Earlier this year, South Dakota legislators passed Senate Joint Resolution 501, which puts the matter of sports wagering to voters on the November ballot. If approved, sports betting could be offered in the state’s tribal casinos and commercial gaming properties in Deadwood.
Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, the Deadwood Gaming Association began an education campaign to inform residents about the benefits of legal, regulated sports betting.
“I think that most people would rather see that sports wagering happen in a safe, legal, regulated environment,” the association’s Mike Rodman said in an interview with KOTA TV. “And I think that’s going to be the tipping point for the voters of South Dakota.”
Previous gaming efforts proved successful, including the 1988 vote to permit casinos in Deadwood and the 2014 passage of allowing those venues to offer craps and roulette. Now the association hopes voters say “yes” to the constitutional amendment.
Federal law dictates that Deadwood wagering offerings are also applicable on-reservation tribal casinos “upon amendments to the current tribal gaming compacts.”
South Dakota is one of several states where voters will have a say on sports wagering come November. Others include Louisiana, Maryland, and Virginia.
