. Patrons can place bets at a dedicated sports book counter or through self-service kiosks situated on the casino property.
Prairie Wind Casino Sportsbook
Operator: Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel
The Prairie Wind Casino Sportsbook is the dedicated, in-person sports wagering venue located at the Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel, which is owned and operated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
It functions as an in-house retail sportsbook under the tribal gaming authority. Its establishment was made possible through the Tribal-State Gaming Compact, allowing it to offer Class III gaming, including sports betting, mirroring the permissible games in Deadwood.
South Dakota Online Sports Betting
Status: Not Licensed or Regulated
Online sports betting is not licensed or regulated for statewide use in South Dakota. While retail sports wagering is legal within the physical confines of licensed Deadwood and tribal casinos, all legislative efforts to expand betting to a statewide mobile or online format have failed to pass the state legislature.
The current law, SDCL 42-7B-3.1, explicitly states that sports wagering may only be conducted on the premises of a licensed gaming establishment in Deadwood. This restriction is generally extended to tribal operations through their compacts, meaning an individual cannot place a wager from their home or any location outside a casino’s physical boundaries.
Technically, a casino could offer an app or digital platform, but it would only be functional for placing bets while the user is physically inside the licensed gaming area, essentially acting as a mobile kiosk.
The key hurdle for any full online expansion is the state constitution, which restricts most casino-style gaming, including sports betting, to Deadwood. Any change to allow statewide mobile wagering would require a constitutional amendment, which would first need legislative approval and then a successful vote by the citizens.
Despite recent legislative attempts in 2022 that saw a mobile betting resolution pass the Senate but fail in the House, the status quo remains firmly anchored to the retail model.
List of Online Sports Betting Operations in South Dakota
No online operators are legally permitted to offer services to users outside the physical premises of a licensed casino in Deadwood or a tribal casino.
Other Online Sports Betting Options for South Dakota Residents
Betting sites based offshore and accessible to U.S. players can serve as alternative venues for South Dakota players seeking to place online wagers. Because these operators are headquartered outside the United States, they operate in a legal “grey zone.” To date, there are no known cases of South Dakota players being prosecuted for placing bets on these offshore platforms.
South Dakota Land-Based Casino Gambling
Status: Legal
Land-based casino gambling in South Dakota is legally structured around two distinct environments: limited-wage commercial gaming in Deadwood and Class III tribal gaming across the state.
In Deadwood, the games which include blackjack, craps, keno, poker, roulette, and slot machines, are capped with a maximum bet limit of 40$\$1,000$. This limited wagering was authorized initially in 1989 and is overseen by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming, with all net municipal proceeds dedicated to historic restoration and preservation.
Deadwood’s historic Main Street is home to numerous casinos, ranging from small, slot-focused venues to larger resort complexes. Separately, the state’s nine federally recognized Native American tribes operate their casinos under tribal-state compacts.
These tribal casinos are authorized to offer the same suite of Class III games as those available in Deadwood, providing casino access throughout the state, often on reservations far from the Deadwood hub. The minimum age for all casino-style wagering at both Deadwood and tribal venues is 21. Outside of Deadwood and tribal lands, other forms of gambling are very restricted.
However, Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs), which operate similarly to slots, are authorized and widespread across the state at establishments with liquor licenses, though these are regulated by the South Dakota Lottery, not the Commission on Gaming.
List of Land-Based Casino Operations in South Dakota
South Dakota’s land-based casino gambling is split between state-regulated commercial casinos in Deadwood and sovereign tribal casinos across the state. All feature limited-wage gaming with a maximum bet of $1,000$.
Commercial Casinos
Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort
Operator: LIV Hospitality
A large, full-service casino and resort complex featuring over 240 slots and 22 table games, a hotel, dining, and the BetMGM Sportsbook.
Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort
Operator: LIV Hospitality
Located in the heart of downtown, offering a cozy casino experience with slots, table games, and one of the two BetMGM Sportsbook branded locations in Deadwood.
Deadwood Mountain Grand
Operator: Strategic Gaming Management, LLC
A luxury casino and entertainment complex built on the site of the historic Homestake Mining Company. Offers slots, table games, hotel, and the in-house Dale’s Sportsbook.
Silverado Franklin Historic Hotel & Gaming Complex
Operator: Strategic Gaming Management, LLC
One of Deadwood’s largest properties, combining the historic Franklin Hotel with modern gaming that includes a wide selection of slots and table games.
The Lodge at Deadwood Gaming Resort
Operator: The Ramkota Companies, Inc.
Known for having one of the largest gaming floors in Deadwood, featuring over 280 slots, table games, a large hotel, and the in-house BetLodge Sportsbook.
Gold Dust Casino & Hotel
Operator: Jacobs Entertainment, Inc.
A historic gaming and hotel complex offering over 100 slots, table games (including blackjack and poker), and an independently operated retail sportsbook.
First Gold Gaming Resort
Operator: Gustafson Builders / Mike Gustafson
Located at the entrance to Deadwood, offering 24/7 gaming with a variety of slots and tables, a hotel, and dining options, known for its focus on classic hospitality.
Mineral Palace Hotel & Gaming
Operator: Mineral Palace Group
A historic-themed casino and hotel offering a full range of limited-wage games on its floor, including slots and table games.
Saloon No. 10
Operator: The Keehn Family
A historic landmark and gaming location known for its Old West atmosphere (where Wild Bill Hickok was killed). Offers slots and limited table games.
Tribal Casinos
Royal River Casino & Hotel
Operator: Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
The largest tribal casino in the state, offering slots, table games, a poker room, a hotel, and the Royal River Casino Sportsbook.
Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel
Operator: Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
A major regional gaming hub in the eastern part of the state, featuring slots, table games, and the Dakota Nation Sports Book.
Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel
Operator: Oglala Sioux Tribe
Located on the Pine Ridge Reservation, this casino is a key economic engine, offering slots, table games, and the Prairie Wind Casino Sportsbook.
Golden Lucky Bonanza Casino & Resort
Operator: Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
Located along the Missouri River, this resort offers a variety of gaming machines, table games, and hotel amenities.
Grand River Casino & Resort
Operator: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Located near the North Dakota border, this resort provides slots, table games, and acts as a regional hub for gaming and recreation.
Fort Randall Casino & Hotel
Operator: Yankton Sioux Tribe
Situated near the Missouri River, the casino offers slots, table games, and a hotel, serving the south-central region of the state.
Lode Star Casino & Hotel
Operator: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Located in Fort Thompson, this operation offers Class III gaming and resort accommodations for the tribe and visitors.
Dakota Connection Casino
Operator: Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
A smaller gaming property located near the North Dakota border, primarily offering slot machines and convenience services.
Rosebud Casino
Operator: Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Located near the Nebraska border, offering Class III gaming (slots and table games) and serving as a key facility for the Rosebud Reservation.
South Dakota Online Casino Gambling
Status: Not Licensed or Regulated
Online casino gambling is not licensed or regulated in South Dakota. The state’s legal framework for casino-style gaming is extremely restrictive, confining all operations to the designated area of Deadwood and sovereign tribal lands.
The South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) contain explicit chapters that criminalize the operation of illegal internet gambling enterprises, making it very clear that the state does not sanction remote wagering of any kind for traditional casino games.
Moreover, the general prohibition on most forms of gambling in the state constitution, aside from the limited exceptions for Deadwood and the state-run lottery, forms a nearly insurmountable barrier to the legalization of online casinos.
As of the latest legislative sessions, there has been no successful movement to introduce or pass a bill to authorize and regulate online casino games such as slots, table games, or live dealer offerings. The prevailing sentiment within the state legislature and the constitutional mandate focus on the retail gaming experience as a means to support historic preservation and tribal economies.
Consequently, residents seeking to play casino games online are currently limited to using out-of-state or offshore sites, which operate without any state-level regulatory oversight from the South Dakota Commission on Gaming.
List of Online Casino Operations in South Dakota
No state-licensed or regulated online casino platforms are authorized to operate within the state.
Other Online Casinos Options for South Dakota Residents
Online casinos based offshore that accept U.S. players serve as an alternative for South Dakota players seeking online gambling. Since these operators are located outside the United States, they exist in a legal “grey zone.” To date, there is no record of individuals being legally prosecuted solely for playing on these offshore platforms.
South Dakota Poker
Status: Legal
Land-based poker is legal and regulated in South Dakota, primarily available within the state’s two main gaming sectors: the commercial casinos of Deadwood and the sovereign tribal casinos.
The authorization for poker in Deadwood falls under the category of “limited card games” specified in the state constitution, which allows for games like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud, subject to the overall Deadwood gaming restrictions.
Its most notable limitation is the maximum bet limit of $1,000 per hand, which applies to all card games, although poker tournaments may have different structures and buy-ins.
Poker rooms in Deadwood are generally found in the larger casino properties and attract a steady stream of players, offering both cash games and various tournament series.Tribal casinos are also authorized to offer poker as a Class III game under their compacts, as it is a game permitted in Deadwood. This allows for wider access to live poker across different regions of the state.
The regulation of poker rooms in Deadwood is managed by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming, ensuring fair play and compliance with the limited-wage structure.
While the state’s poker scene is not on the scale of major national hubs, it provides a consistent, regulated environment for residents and tourists who enjoy live card games.
List of Land-Based Poker Operations in South Dakota
Land-based poker is legally available in South Dakota at regulated commercial casinos in Deadwood and at sovereign tribal casinos across the state. These operations offer both cash games and tournaments, all subject to the state’s limited-wage laws.
Commercial Land-Based Poker Operations
Silverado Franklin Historic Hotel & Gaming Complex
Operator: Strategic Gaming Management, LLC
Home to one of the most prominent poker rooms in Deadwood, which hosts major state and regional tournament series like the South Dakota State Poker Championship and the Summer Outlaw Poker Series.
They offer cash games like Texas Hold’em and Dealers Choice, and various daily tournaments.
Deadwood Mountain Grand
Operator: Strategic Gaming Management, LLC
Features live table games, including various forms of poker like Texas Hold’em and Three-Card Poker (a casino table game version), catering to both cash game and occasional tournament players within its resort complex.
Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort
Operator: LIV Hospitality
Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort operates a dedicated poker room offering regular daily tournaments, often centered around No-Limit Texas Hold’em and Omaha. The room also features promotions like hourly high hands to drive action in cash games.
Tribal Casino Poker Operations
Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel
Operator: Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
The casino maintains a dedicated live poker operation that hosts both cash games (including No Limit Hold’em) and weekly tournaments. This facility is a major poker venue in the eastern part of the state.
Royal River Casino & Hotel
Operator: Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
While they primarily focus on table games like Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Mississippi Stud, they offer live card games that can include poker varieties, serving the eastern South Dakota and Sioux Falls area.
Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel
Operator: Oglala Sioux Tribe
This casino offers a variety of live card games, which often include poker tables (cash games and/or tournaments), serving the Pine Ridge Reservation area.
South Dakota Online Poker
Status: Not Licensed or Regulated
Online poker is not licensed or regulated in South Dakota. Similar to online sports and casino gambling, the state has not legalized or established a regulatory framework for remote online poker play.
State law takes a clear stance against operating an illegal internet gambling business, with specific penalties outlined in SDCL Chapter 22-25A. This legislative stance aims to protect the retail gaming revenue of the licensed Deadwood and tribal casino operators.
Despite the ban on in-state online operations, the laws are generally understood to target the operators of unlicensed sites, not individual players. This has led to South Dakotans having access to various offshore online poker sites, which operate without state oversight.
Locally, there has been no serious or successful legislative effort in recent years to introduce bills for state-regulated online poker. For a regulated online poker market to be established, it would likely require a constitutional amendment and enabling legislation, a process that has proven difficult for all forms of online gambling in the state.
Therefore, the immediate future for state-regulated online poker in South Dakota appears unlikely.
List of Online Poker Operations in South Dakota
Currently, South Dakota does not have any locally-licensed online poker sites operating within the state.
Other Online Poker Options in South Dakota
Online poker sites based offshore and accessible to U.S. players can serve as alternative venues for South Dakota players seeking to place online wagers. Because these operators are headquartered outside the United States, they operate in a legal “grey zone.” To date, there are no known cases of South Dakota players being prosecuted for placing bets on these offshore platforms.
South Dakota Land-Based Horse Betting
Status: Legal
Land-based horse betting is legal and regulated in South Dakota, falling under the category of pari-mutuel wagering. This form of betting is overseen by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming.
Pari-mutuel wagering has a long history in the state, having been re-authorized in 1933 after the original state constitution outlawed all gambling. Wagering can be conducted in a couple of ways: on-track at live horse racing events and at licensed off-track betting (OTB) facilities that offer simulcast racing from tracks across the country.
While the state has a history of live horse racing, meets are infrequent and typically occur seasonally at venues like the Stanley County Fairgrounds in Fort Pierre. The primary form of in-person horse betting available year-round is through simulcasting at designated OTB locations. These OTB venues, such as Railbirds Sports Bar, allow patrons to wager on horse races being run elsewhere.
The minimum age for pari-mutuel wagering is lower than casino gambling, set at 18 years of age at simulcast locations and live horse racing events, reflecting the state’s traditional allowance for this specific type of gambling.
List of Land-Based Horse Betting Operations in South Dakota
Stanley County Fairgrounds
Operator: Stanley County, South Dakota
This track has historically been the most consistent host of live horse racing in South Dakota, typically holding a short meet for thoroughbred and quarter horse racing in the fall of each year. Live, on-track pari-mutuel wagering is available only during these events.
Brown County Fairgrounds
Operator: Brown County, South Dakota
Historically, this venue hosted live racing events, but the meets have become infrequent or ceased in recent years. If racing is held, on-track pari-mutuel wagering would be available during the county fair’s scheduled race days.
Off-Track Betting (OTB) / Simulcasting
Triple Crown Casino
Operator: Four Horsemen LLC
This is the state’s main licensed off-track betting (OTB) parlor. It offers continuous simulcast wagering on horse and greyhound races from tracks nationwide. The venue also features video lottery terminals (VLTs) but is primarily known for its racebook service in the eastern part of the state.
Time Out Lounge
Operator: LaCroix Investments Inc.
Time Out Lounge is licensed as a simulcast site by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. The local entity that holds the gaming license for the lounge is the direct operator of the OTB services on the premises.
South Dakota Online Horse Betting
Status: Legal
Online horse betting, specifically known as Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW), is legal and regulated in South Dakota. The state has adopted a legal framework that allows residents who are 18 or older to place pari-mutuel wagers on horse races held across the country via licensed online platforms.
The authorization for this form of wagering stems from legislative action, including a 2005 bill (SB 95) that authorized account wagering and established the licensing and regulation of multi-jurisdictional totalizator hubs by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming.
This distinction makes online horse betting a notable exception to the state’s general prohibition on most forms of remote online gambling. The platforms that operate in the state are required to adhere to a strict regulatory framework that ensures fair treatment of customers, financial accountability, and secure transactions.
This provides a safe, regulated avenue for South Dakotans to engage in horse racing wagering without needing to be physically present at a simulcast location or live race meet. The state’s regulation of ADW is designed to support the overall pari-mutuel racing industry.
List of Online Horse Betting Operations in South Dakota
TwinSpires
Operator: Churchill Downs Incorporated
The official wagering site of the Kentucky Derby and CDI-owned racetracks. It is one of the largest ADW platforms, offering live video streams, handicapping tools, and wagering on thousands of races globally via their desktop and mobile apps.
TVG / FanDuel Racing
Operator: FanDuel Group
TVG is known for its dedicated horse racing television network, now often integrating with the FanDuel Racing brand. They offer comprehensive online wagering across over 300 tracks. They also provide expert analysis, race picks, and live HD streaming through their website and mobile app.
AmWager
Operator: AmWest Entertainment, LLC
A major ADW platform known for offering attractive cash-back rebates to frequent bettors. They provide wagering on global racing content and focus on catering to experienced handicappers with specialized betting tools.
NYRA Bets
Operator: New York Racing Association (NYRA)
The official wagering platform of the New York Racing Association (home of Saratoga and Belmont Park). It offers competitive bonuses and free live racing video and replays for tracks worldwide.
DRF Bets
Operator: Daily Racing Form
The online wagering arm of the Daily Racing Form, a leading source for horse racing news and past performance data. This platform is heavily integrated with professional handicapping information and tools.
Other Online Horse Betting Options for South Dakota Residents
Online horse betting based offshore that accept U.S. players serve as an alternative for South Dakota players seeking online gambling. Since these operators are located outside the United States, they exist in a legal “grey zone.” To date, there is no record of individuals being legally prosecuted solely for playing on these offshore platforms.
South Dakota Lotteries
Status: Legal
The South Dakota Lottery is a government-run enterprise that provides several distinct forms of legal gambling across the state. Established in 1986, the Lottery is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and is self-funded.
The minimum age to purchase draw tickets and scratch-offs is 18. The Lottery’s operations include traditional draw games, both state-only and multi-state, and scratch-off tickets. The revenue generated is constitutionally mandated to support state-level priorities.
A significant part of the South Dakota Lottery is the Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs). These are electronic games of chance that resemble slot machines. VLTs are widely distributed in licensed establishments across the state. This includes areas such as bars and convenience stores that hold liquor licenses.
However, unlike traditional lottery products, the minimum age to play VLTs is 21. The VLT system is strictly regulated, with a maximum bet and payout limit. Despite legal challenges in the past, a constitutional amendment was ultimately passed by voters to re-authorize and solidify the Video Lottery’s place in the state’s gambling economy.
List of South Dakota Lottery Platforms
Multi-State Draw Games
Operator: South Dakota Lottery (MUSL Member)
This platform offers national games with large jackpots, including Powerball, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life, and Lotto America.
In-State Draw Games, Scratch-Off/Instant Tickets
Operator: South Dakota Lottery
The South Dakota Lottery offers state-exclusive draw games, such as Dakota Cash, drawn weekly with smaller, local jackpots. Along with this, they also authorize paper-based instant-win games sold at various retail locations.
Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs)
Operator: South Dakota Lottery
These are electronic gaming machines resembling slots or keno. VLTs are typically found in licensed bars, restaurants, and convenience stores throughout the state.
South Dakota Sweepstakes
Status: Legal, but with Caveats
Sweepstakes remain legal in South Dakota when operators remove any element that triggers the state’s anti-gambling laws. They must avoid being classified as an illegal lottery.
A promotion becomes an illegal lottery when it includes prize, chance, and consideration. In this case, “consideration” means an entry fee or required purchase.
Consequently, businesses offering sweepstakes must remove the element of consideration. This is done by ensuring there is a free method of entry (AMOE) that provides an equal chance of winning.
South Dakota law requires businesses to structure contests and sweepstakes carefully to comply with state consumer protection laws. Unlike some other states, South Dakota does not have a formal statewide registration requirement for sweepstakes. However, organizers must still clearly define all rules, eligibility, and prize information.
For charitable organizations, the state allows for “lotteries” (raffles) under a specific exemption. Any organization needs to register with the Secretary of State and/or local municipality. Moreover, they need to adhere to all statutory requirements for charitable gaming.
South Dakota Sweepstakes Casinos
Status: Legal
Sweepstakes casinos, or social casinos using a “Sweepstakes Model,” operate legally and are widely accessible in South Dakota. However, the South Dakota Commission does not license or regulate them.
These platforms operate because their model differs from the state’s definition of a prohibited lottery or gambling enterprise.
They skirt state gambling laws by offering free Sweeps Coins through a no-purchase-necessary method. This free entry removes the “consideration” element. Gold Coins remain for entertainment only, while Sweeps Coins allow prize redemption.
Additionally, players obtain Sweeps Coins for free through mail-in requests, special offers, or bonus allocations. These methods create a clear legal separation from an illegal lottery.
Therefore, while South Dakota strictly prohibits real-money online casinos, the sweepstakes model offers residents a legally compliant alternative.
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