The South Dakota Commission on Gaming has released its monthly report, revealing that wagers in Deadwood, the state’s hub for legal gambling, reached $140 million in September. While this represents a 4.64% decrease compared to the same period the previous year, the city continues to see robust activity across various gambling categories, including slot machines, table games, and sports betting.
Slot Machines and Table Games:
In September, players wagered a total of $131.5 million on slot machines, marking a 5.2% decrease compared to the previous year.
Table games experienced a 1.4% increase in the handle, reaching $7.6 million during the same period.
Sports Betting On the Rise:
The sports wagering sector showed significant growth with a handle of $979,693, indicating a 37.7% year-on-year increase.
Among sports bets, the NFL attracted the largest volume of wagers, reaching $425,937.96.
NCAA Football followed closely with a handle of $324,804.06, and Major League Baseball contributed $155,641.77.
Year-to-Date Performance:
Despite the slight decline in September, the year-to-date increase in revenue remains positive at 2.63%.
Sports wagering has seen substantial growth over the year, with a year-to-date increase of 25.25%.
Deadwood’s Sports Betting Ambitions:
Mike Rodman, Executive Director of the Deadwood Gaming Association, noted that while September’s revenue decrease did not meet the goal of a million-dollar month for sports wagers, sports betting operators in Deadwood fell just short of this significant milestone.
Deadwood remains the only territory in South Dakota where legal gambling is allowed, and sports betting has been permitted in the city since 2020. However, players must be physically present at a Deadwood casino to participate in sports betting.
Despite a 4.64% year-on-year drop in September’s wagers, Deadwood continues to be a vibrant hub for legal gambling in South Dakota. The city’s gambling industry, including slot machines, table games, and sports betting, shows resilience and continued interest from players. The rise in sports betting activity is a particularly encouraging trend, contributing to the city’s year-to-date growth in revenue and further solidifying Deadwood’s position as a key player in the state’s gambling landscape.