South Dakota Sports Betting Revenue Insights August 2025

Revenue Insights

$511,456

June handle, down from May’s $611,837.

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$63,201

Operators’ gross gaming revenue in June.

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12.36%

June hold rate—a significant leap from May’s 0.08%, indicating a month that favored the house.

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$5,688

State tax receipts from betting in June, well below May’s $42.99K.

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South Dakota Sports Betting Overview

South Dakota legalized sports betting following voter approval of Constitutional Amendment B in November 2020, with retail sports wagering officially launching on September 9, 2021. Overseen by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming, the state's sports betting industry remains limited to retail sportsbooks located exclusively in Deadwood and on tribal casino properties, with mobile wagering permitted only within the premises of licensed locations.

The state applies a flat tax rate of 9% on sports wagering revenue, aligning it with other gaming taxes like slot machines, blackjack, and roulette. All tax revenue generated is allocated directly to the Deadwood Historic Preservation Fund.

Interested in how different operators compare? Read our in-depth reviews of sports betting operators in South Dakota.

Annual Sports Betting Growth in South Dakota

Data in this chart is pulled directly from the South Dakota Commission on Gaming's annual financial reports.

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Monthly Sports Betting Growth in South Dakota

Taxes

Data in this chart is pulled directly from the South Dakota Commission on Gaming's monthly financial reports.

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South Dakota Sports Betting Revenue Performance (2021-2024)

South Dakota has established its sports betting market with strict geographic limits: wagering is only permitted at licensed locations in Deadwood, with no statewide online access.

Year	Handle	Revenue	Hold %	State Taxes
2021	2,651,489	254,582	10.02%	22,912
2022	7,192,828	898,981	12.25%	80,908
2023	9,034,691	1,028,440	9.90%	92,560
2024	9,236,714	920,918	10.18%	82,883
2025 Ytd	See monthly breakdown below	—	—	—

2025 Year-to-Date

Month	Handle	GGR	Hold %	Tax Revenue
Jan 2025	1,024,920	108,976	10.63%	9,808
Feb 2025	733,611	18,296	2.49%	1,647
Mar 2025	1,575,140	152,244	9.67%	13,702
Apr 2025	635,392	51,819	8.16%	4,664
May 2025	611,837	478	0.08%	43
Jun 2025	511,456	63,201	12.36%	5,688

Highlights

June 2025 saw the highest hold percentage of the year (12.36%) despite the lowest handle.
March 2025 delivered the strongest GGR ($152,244) and tax revenue ($13,702).
February 2025 had the weakest hold (2.49%), indicating highly favorable results for bettors.
May 2025 recorded an extremely low hold (0.08%), one of the most bettor-friendly months on record in South Dakota.

Latest Updates in South Dakota's Sports Wagering

June 2025 – Limited Scope of Legal Sports Betting Confirmed
Retail sports betting in South Dakota remains confined to Deadwood casinos and tribal locations, with no full mobile or statewide online wagering permitted.
Feb 7, 2025 – Voter Referendum Proposed for Statewide Sports Betting
A bipartisan proposal, Senate Joint Resolution 507, aims to place a referendum on the 2026 ballot allowing statewide online sports betting. Licensed Deadwood casinos would manage partnerships, and 90% of tax revenue would fund property tax relief.
March 2025: South Dakota sportsbooks achieved their highest-ever monthly handle, recording approximately $1,575,140.19 million during March Madness.
January 2025: Legislation proposing statewide mobile sports betting failed in committee for the second consecutive year.
June 2024: South Dakota Commission on Gaming reported a decline in tax revenue despite a slight increase in handle, attributed to a lower statistical win (hold%).

South Dakota Snapshot

Key Aspect	Details
Population	Approximately 914,800 residents as of 2024. (World Population Review, 2025)
Political Affiliation	A predominantly Republican state, consistently voting Republican in recent presidential elections. (270towin.com, 2025)
Year Sports Betting Legalized	Authorized by voter referendum in November 2020; launched in September 2021.
Number of Sportsbooks Operating	7 retail sportsbooks in Deadwood and several tribal locations.
GGR 2025 (Jan-Jun)	$395,013
Handle 2025 (Jan-Jun)	$5,092,356
Professional Sports Teams	None; the state’s main sporting interest revolves around regional professional teams and college sports.

FAQs

General Questions About South Dakota Sports Betting

How does South Dakota sports betting work?

South Dakota casinos can operate retail sportsbooks within the city of Deadwood and on tribal lands. Mobile betting is permitted only on-site, meaning bettors must physically be at a licensed property to place mobile wagers.

When did sports betting become legal in South Dakota?

Voters approved sports betting legislation through Constitutional Amendment B in November 2020, and retail sports wagering officially launched in September 2021. This marked a historic shift in the state’s gambling laws, aligning it with a broader trend of gaming expansion across the U.S.

Why are all South Dakota sportsbooks located in Deadwood?

Per current state regulations, legal sports wagering is limited to Deadwood casinos and tribal gaming facilities. There is no provision under current law for state-wide online access, a major reason why South Dakota's market is significantly smaller than Nevada or neighboring states.