Last November voters in South Dakota approved allowing keno, craps and roulette in Deadwood casinos and tribal casinos by 57 percent to 43 percent. When the next legislative begins, the state gaming commission will ask for authority to implement and regulate the new games. If lawmakers approve, the new games could be in place and ready to launch when the authorization bill and rules take effect on July 1.
Deadwood Gaming Association Executive Director Mike Rodman said, “We need to continue to change and evolve as gaming has changed and evolved across the country in order to be competitive. “And these games are that next step in keeping us competitive with other jurisdictions.”
But Dale Bartscher, executive director of the Family Heritage Alliance in Rapid City, said, “We are a Republic, and so we have this great checks-and-balances system whereby now this issue voted on by the people of South Dakota comes right back to the state legislature for further and a final passage or vote.” Bartscher hopes the fact that voters’ approval was not a mandate plus the election of several new legislators may prevent the new games from being implemented.
“We have something like 18,000 addicted gamblers in the state of South Dakota alone. That ought to cause great concern. We’re concerned about the fact that gambling has such negative secondary effects on families, on individuals, on businesses in the state of South Dakota. We simply feel that we can do better,” Bartscher said. “If they vote ‘yes’ on this measure, it does nothing to our resolve.”
Deadwood Mayor Chuck Turbiville believes Bartscher’s group is wasting time and effort. He noted, “These three new games were approved by 57 percent of the voters of this state. And to me that’s a ringing endorsement.” Turbiville stated most legislators do not want to go against voters’ wishes. Also, Turbiville said the new games could mean 50-75 new jobs. “So for me, it’s being more competitive. It’s offering the customer what they want. It’s also job creation,” Turbiville said.
