Sports Betting In Deadwood May Get Stuck In The Mud

PIERRE, S.D. – After the bill that would allow for sports betting in South Dakota passed in the Senate State Affairs Committee, it has also passed by an 18-14 vote in the Senate.

The bill will move to the House and must pass a vote from Representatives as well. If successful, Senate Joint Resolution 2 would appear on the 2020 voter ballot.

SJR2 had 11 Senate supporters of the bill and 15 from the House; therefore, moving through this branch should not pose a problem.

Unless Governor Kristi Noem continues to downplay or deter the talks of a legal South Dakota sports betting industry. 

Governor Noem’s persistent stance against expanding the gambling industry seems to have trickled down to her state legislators. She holds no power to veto a ballot measure but her opposed mindset could deter other legislators from agreeing to its terms.

House Majority Leader, Lee Qualm (R-Platte), is one of those legislators.

He is 100% against any expansion of gambling in the state and that includes even adding sports betting to the tribal casinos. Though he cannot control which way the lawmakers vote, he holds the power to set the floor agenda and oversee the committee chairmen.

He also agrees with Governor Noem, who released a statement saying “opening up state sports gambling to the public could end up costing us more than the actual revenue it would bring in”

Some speculations have the annual tax contributions for South Dakota under $100,000 on sports betting taxes. These low figures will continue to cause concerns for a heavily Republican state.

Ultimately, the decision ends up in the hands of the voters if and when it moves through the House. Upon the voters accepting the terms, sports betting in South Dakota would see a 2021 commencement.