South Dakota Could See Sports Betting Throughout the State

South Dakota will be voting on whether or not to legalize sports betting next Tuesday. The plan is for sports betting to head to Deadwood with retail sportsbooks available. Mobile sports betting is not on the table for South Dakota.

However, this could change based on a proposal to rewrite sports betting. There are nine tribal groups in the area and would also be looking to legalize sports betting. Under tribal gaming laws, groups are allowed to legalize any gaming that is legal in the state. If sports betting passes in South Dakota, tribes will be looking to do the same at their casinos.

The nine tribes are Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux, Yankton Sioux, Flandreau Santee Sioux, Lower Brule Sioux, Crow Creek Sioux, Rosebud Sioux, Oglala Sioux, Cheyenne River Sioux, and Standing Rock Sioux.

There is a possibility that non-gaming businesses could take bets outside of Deadwood, but it would be decided by state lawmakers. This opens up the chance for sports betting, both retail and online, to be available across the state.

What’s the Goal on Election Day?

On election day, the goal is for South Dakotans to vote “yes” on B Ballot to legalize sports betting. $120,000 was raised to help campaign for legalized sports betting in Deadwood.

Nothing else can happen unless the state votes to legalize sports betting.

South Dakota has been a state that is a toss-up for legalized sports betting. They have a smaller population, but the polling has shown close to a 50/50 split on whether sports wagering should come to South Dakota.

Even the legislature has been hesitant even to bring a bill up to vote. In 2019, the bill failed to pass in the House, and it barely passed in 2020. The fight to be able to vote on this has been difficult for lawmakers in favor of sports betting.

Deadwood would be the destination for sports betting where commercial casinos are located in South Dakota. However, there are talks about expanding sports betting across the state and allowing mobile betting to occur, but that would still be up to lawmakers.

If sports betting passes on Tuesday, then it opens up a new discussion on what sports betting regulations could look like in the state.

What Could South Dakota Sports Betting Look Like?

Right now, Deadwood would be the destination for sports betting, and it would be the only place in South Dakota that would take bets. Tribal groups would also be allowed to offer sports betting at their casinos due to the tribal gaming laws.

From a commercial standpoint, only Deadwood would have sports betting, but it could be seen throughout the state with tribes. This has raised questions on whether or not the state should allow sports betting across South Dakota instead of just Deadwood.

Lawmakers would have to create legislation over that, which could be difficult considering how hesitant it was to get a sports betting bill on the 2020 ballot.

If the people of South Dakota vote yes to sports betting on Tuesday, lawmakers will have to discuss what regulations would be. This could become heated and take a majority of 2021 before there is any resolution. Some people believe it could be close to the 2021 football season before sports betting in the state begins.

Although South Dakota has a small population, there could be big news about how sports betting is run over the next year.