It’s been nearly two years since the United States Supreme Court ruled against a federal ban on sports betting, which in turn allowed individual states to legalize the activity. Fourteen states in the US have currently made the wagering of sports a legal activity. A year ago, the South Dakota legislature shot down a bill that would have put the legalization of sports betting in the Mt. Rushmore state to a public vote. The push to legalize sports betting in South Dakota is expected to make a comeback this legislative session.
Within the last year, Iowa legalized sports betting. Deadwood Gaming Association Executive Director Mike Rodman brought to the attention that within the months of November and December alone, ‘The Hawkeye State,’ saw $59 million come in because of the legalization of the activity. Along with that, he says other surrounding states are joining in.
"Montana has approved sports wagering. It’s supposed to start sometime in March, and Colorado has also approved it and they’ll be starting the first of May, so it’s marching across the country," explained Rodman. "Fourteen states currently have sports wagering, six more have approved it, and there are twelve states that have active legislation to approve it going on. I think that landscape is changing, and the acceptance of sports wagering across the country is probably helping fuel the change that we think we’re seeing in South Dakota as well."
Rodman expects a bill to be filed within the next few weeks. State senator Bob Ewing is currently gathering signatures in support of the measure.
If legislation on sports betting does get passed by the state legislature this session, it would go next to the people of South Dakota to decide when they go to the polls next November. If it passes all of the appropriate avenues, the soonest possible date that sports wagering could become a legal activity in South Dakota would be July 1, 2021.
