South Dakota Mobile Sports Betting Resolution Passes State Senate
The South Dakota Senate approved a resolution by a vote of 23-10, allowing South Dakota residents to vote on whether the state should legalize sports betting.
The proposed resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 504, would reduce property taxes for residents by using 90% of tax revenue generated by sports betting to replace property taxes. Additionally, if the state constitutional amendment was approved by voters, the proposed program would be put into place by additional polices set by the Legislature.
In 2020, voters amended the state constitution, legalizing sports betting in Deadwood and tribal casinos. South Dakota’s neighbouring states, Wyoming and Iowa, also have legalized online sports betting.
Republican Senator Steven Colbeck, who lives near the Iowa border, said legalizing sports betting would benefit South Dakota by allowing residents to place bets without driving to Iowa or Wyoming, and by generating tax revenue.
Senator Amber Hulse also supports the measure, stating that adding the constitutional amendment would allow the state to implement additional safety measures and guardrails, so residents would have easier access to an additional hotline and betting caps, while also receiving property tax relief.
While the Governor does not need to sign for the resolution to be put on the ballot, it must first receive majority approval from both chambers.
- South Dakota’s Senate has approved a resolution that would add legalizing mobile sports betting to the ballot in November
- If approved by voters, the resolution would put 90% of tax revenue generated from mobile sports betting towards reducing property taxes for residents
- The resolution will need to pass both chambers to be added to the ballot, but it would not need to receive the Governor’s signature
