Your Quick Guide to Gambling & Casinos in South Dakota
More than 30 limited-stakes casinos in one historic gold-rush town. Sports betting confined to casino floors, with a 2026 push to bring it online. Here is where, how and what you can legally gamble on in South Dakota.
Gambling Options Available to You in South Dakota
South Dakota keeps most gambling tightly confined to physical locations, with one clear line: casinos live in Deadwood and on tribal land, and both online casino play and mobile sports betting remain off the table for now.
Sports Betting
Legal only at retail sportsbooks in Deadwood and tribal casinos since Constitutional Amendment B passed in 2020. There is no statewide mobile or online betting; the one app-based option (BetMGM) is geo-fenced to work only inside a partner casino. You must be 21 or older to bet.
Deadwood & Tribal Casinos
More than 20 limited-stakes casinos operate within Deadwood's city limits under a 1989 voter amendment, alongside 13 tribal casinos run by nine sovereign nations across the state.
Daily Fantasy Sports
DFS operates in South Dakota as an unregulated skill-based game, with major operators running contests across pro and college sports.
Prediction Markets
Platforms like Kalshi let South Dakota players trade on real-world outcomes such as sports results and economic data under federal CFTC oversight rather than state gambling law.
Horse Racing
Governor Larry Rhoden signed HB 1058 in February 2026, authorizing licensed online pari-mutuel wagering pools for horse and dog races, and the state Gaming Commission has since approved related rules plus funding for a return of live racing at the Stanley County Fairgrounds near Fort Pierre this fall.
South Dakota Lottery
Running since 1987, the South Dakota Lottery funds state programs through scratch games, Powerball, Mega Millions and video lottery terminals. Online ticket sales are not permitted. Minimum age is 18.
Social Casinos
Social casinos let you play slots, blackjack, roulette and poker completely free, with no real money involved, a popular way to enjoy casino games in South Dakota without any financial stakes.
Online Casinos
There are no legal online casinos in South Dakota. State law (SDCL 22-25A) makes operating an internet gambling business a felony, and any expansion requires voter approval under the state constitution.
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Read Full BioFAQs
Yes, in part. South Dakota allows limited-stakes casino gambling in Deadwood, tribal casino gambling, retail-only sports betting, daily fantasy sports and the state lottery. Real-money online casinos are not legal, and there is no statewide mobile sports betting.
It depends on the activity. You must be 18 to play the lottery, and 21 to gamble at a casino or bet on sports.
More than 20 limited-stakes casinos operate in Deadwood, plus 13 tribal casinos run by nine sovereign tribal nations across the state.
No. South Dakota law makes operating an internet gambling business a felony under SDCL 22-25A, and any expansion of gambling generally requires voter approval. Social casinos, which are free to play, are a legal alternative.
Not on a statewide basis. Sports betting is legal only at retail sportsbooks inside Deadwood and tribal casinos. The one app-based option is geo-fenced to work only while you are physically inside a partner casino. A 2026 legislative resolution (SJR 504) proposes putting statewide mobile betting to a voter referendum.
Call 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential support 24/7. All licensed operators must offer self-exclusion programs.
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