Sports betting has been allowed in South Dakota for just over six months, but the Mount Rushmore State is already seeing both growth and growing pains when it comes to legalized wagering.
The South Dakota Commission on Gaming (SDCG) last week announced a plan to allow for legal sports betting on mobile apps inside of Deadwood casinos. The news was first reported by KELO, a CBS television affiliate.
Currently, a handful of Deadwood casinos are the only places in the state that feature sports betting, and they only allow wagering via kiosks located throughout their facilities. The new plan would allow for mobile sports betting apps to take bets as long as they are made inside the properties. Software would be installed to ensure bets could not be made outside the casinos.
When that will happen is uncertain. Susan Christian, executive secretary of SDCG, told KELO it won’t be overnight.
“It’s not going to be a fast plan,” Christian said. “Everybody just needs to be patient.”
Rising handle
South Dakota amassed $2.7 million in sports bets from the first month of September through December. It's paltry when compared to its neighbor, Wyoming, which took in $40.3 million during the same time and has some 300,000 fewer residents. Wyoming, however, also has statewide online sports betting.
That hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of Mike Rodman, Deadwood Gaming Association executive director. He told KELO last week that he is encouraged by what he's seen in half a year.
“Sports wagering continues to gain momentum and grow in Deadwood,” Rodman said.
The numbers certainly back that statement up. In January, a record $835,000 was wagered on sports at the casinos, with $493,000 bet on the NFL playoffs and $148,000 on NCAA men’s basketball games.
Rodman is hopeful that February breaks January’s mark. The SDCG has yet to release last month’s figures but Rodman pointed to the Super Bowl as an indicator that February might be a record-setting month.
Another sporting event that has Rodman feeling positive is the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. He said the tournament has filled the casinos with many making wagers on college basketball.
“This is typically a slower time of the year for us,” Rodman said. “This opportunity for sports wagering has really been a shot in the arm for Deadwood. We’re excited to see what it brings.”
A setback
The sports-betting picture has not been all rosy for South Dakota. The state’s governor, Kristi Noem, has been an opponent of expanding wagering. There are also 12 Native American casinos in the state, but they are banned from offering sports betting.
Senate Joint Resolution 502, which would have allowed sports betting on mobile or electronic platforms throughout the state, passed in the state Senate in February, but was struck down by a 10-3 vote by the House State Affairs Committee.
SJR 502 is not completely dead, however. Republican Rep. Tim Goodwin moved for the bill to be tabled until the 41st legislative day. He also suggested proponents bypass the legislature by gathering signatures for a petition to put it on a ballot and let voters decide.
