Is Sports Betting Legal in South Dakota?

Is sports betting legal in South Dakota?

Yes, but only in person. South Dakota voters approved Constitutional Amendment B in November 2020, allowing sports wagering in Deadwood and at tribal casinos. Lawmakers passed the implementing legislation the following year, and the first legal bets were taken in Deadwood in September 2021.

The South Dakota Commission on Gaming regulates the Deadwood sportsbooks, while tribal sportsbooks operate under their compacts with the state. You must be 21 to bet.

Deadwood's sportsbooks

Deadwood, the historic gold rush town in the Black Hills, has long been South Dakota's gaming capital, and most of its larger casinos now include a sportsbook. Bettors can use a counter, a kiosk or an app that works only within the licensed casino premises. Because the market is small, the range of bets and the limits on offer can be narrower than in larger states, but the major leagues and big college games are covered. A trip to Deadwood also brings Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills within easy reach.

Why there is no statewide betting app

Because the constitution limits gaming to Deadwood and tribal lands, a statewide mobile market would need voters to amend it again. Supporters have tried to put that question on the ballot. In February 2026 the state Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 504 by 23 votes to 10, which would have let voters decide on online sports betting, but the measure was defeated in a House committee, so it will not be on the ballot this November.

That leaves South Dakota without legal online sportsbooks, and none of the brands we rank is licensed here. Mobile wagering is possible only inside licensed casino premises, so a bettor in Sioux Falls or Rapid City cannot place a legal online wager from home.

Legal options for South Dakotans

The simplest route to a legal bet is a visit to a Deadwood casino or a tribal property with a sportsbook. Iowa, which borders the state to the southeast, has a full mobile market, and Sioux Falls residents are only a short drive from the Iowa line. Wyoming, to the west, also allows online betting. In each case, you must be physically inside that state when you bet.

Offshore websites that promise South Dakotans online betting are not licensed by any US regulator, and we do not list them.

Jackrabbits, Coyotes and responsible betting

South Dakota State's FCS football success and the University of South Dakota Coyotes give the state strong college followings, while many residents cheer for the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. South Dakota funds problem gambling services, and free, confidential help is available through 1-800-GAMBLER at any time.