The state of South Dakota isn’t a huge sports hub as they don’t have any collegiate or professional team to root for. They do flock to neighboring states like Minnesota, where many South Dakotans are loyal. The lack of sports teams in the state make it unlikely that the state will make a big push for sports betting legalization.
South Dakota has one of the smallest populations in the country, yet has plenty of casinos, a lot of them in fact. They have 13 casinos, which is high, for their citizen to casino ratio. The 13 casinos are owned and operated by the local tribes, and they are all evenly distributed around the state.
Racetracks are sprinkled around the state as well, they have state-licensed tracks that offer electronic gaming options, like Simulcast horse racing betting and more.
South Dakota has, by far, the most confusing Daily Fantasy sports betting stance in the U.S. They have proposals to legalize them, so that users can participate in sports contests, but the Attorney General has stated that users who use FanDuel or DraftKings won’t be prosecuted. This makes little to no sense, as it’s not legalized, but allowed at the same time?
It’s almost a “you have me at my word” mentality, because technically, if someone wanted to charge a bettor for participating, they can. Even though he said that users won’t be prosecuted.
Can I bet on sports in South Dakota?
Not yet, and maybe not for a long time. There will be no physical sportsbooks in the state of South Dakota for a while, it’s hard to say how long exactly. They have no urge to jump on the sports betting train, and with the low population, it may not be worth it for them to invest their time in.
However, South Dakotans can gamble online without breaking any laws. There are no rules or regulations that include online gambling, making it technically legal for sports bettors to sign up at an online sportsbook and bet offshore.
So, yes, you can bet on sports in South Dakota – just online.
What to look for in an online sportsbook
Online sportsbooks are a dime a dozen, you can find one in almost every corner of the internet, and it can be hard to determine which ones are the best of the best. You want to make sure you are using a sportsbook that is safe, reliable and has some great features built in. Deposit options, bonuses and promotions, cashout options and mobile friendliness are all important factors to consider when signing up for an online sportsbook.
Check out our sportsbook reviews section, where sportsbooks were carefully vetted and graded to ensure you make the right decision based on your individual needs.
