South Dakota Online Gambling
South Dakota takes a cautious, venue-based approach to gambling. Generally, South Dakota online gambling options are limited or absent, although residents do have access to several close alternatives.
Statewide online sports betting and casinos remain prohibited, but fantasy pick’em apps and sweepstakes casinos fill the void despite operating in legal gray zones.
Read on for the full South Dakota online gambling rundown. Below, we discuss which forms of online gambling are legal, which are unregulated, and the critical legal details players need to know before they play online.
Legal South Dakota Gambling Sites
21+ and present in SD. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.
South Dakota Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Expressly prohibited under SDCL Ch. 22-25A |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Not explicitly authorized or prohibited; no state enforcement to date |
| Online Poker (n/a) | Illegal | Treated the same as online casinos under SDCL Ch. 22-25A |
| Online Sports Betting (n/a) | Illegal | Statewide mobile and online sports betting is not authorized by state law |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Permitted as a presumed game of skill; no specific law authorizes or regulates DFS |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Treated the same as traditional DFS; multiple operators are active in SD |
| Online Lottery Sales (n/a) | Illegal | The South Dakota Lottery does not sell tickets online, and courier services are unavailable. |
| Online Horse Racing (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Regulated as multi-jurisdictional hubs under S.D. Admin. R. Ch. 20:04:33 |
South Dakota Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in South Dakota.
The state has one of the most explicit and stringent legal frameworks prohibiting internet-based casino gaming. The primary legal obstacle is South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Chapter 22-25A, titled “Internet Gambling”. This chapter makes it a felony for any person or business to establish a location or site within South Dakota to conduct a gambling business over the internet.
The statute specifically targets operators rather than individual players. Under SDCL 22-25A-10, a first offense for operating an illegal internet gambling business is a Class 6 felony. A second or subsequent offense is elevated to a Class 5 felony. This clear criminalization effectively prevents any reputable, licensed online casino company from offering services to SD residents.
South Dakota’s general gambling statute, SDCL 22-25-1, provides a broad definition of gambling that includes wagering anything of value on the outcome of a game of chance involving cards, dice, or other devices.
Although the law could theoretically be applied to individual players, the state’s modern enforcement focus, as demonstrated by Chapter 22-25A, is on prosecuting unauthorized operators.
In August 2025, the South Dakota Commission on Gaming issued a public warning about the rise of fraudulent online casinos using the names and logos of legitimate Deadwood and tribal casinos to deceive consumers.
The commission reiterated that online casino gaming is illegal in the state and warned that engaging with such sites poses significant risks, including financial loss from rigged games and the potential for identity theft.
Legalization Outlook
The prospect of legalizing online casinos in South Dakota appears remote. South Dakota’s constitutional restrictions require voter approval for any gambling expansion, and there is currently no legislative momentum to authorize online casino gaming.
Unlike sports betting, which has generated some legislative interest, online casinos have not been seriously considered by lawmakers.
South Dakota’s conservative approach to gambling, combined with the success of Deadwood’s land-based casino industry, makes online casino legalization unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Sweepstakes Casinos in South Dakota
Sweepstakes casinos operate in a legal gray area in South Dakota.
Sweepstakes casinos serve as a close alternative to online casinos in South Dakota. These websites offer casino-style games like slots and blackjack under the “no purchase necessary” principle. This business model removes the element of “consideration” (risking something of value to win a prize), which is a core component of the legal definition of “gambling.”
The legal basis for sweepstakes casinos’ operations is based on South Dakota’s “Sweepstake Prizes” law (SDCL CH. 37-32), which defines a “prize” in a way that excludes promotional items for which a recipient is not required to spend money.
By allowing users to obtain Sweeps Coins (the virtual currency used for prize-eligible play) for free through methods like mail-in requests, sweepstakes operators argue that they are conducting legal prize promotions rather than illegal gambling.
Prominent sweepstakes casinos available in South Dakota include:
Note: It’s critical for players to know that these platforms are not licensed or regulated by any South Dakota state agency.
The continued availability of sweepstakes casinos in South Dakota depends on a delicate legal interpretation. Although the sweepstakes casino business model aligns with South Dakota’s prize promotion laws, it exists in direct tension with the state’s aggressive anti-internet gambling statute, Chapter 22-25A.
State regulators could argue that the sweepstakes mechanic is merely a subterfuge for what is, in effect, a gambling business. The Commission on Gaming’s 2025 warning against “fraudulent online casinos” indicates a willingness to take enforcement action against online platforms, and this posture could potentially be extended to sweepstakes operators in the future if authorities reinterpret them as illegal gambling operations.
South Dakota Online Poker
Real money online poker is illegal in South Dakota.
State laws that prohibit unlicensed gambling apply directly to online poker sites. South Dakota has not passed any legislation to create a regulated market for online poker, and there are no active efforts to do so.
As an alternative, South Dakota residents can play on sweeps poker sites that closely resemble full-scale online poker. Brands like Global Poker operate legally under the same sweepstakes model as sweepstakes casinos.
Global Poker offers a variety of poker games, including No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha cash games, tournaments, and Sit & Go’s.
Legalization Outlook
Lawmakers have shown little interest in authorizing online poker, focusing instead on preserving the land-based gaming model.
The path to legalizing online poker in South Dakota would be complex. It would likely require a constitutional amendment approved by voters, followed by the creation of a comprehensive regulatory framework.
Given the state’s small population, creating a sustainable, ring-fenced online poker market would be challenging. Interstate compacts with other states would be necessary to ensure sufficient player liquidity, adding another layer of legislative and regulatory complexity.
South Dakota Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is illegal in South Dakota.
Voters approved Constitutional Amendment B in November 2020, authorizing sports betting within the city of Deadwood. The accompanying law, which took effect in 2021, permits both retail sportsbooks and online wagering, but customers may only place wagers while physically located in licensed Deadwood casinos.
The law was the result of a compromise designed to boost tourism in Deadwood without authorizing statewide online sports betting, which faced opposition from various stakeholders.
The law is explicit in its geographic limitations. SDCL Ch. 42-7B-79 states that “any sports wagering may only be conducted on the premises of a licensed gaming establishment as approved by the commission within the city of Deadwood”.
Will South Dakota Legalize Online Sports Betting?
Multiple legislative attempts to authorize statewide mobile sports betting have failed, underscoring the political challenges to expansion. In 2022, SJR 502 passed the Senate but was defeated in a House committee.
Similar measures, such as HJR 5006 in 2023 and SJR 507 in 2025, also failed to advance out of committee, preventing the issue from reaching a full legislative vote.
The consistent failure of these bills reflects the state’s entrenched “Deadwood-centric” economic model. The 1988 constitutional amendment was specifically designed to funnel gambling revenue and tourism to Deadwood.
Numerous local stakeholders view statewide online sports betting as a direct threat to the Deadwood-centric model, fearing that it would remove the incentive for residents to travel to the city’s retail sportsbooks.
The industry’s cannibalism concerns, combined with opposition from social conservatives against gambling expansion, have created a formidable legislative barrier that has so far proven insurmountable for mobile betting proponents.
Read more about the South Dakota sports betting market here:
South Dakota Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports contests are legal but unregulated in South Dakota.
Fantasy sports apps operate in a legal vacuum in South Dakota, as no statute explicitly authorizes, prohibits, or regulates the activity.
The de facto legality of DFS is based on a 2015 statement from then-Attorney General Marty Jackley, who indicated that his office had no intention of taking legal action against DFS providers or players.
This position has enabled major operators to offer contests in South Dakota, arguing that DFS is a game of skill and therefore exempt from the state’s general prohibitions on gambling. As a result, national platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel are available to residents.
Because DFS apps are unregulated in South Dakota, they are not licensed or overseen by any South Dakota state agency. All consumer protections, age verification requirements (typically 18+), and responsible gaming tools are based on each company’s internal policies rather than state law.
South Dakota Fantasy Pick’em Contests
Fantasy pick’em contests are legal but unregulated in South Dakota.
The pick’em-style variant of DFS contests, which requires users to predict whether an athlete will achieve “more” or “less” than a statistical projection, is treated the same as traditional DFS in South Dakota.
Although numerous states have banned these contests for their strong resemblance to sports betting proposition wagers, South Dakota authorities have not taken any action against them.
As a result, a variety of fantasy pick’em operators are accessible to residents. These platforms are not licensed or regulated by South Dakota. Key operators available include:
South Dakota Online Lottery Sales
Online lottery sales are illegal in South Dakota.
The official South Dakota Lottery does not sell tickets for draw games like Powerball or Mega Millions through its website or mobile app. State law does not permit residents to play the lottery online; players must buy lottery tickets in person from a licensed retailer.
The official SD Lottery app allows users to check winning numbers, find retail locations, and scan non-winning tickets for entry into “Play It Again” second-chance drawings, but it does not facilitate ticket purchases.
Furthermore, third-party lottery courier services such as Jackpocket are not authorized to operate in South Dakota.
South Dakota Online Horse Racing
Online horse racing betting is legal and regulated in South Dakota.
Betting on horse races online, formally known as advance deposit wagering (ADW), is one of the few forms of internet-based gambling explicitly permitted under state law.
The South Dakota Commission on Gaming is responsible for licensing and regulating ADW platforms that accept wagers from state residents.
Licensed online racebooks must adhere to state rules regarding account security and financial integrity. The minimum age to participate in online horse racing betting in South Dakota is 18.
Some of the most popular horse racing betting apps available in South Dakota include:
South Dakota Gambling Regulators
Several distinct state and tribal entities, each with a specific jurisdiction, oversee South Dakota’s various gambling sectors.
- South Dakota Commission on Gaming (SDCG): Responsible for licensing and regulating all limited-stakes gambling in Deadwood, including casinos, retail sports betting, and on-premises mobile wagering. Also oversees live horse racing, simulcast wagering, and online horse racing betting (ADW) throughout the state.
- South Dakota Lottery: Operates all state lottery games, including scratch-off tickets and multi-state draw games like Powerball. Also regulates South Dakota’s extensive network of video lottery terminals (VLTs), which are located in thousands of bars, taverns, and other licensed retail establishments across South Dakota.
- Tribal Gaming Commissions: Each federally recognized tribe that operates a casino in South Dakota maintains its own tribal gaming commission.
Responsible Gambling Resources in South Dakota
South Dakota provides resources for individuals facing challenges with problem gambling, with funding primarily supported by the state lottery. However, the state’s responsible gambling framework has notable gaps, particularly concerning self-exclusion measures.
The state’s approach to self-exclusion is highly fragmented. There is no centralized, statewide self-exclusion list that covers all forms of gambling. State law does not mandate such a program.
Instead, an administrative rule from the Commission on Gaming (ARSD 20:18:12.01:26) requires each gaming licensee in Deadwood to develop and maintain its own “self-exclusion plan or voluntary exclusion plan”.
This structure places the burden entirely on the individual seeking help. A person must separately contact and enroll in the voluntary exclusion program at each casino property they wish to be banned from.
Enrolling at one Deadwood casino does not prevent players from entering another, nor does it apply to tribal casinos or the thousands of VLT locations across the state. This patchwork system is a significant weakness compared to states that offer a unified self-exclusion list covering all licensed operators.
South Dakota Self-Exclusion Resources
- Property-Specific Self-Exclusion: Individuals must contact each Deadwood casino directly to enroll in their voluntary self-exclusion program. Information and forms are typically available through the casino’s security or guest services department. Tribal casinos also maintain their own separate exclusion lists.
- Online Gambling Self-Exclusion: South Dakota does not regulate any form of online gambling other than advance deposit wagering, so there is no statewide self-exclusion program for all online gambling options. Most horse racing betting sites and unregulated platforms offer individual self-exclusion options.
South Dakota Responsible Gambling Organizations
- National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): A national organization providing 24/7 confidential support and resources. Helpline: Call 1-800-522-4700, text 800GAM, or chat online.
- Gamblers Anonymous: A peer-support fellowship for individuals recovering from a gambling problem. Local meeting information is available on their website.
- South Dakota Department of Social Services: A state agency that administers publicly funded problem gambling treatment services, supported by contributions from the South Dakota Lottery.