The South Dakota Commission on Gaming recently declared the city of Deadwood and its casinos must “take the lead” regarding potential problems associated with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This is in response to a request from law enforcement for casinos to ban colors—patches indicating an individual’s club affiliation– based on reports that the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Gang would hold its 2018 national run in Deadwood the week before the Sturgis event, scheduled for August 3-12.
In a letter to South Dakota Commission on Gaming Executive Director Larry Eliason, Deadwood Gaming Association Executive Director Mike Rodman stated, “We believe that the best path forward to keep Deadwood safe is for each individual property to have their security and management teams work with the city of Deadwood and its safety officials on proper safety planning that takes their unique properties into consideration. We do not believe there is a ‘one solution fits all’ approach that would be effective overall.”
He added, “The industry responded to your request on controlling the activities of potentially nefarious motorcycle groups in Deadwood casinos.” Rodman suggested collaboration between the Deadwood Chamber, Deadwood Gaming Association and the gaming commission to forward to the commission any questionable group inquiries for further vetting. “We have also asked the industry’s hotel sales managers to contact the commission for further vetting if they have a questionable group,” Rodman said.
Earlier this year, a bid for a block of several hotel rooms was discovered to have been made by the Hell’s Angels. Subsequently, the winning bidder, Cadillac Jack’s, was contacted by Craig Sparrow, deputy executive director of the gaming commission’s enforcement division. Sparrow explained an administrative rule bans “catering to, assisting, employing or associating with, either socially or in business affairs, persons of notorious or unsavory reputation or who have extensive police records, persons who have defied congressional investigative committees or other officially constituted bodies acting on behalf of the United States or any state, or persons who are associated with or support known criminal organizations.”
Deadwood Police Chief Kelly Fuller previously said wearing colors plus an increased numbers of Hell’s Angels in the area is cause for concern. “In a nutshell, we’re discussing wearing colors in casinos, and the impact on public safety and the gaming industry. Obviously, with the Hell’s Angels national run being in Deadwood this year, we’re expecting upwards of 500 patched Hell’s Angels associates, which has led to public safety concerns for Deadwood,” Fuller said.
The gaming commission also recently unanimously approved a rule regarding notification of the legal age to gamble and another about policies involving individuals under age 21 in a casino. The changes are the result of the commission issuing a record fine to Cadillac Jack’s of $75,000, or $25,000 per infraction, for three incidents involving underage players in August 2017.
The first rule change occurs in the section addressing the operation of gaming establishments, legal age to gamble – notification requirement. It reads: “All licensed gaming establishments shall prominently display a sign at each entrance to a licensed establishment which notifies the public in a conspicuous manner that gaming patrons must be 21 years of age to gamble. All licensed gaming devices shall have a sign permanently affixed to the device notifying the public that gaming patrons must be 21 years of age to gamble.”
The second rule change occurs in the section about the age of participants. It states: “No licensee may allow any person under 21 years of age to gamble, loiter in the gaming area of a casino or be present at a gambling table, slot machine or other area in which gambling is conducted unless an exemption or deviation from this rule is approved by the executive secretary. Nothing shall prevent any person under 21 years of age from passing through a casino to nongaming areas.”
Commissioners emphasized each individual casino is responsible for developing its own policies and procedures in order to comply. The Legislative Interim Rules Committee has until April 9 to approve the rules, which would take effect 20 days later.
