After a proposed bill to legalize sports betting was struck down in 2019, legislature was finally passed in early 2020 that as South Dakota heading towards making legal sports betting a reality.
SJR 501 was passed through the Senate in February and subsequently passed through the House… by one vote. While this is a big step in the right direction, there is still a lot of work to be done: up next is a referendum in November, where South Dakotans will vote on if they actually want legalized sports betting.
If the referendum passes, the legislature will still have to iron out the finer details of what sports betting will look like. But there is definite traction being made, and those eager to bet on sports in South Dakota could have the option to do so at some point in 2021.
Is sports betting legal in South Dakota?
No. Sports betting is currently not legal in South Dakota, but a bill was passed which puts the possibility of sports betting in the right direction – pending a referendum vote in November 2020.
Where can I bet at South Dakota sportsbooks?
SJR 501 proposed that legalized sports betting would be permitted casinos exclusively in the historic city of Deadwood. While the bill passed through both the Senate and the House, there is still a voter referendum in November that needs to be passed until sports betting can be written into law.
The dynamics of that law could change, and so could the venues that would be allowed to offer legalized sports betting.
DFS games, on the other hand, have been permitted in South Dakota, with DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo leading the way for DFS operators.
What about mobile sports betting apps in South Dakota?
It has yet to be discussed what role online sports betting will have in South Dakota, but there does not appear to be any strong preference against it.