Is Sports Betting Legal in South Dakota?

 

Yes. Sports betting is legal in South Dakota, but it is limited to in-person wagering at licensed casinos in Deadwood and at participating tribal casinos.

 

Bettors must place wagers while physically present at an approved casino. Additionally, state law prohibits wagering on:

 

• High school sporting events

• Minor league games

• Proposition bets on individual college athletes

• Any game involving South Dakota-based college teams

 

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in South Dakota?

 

Yes - but only in a very limited sense.

 

South Dakota law allows online sports betting only if the wager is placed while physically located inside a licensed Deadwood casino. There is no statewide mobile betting, and no sportsbook promos currently offers full online access or promotional mobile platforms within the state.

 

Title 42, Chapter 7B of South Dakota’s Codified Laws states that:

 

“Any sports wagering may only be conducted on the premises of a licensed gaming establishment as approved by the commission within the city of Deadwood.”

 

In theory, a sportsbook could operate a mobile app, but it would only function within the geofenced boundaries of its partner casino in Deadwood.

 

Efforts to expand online sports betting beyond casino premises - including legislative proposals as recently as 2022 - have failed to advance through the South Dakota Legislature.

 

 

In-Person Sportsbooks in South Dakota

 

Because retail wagering is effectively the only legal form of sports betting in South Dakota, all sportsbooks operate inside licensed casino properties.

 

The majority of sportsbook locations are found in Deadwood, the historic gaming hub that hosts numerous commercial casinos.

 

Outside of Deadwood, sports betting is available at select tribal casinos located throughout the state. However, there are no standalone sportsbooks or statewide mobile betting options.

 

To place a legal wager in South Dakota, you must visit one of these approved casino properties in person. 

 

 

South Dakota Sports Betting Law

 

Retail sports betting in South Dakota is authorized under Senate Joint Resolution 501 (SJR 501), which amended the state constitution in 2020 to permit sports wagering.

 

Because most forms of legalized gambling in South Dakota are limited to the city of Deadwood, sports betting is likewise restricted to licensed retail casinos within Deadwood. The primary exception is tribal casinos, which may offer sports wagering if the games are also permitted in Deadwood.

 

 

Voter Approval and Implementation

 

The path to legalization began with a public vote. In November 2019, South Dakota voters approved constitutional Amendment B - allowing sports betting in Deadwood - by a margin of 58% to 42%.

 

Following that approval, the Legislature advanced SJR 501 to formally amend the constitution. While regulatory details took additional time to finalize, the statewide vote made legalization largely inevitable.

 

 

Prohibited Wagers

 

South Dakota law bans betting on:

 

• High school sporting events

• Minor league games

• Games involving South Dakota-based colleges and universities

• Proposition bets on individual college athletes, regardless of the school they attend

 

 

Betting Restrictions

 

The law also prohibits certain individuals from participating in sports wagering, including:

 

• Athletes

• Coaches

• Referees

• Trainers

• Sportsbook employees

 

Additionally, it is illegal to place a wager on behalf of someone else or to bet under a false name.

 

 

Popular Sports to Bet on in South Dakota

 

South Dakota does not have any major professional sports franchises. The closest pro representation is the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the NBA G League affiliate of the Miami Heat, and the Sioux Falls Canaries, an independent minor league baseball team.

 

However, under South Dakota law, betting on minor league teams is prohibited. That means neither the Skyforce nor the Canaries are eligible wagering options.

 

As a result, many South Dakotans follow and bet on professional teams in neighboring Minnesota. Given the NFL’s nationwide popularity, Minnesota-based teams tend to attract the most betting interest in the state.

 

 

Popular Teams Among South Dakota Bettors

 

• NFL: Minnesota Vikings

• NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves

• MLB: Minnesota Twins

• NHL: Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche

 

Among these, Vikings games are typically the most popular betting markets.

 

 

Other Types of Legal Gambling in South Dakota

 

Sports betting is just one form of legal gambling available in South Dakota. The state offers several additional wagering options.

 

 

Casinos

 

South Dakota’s commercial casinos are concentrated in Deadwood, the state’s historic gaming hub. In addition, several tribal casinos operate throughout the state.

 

Legal casino games include:

 

• Blackjack

• Craps

• Roulette

• Poker

• Keno

• Slot machines

 

State regulations cap the maximum wager at $1,000 per bet.

 

 

Commercial Casinos in Deadwood

 

• Buffalo-Bodega Complex

• Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort

• Celebrity Hotel Museum & Gaming

• Deadwood Comfort Inn

• Deadwood Gulch Resort

• Deadwood Station Bunkhouse & Gambling Hall

• First Gold Gaming Resort

• Gold Country Inn Gambling Hall & Cafe

• Gold Dust Casino & Hotel

• Hickok’s Hotel & Gaming

• Historic Bullock Hotel

• Holiday Inn Resort Deadwood Mountain Grand

• Iron Horse Inn & Casino

• Lucky 8 Casino

• Mineral Palace Casino

• Mustang Sally’s Casino

• Saloon #10 Casino

• Silverado Franklin Historic Hotel & Gaming Complex

• The Lodge at Deadwood Gaming Resort

• Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort

• Wooden Nickel Casino

 

 

Tribal Casinos in South Dakota

 

• Dakota Connection - Sisseton

• Dakota Sioux Casino - Watertown

• Golden Buffalo Casino - Lower Brule

• Grand River Casino - Mobridge

• Lode Star Casino - Fort Thompson

• Prairie Wind Casino - Pine Ridge

• Rosebud Casino - Mission

• Royal River Casino - Flandreau

 

Together, these venues make casino gaming the most widely available form of gambling in South Dakota outside of retail sports betting.

 

 

Horse Betting

 

South Dakota offers limited but accessible horse betting options.

 

 

Live Racing

 

Live horse races are typically held during summer fair meets. According to South Dakota Gaming, races are traditionally conducted at:

 

• Stanley County Fair

• Brown County Fair

 

These events provide seasonal opportunities for live wagering.

 

 

Off-Track Betting

 

South Dakota has one active off-track betting (OTB) location:

 

• Triple Crown Casino - North Sioux City

 

This facility offers simulcast wagering on races from across the country, along with video lottery gaming.

 

 

Online Horse Betting

 

Residents can also place wagers through licensed online advance deposit wagering (ADW) platforms. These sites allow bettors aged 18 and older to wager on horse races held nationwide.

 

 

Lottery

 

The South Dakota Lottery offers several types of games:

 

 

Draw Games

 

Players can participate in major multi-state jackpots such as:

 

• Mega Millions

• Powerball

 

The lottery also features smaller in-state draw games.

 

 

Scratch-Offs

 

Instant win scratcher tickets are widely available at authorized retailers.

 

 

Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs)

 

South Dakota also operates thousands of video lottery terminals across the state. These machines offer instant-win style games similar to electronic scratch-offs or keno.

 

Players can use the official lottery app to scan tickets and redeem eligible winnings.

 

Daily Fantasy Sports in South Dakota

 

South Dakota does not have a law explicitly authorizing or prohibiting daily fantasy sports (DFS).

 

The most recent public statement from state law enforcement, issued in 2015, indicated that DFS participants would not face criminal penalties. As a result, major DFS operators such as DraftKings, FanDuel, Underdog, and PrizePicks currently offer contests to players located in South Dakota.