Is Online Gambling Legal in South Dakota?

What Gambling Is Legal in South Dakota

Sports Betting in South Dakota

If you search for “Is gambling legal in South Dakota?”, you’ll get partial results. By the South Dakota gambling laws, sports betting in South Dakota is only legal in-person. Deadwood casino gaming was authorized by the state’s constitution in 1988, and opened its doors on November 1, 1989. However, it can’t operate as an online product.

Senate Joint Resolution 501 sent sports betting in South Dakota to the 2020 ballot. Constitutional Amendment B was approved by voters with 58.5%, with SB 44 followed in 2021. The first Deadwood books opened in September of the same year. Changing anything requires a state-wide vote, as the authority sits in the constitution.

What this means is that bets can only be legally placed in-person in licensed gambling establishments, not online. High school sports betting is illegal, as is betting on South Dakota’s college teams and player props.

South Dakota Online Casinos

South Dakota online casino games are illegal. The state has never authorized this form of gambling. Any site that offers online casino South Dakota players slots or table games is not authorized for use in the state.

The dual-currency sweepstakes model has no statute. No bill to ban sweepstakes platforms in South Dakota has ever materialized.

Online Poker in South Dakota

Online poker rooms in South Dakota are not authorized as well. For poker players, the only viable solution is to play in another state where the game is legal.

Fantasy Contests in South Dakota

South Dakota daily fantasy sports contests are not authorized or prohibited. A few operators may offer their services, but no state agency licenses them. This also means you don’t get protection in case of disputes.

Gambling Age in South Dakota

The legal gambling age in South Dakota is 21 for Deadwood casinos, tribal casinos, and in-person sports betting. For the South Dakota Lottery, simulcast wagering, and live horse racing, the limit is 18.

Who Regulates Gambling in South Dakota

The Commission on Gaming

Appointed by the Governor, the South Dakota Commission on Gaming is a five-member body under the Department of Revenue. It regulates Deadwood gaming, retail sportsbook, and live and simulcast horse racing under South Dakota gambling laws.

It also publishes monthly handle reports. For the lottery, it’s organized and regulated by the South Dakota Lottery, which runs the draw games across state-wide video lottery networks.

There’s no regulator for South Dakota online gambling. No online product in the state is licensed for such operations.

Tribal Gaming Commissions

Tribal casinos operate under a different set of rules. Those are compacts negotiated with the state rather than the Commission.

Disputes at Deadwood books go to the Commission of Gaming. For tribal casinos, disputes are handled by the tribe’s own gaming commission.

The state of South Dakota runs a self-exclusion program. It can block cards and accounts from ATM withdrawals and cash advances at the state’s land-based casinos. This is unusual and quite different from other states, where such programs don’t have such authority.

Where to Get Help

If you or someone you know need help, you can call the state’s own helpline at 1-888-781-HELP (1-888-781-4357). It’s run by the South Dakota Council on Problem Gambling, with professional agents that offer judgment-free assistance.

The national 1-800-MY-RESET helpline is available as well. Check our responsible gambling resources to learn how to gamble responsibly and use tools at your convenience.

Where You Can Bet in South Dakota

Retail Sportsbooks in Deadwood

The main point of sports betting in South Dakota are the licensed Deadwood casinos. Deadwood sports betting has handled over $38 million in bets since 2021, with $3.9 million in revenue, per official Commission figures. You can compare venues at our South Dakota sportsbook page.

Tribal Casino Sportsbooks

Tribal casinos outside of Deadwood also take bets. However, they do so under their own Class III gaming compacts or rules. Only select tribal casinos offer in-person betting.

What Is Not Available Here

South Dakota doesn’t authorize online casinos, online poker rooms, or mobile sportsbooks. Fantasy contests are available; check the South Dakota fantasy contests page. The state’s self-exclusion program allows players to block casino cash access, and is unique in that regard.

Tax on Gambling Winnings in South Dakota

South Dakota doesn’t have a state income tax program. Winnings carry no state liability, and there’s no state withholding. Federal tax reporting still applies. Operators issue a W-2G over certain amounts. Since 2026, federal tax deductions for gambling losses are capped at 90% of winnings. Fantasy winnings are federally reportable. This is general information, not tax advice.

General information only; not tax advice.

Pending South Dakota Gambling Legislation

The 2026 Ballot Attempt

In November 2026, Senate Join Resolution 504 would have asked voters to allow state-wide mobile betting through Deadwood-licensed casinos. A total of 90% of the tax revenue was proposed to go to property tax relief. The Senate passed it on 23-10 on February 11, 2026. However, it was rejected (7-6) by the House State Affairs Committee, deferring the bill before the session’s final day.

Why It Takes a Statewide Vote

Online gambling expansion in the state requires legislative resolutions, followed by voter approval and a general election. Previously, two attempts failed in 2022 and 2025. The next general election is scheduled for November 2028.

What Has Not Changed

South Dakota has never introduced an online casino bill. DFS contests remain unlegislated. Follow the latest updates via our South Dakota gambling news.

Frequently asked questions

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