SD Sports Betting Vote Still in Play as SJR 504 Advances Despite Committee Setback
A bill that would place sports betting legalization before voters this November cleared the Senate with a 23-10 vote, only to be voted down 9-8 in a House Committee on February 25.
Usually, a committee defeat effectively kills a bill — however, there is still a way to revive it on the House floor the week of March 2. Local teams are currently working to secure enough support to pursue that option.
SJR 504 would require any sports betting operations to be tethered to Deadwood casinos, with servers physically located within the city of Deadwood. Should voters approve the measure in November, the legislature would be required to reconvene and pass separate implementing legislation before sports betting could take effect.
iDEA will continue to monitor the legislation.