South Dakota lawmakers vote against mobile betting bill

Lawmakers in South Dakota have decided in a vote not to permit mobile sports betting in the state.

While examining HJR-5006, the bill calling for the amendment of South Dakota laws to legalize mobile sports betting, the House decided it would not put the question to voters in the 2024 general election. 

On Thursday, House members voted 41-28 on making the proposal a dead issue on the floor.

The main proponent of the bill, Republican Rep. Greg Jamison, asked for the state to take its casino sports betting further by permitting in-person betting.

He argued that neighbouring states like Iowa are piggybacking on South Dakota while draining valuable tax revenue from the state.

“What’s happening in effect is that all these revenues are bypassing the state of South Dakota,” Jamieson said.

“This question I think is intended to bring those individuals back into compliance, let them enjoy the gaming that they would like and the revenues help go to the city of Deadwood.”

However, Jamieson’s fellow legislators believe legalizing the vertical in the state will push South Dakota further up on the list of states most addicted to gambling.

Instead, they would prefer for the voters to canvass for signatures of locals in support of mobile sports betting, which would enable the legislature to then reconsider the matter for deliberation. 

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