A bill designed to add a state constitutional amendment legalizing electronic gambling fails to pass the House.
The bill would have created a ballot measure allowing South Dakota voters to decide in the next general election.
Supporters said the current law is creating space for black market gamblers.
The bill allows the use of mobile gambling apps controlled by in-state casinos.
According to the bill, revenue generated by electronic gambling is meant to help preserve historic Deadwood.
Rep. Greg Jamison is a prime sponsor of the bill. He said the state needs to take action to secure money lost to boarder states.
“Whats happening in effect is that all these revenues are bypassing the state of South Dakota. This question I think is intended to bring those individuals back into compliance, let them enjoy the gaming that they would like and the revenues help go to the city of Deadwood,” said Jamison.
Rep. John Mills spoke in opposition to the bill. He said the state already has a major gambling addiction issue, citing a recent report by WalletHub.com.
“Second-most gambling-addicted state in the United States, today, without this bill. If you read the study, it says about between one to three percent of US adults have gambling disorder and since we are number two now, you can bet we are on the high-end of that scale. That means we got probably 15,000 to 20,000 adults in South Dakota that struggle with gambling addiction,” said Mills.
The bill failed in a 41 to 28 vote.
