Sports Betting for South Dakota Doomed?

In February, the state Senate of South Dakota approved a sports betting bill and it was expected that the bill will soon turn into law. Since the gamblers from South Dakota are crossing the border to place their wagers on sports events…

…it was expected that the bill would be received well on all levels.

Because of that, the state is missing the opportunity to earn a lot of money through taxes on sports gambling revenue, so the bill was ed by both residents and lawmakers.

Yes, it was expected that the bill was going to face many obstacles while making its way to becoming a law, but unfortunately, it won’t make it that far any time soon.

Rejecting the Bill

The sports gambling bill proposal was approved by the state’s Senate Affairs Committee…

…and they allowed sports wagers in the Deadwood region by voting 5-4 in favor of the bill.

But, on Monday, the South Dakota House State Affairs Committee voted against it by a vote of 7-3. Since the bill completely failed, the state representatives used a procedural move and it pushed it to the floor.

So, the fight for legalization of sports betting is still on, and so the bill will now have to be considered by the House.

ing the South Dakota Bill

Lawmakers that the bill want to do everything in their power to see the bill becoming law. The executive director of the Deadwood Gaming Association (DGA), Mike Rodman…

…said that the bill’s proponents are exploring all options when it comes to the legislative and finding for the bill.

He also says that he truly believes that the bill will find enough signatures and and that he will put the bill on a voter ballot next year if it becomes necessary.

Rodman believes that it is up to South Dakota voters to decide if they want legal sports betting in their state or not. But the voters will need 34,000 signatures to have the measure put on the state’s ballot.

“We believe that people have a right to have their say in sports betting, and we want to give them that opportunity,” Rodman said.

Not Everyone in Favor

But, the future of sports betting in South Dakota doesn’t look bright at all. Even if everything goes smoothly with DGA and voters in the end really approve sports betting in the state…

…there will still be many obstacles on the road ahead.

SD governor, Kristi Noem, is strictly against this bill and said that she will do everything in her power to prevent sports betting from being legalized in her state.

“The voters would have to change the Constitution, then the Legislature would need to say, ‘we will implement this, and here’s how we’ll tax it.’ And the Legislature will give some state agency the authority to promulgate rules to regulate these games,” South Dakota Gaming Commission Executive, Secretary Larry Eliason, explained.

Source:

“South Dakota turns its back on sports gambling”, Erik Gibbs, calvinayre.com, March 5, 2019.