South Dakota Shows Interest in Sports Betting Legalization

Following the overturn of PASPA, things have changed in the US. New Jersey was one of the first states to legalize sports wagering and they are already reaping rewards.

Many other states followed, including Delaware, etc. In the meantime, some states like Virginia…

…are preparing the ground and the people here anticipate sports gambling to become regulated in the year or two

And now, the other countries want to the bandwagon and South Dakota is showing its interest to offer sports betting to its citizens. The preparations have begun!

Specific Situations

When the people of South Dakota went to polls in the 2018 mid-term elections they saw no questions regarding sports betting. That means that the 2020 could be the year when the residents will decide on that matter.

Unlike the states which have already regulated this form of entertainment…

…the situation in South Dakota is specific.

Namely, the process in this state requires a constitutional amendment and that will slow things down. That is why the legalization of sports betting might even have to wait until the summer of 2021.

Mike Rodman, Deadwood Gaming Association Executive Director pointed out: “Unfortunately, with the timing with the Supreme Court ruling it was too late to get it into this recent election.”

But this didn’t prevent the state to make the initial steps. By the end of October, an initiated constitutional measure to authorize the Legislature to legalize sports gambling in Deadwood was submitted.

Next Steps

Rodman and his group would have to do language revisions primarily and submit it to the attorney general. For instance, “wagering on sporting events” is a much more preferable choice than “sports bets.”

Meanwhile, South Dakota Gaming Commission Executive Secretary Larry Eliason explained the whole process briefly in layman’s :

“The voters would have to change the Constitution, then the Legislature would need to say, ‘we will implement this, and here’s how we’ll tax it.’ And the Legislature will give some state agency the authority to promulgate rules to regulate these games.”

Imposed Restrictions

Evidently, South Dakota has to deal with the constitution first. No matter when sports wagering becomes accessible…

…the state is expected to impose various restrictions!

For instance, in Nevada, people can bet on sports using applications on their mobile phones, but the requirement is to be physically present in this state.

“If you’re at a beach house on Lake Tahoe, and you place a bet at Caesar’s Palace, you better be on the Nevada side,” Eliason said.

South Dakota may as well introduce geographical restrictions and perhaps even a betting limit of up to $1,000. But it is too early to talk about those at this point.

Marketing Opportunities

The introduction of sports betting would be a breath of fresh air in South Dakota…

…especially after the state had voted against industry expansion earlier in the year.

Gaming in Deadwood has been stagnant for years, according to Rodman. He is realistic and he doesn’t expect drastic changes from the moment sport betting is regulated.

“It’s not a big money-maker,” he said. “But it gives us some great marketing opportunities for the Super Bowl and March Madness.”

Source:

“South Dakota shows first signs of legalizing sports betting”, Ng Niji, europeangaming.eu, November 26, 2018.

“Sports betting could be on 2020 ballot, gaming official says”, Christopher Vondracek, rapidcityjournal.com, November 8, 2018.