South Dakota Casinos Up 7.6% in October, Prediction Markets may be Coming

Commercial Casinos in South Dakota generated $14.6 million in October, a 7.6% year-on-year increase from the $13.5 million generated in October 2024.  

Of the total, table games generated $1.4 million, a 26.2% increase from $1.1 million the previous year, and slots generated $13.1 million, a 5.9% increase from the $12.4 million generated in 2024.  

In other news, FanDuel recently announced it would be launching sports prediction markets in states without sports betting, meaning South Dakota residents may soon have the opportunity to trade on sports online, instead of betting in land-based casinos.  

10 Cent Slots Climb as $25 Slots Fall  

The latest report from the South Dakota Department of Revenues, which reports casino revenue by game type, shows that of the 14 different table games and slots, seven reported revenue increases year-on-year.  

Slot games saw some of the highest increases and decreases in the state, with 10 Cent slots seeing its revenue increase by 323.8% year-on-year, from $2,365 to $10,021. However, $25 slots saw the most significant year-over-year revenue decrease, falling 80% from $44,900 to $9,000.  

Additionally, 5 Dollar slots also saw double-digit revenue declines, falling 72.5% from $223,087 to $61,268.  

Table games fared slightly better in October, with only one game type experiencing a decline in revenue, and one remaining stable; the other types all saw an increase in revenue.  

Black Jack saw the most significant revenue increase, rising 39% from $465,746 to $647,371. House Banked Poker saw a similar increase of 25.6% from $448,823 to $563,738, while Player Banked Poker saw revenue remain stable, with a minor decline of 0.8% from $88,074 to $87,326.  

FanDuel Pulls Out of Nevada In Pursuit of Non-Sports Betting States  

While land-based casinos see revenue rise year-on-year, FanDuel has announced its new prediction markets, which are coming to states without online sports betting, including South Dakota.  

According to The New York Post, FanDuel will soon launch its new prediction markets, with sports markets initially available only in states without online sports betting, making South Dakota a likely candidate for the operator's new event contract platform.  

The sports betting operator withdrew from Nevada earlier this month, alongside competitor DraftKings, following the Nevada Gaming Control Board's issuance of a warning to sports betting operators regarding sports prediction markets. FanDuel will launch its prediction market app in December.  

Currently, only 30 states offer online sports betting, and South Dakota is not one of them. The launch of prediction markets for FanDuel enables it to reach states where sports betting is currently not permitted.  

Additionally, once sports betting is legalized in the state, the sports contracts on its prediction markets will disappear, allowing the operation of sports betting to remain at the center of its business.