Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, providing for wagering on sporting events via mobile or electronic platform.
Summary
SJR504 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would ask South Dakota voters to approve expanded authorization for sports wagering through mobile or electronic platforms. The resolution would amend Article III, section 25 of the state constitution to expressly allow wagering on sporting events by individuals located inside or outside Deadwood, so long as the platform is offered by or in partnership with a licensed casino and its servers are located within Deadwood. It also preserves the existing constitutional framework for other forms of gaming, including the state lottery, video games of chance, and Deadwood’s current casino gaming authority.
The measure further directs that 90% of the tax proceeds from mobile or electronic sports wagering be used for property tax relief or to reduce property taxes in South Dakota. It leaves in place the requirement that net municipal proceeds from Deadwood’s existing gaming activities continue to support historic restoration and preservation in Deadwood. Because this is a joint resolution, it does not itself change statutory law immediately; instead, it proposes a constitutional change that would take effect only if approved by voters at the next general election.
Impact
If adopted by voters, the resolution would amend the South Dakota Constitution to create explicit constitutional authority for mobile or electronic sports betting tied to licensed casinos in Deadwood. That would likely require the Legislature and regulators to implement or revise statutes governing licensing, platform operations, tax collection, and enforcement, while preserving existing Deadwood gaming and lottery provisions. The amendment would also dedicate most sports-betting tax revenue to property tax relief, affecting state revenue allocation and local tax policy.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests mixed but generally favorable support in some stages of consideration, with one committee vote showing a narrow 4-3 do pass recommendation and a later floor vote passing 23-10. However, a subsequent committee vote failed 6-7 before a later motion to defer passed 11-2, indicating that the proposal remained controversial and did not command uniform support. Overall, the bill appears to have attracted meaningful support for expanding sports wagering, but also significant resistance.
Contention
The main points of contention are the expansion of gambling beyond existing Deadwood-based in-person wagering and the use of a mobile or electronic platform for sports betting. Opponents likely object to broader gambling access, the constitutional change itself, or the requirement that servers be located in Deadwood, while supporters appear focused on modernizing gaming law and generating revenue for property tax relief. The allocation of 90% of tax proceeds to property tax reduction is another notable issue, as it ties gambling policy directly to statewide tax policy and revenue priorities.
Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, providing for wagering on sporting events via mobile or electronic platform.
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Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, requiring a number of signatures on a petition to initiate a constitutional amendment be obtained from each county.
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Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election amendments to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, requiring an intervening general election before consideration of an initiated constitutional amendment or initiated measure having the same subject as a previously rejected initiated amendment or measure.