South Dakota Considering Changes to Gambling Laws

An oversight commission in South Dakota will be hearing public testimony this week in Pierre on 12 proposed changes to gambling rules. The proposed changes include two which relate to new games and a new state law which would make it a misdemeanour to enter a casino while banned and on an exclusion list.

According to the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Larry Eliason, gambling rules are regularly revised based upon requests from state legislators, casino owners and others. He said it normally takes three to four months to change the rules.

Under present legislation there is no penalty for entering a casino while on an exclusion list. The proposed changes would result in it being treated the same way as underage gambling.  The Gambling Commission reportedly supports the proposed changes and it is now seeking to set up procedures to put individuals on an exclusion list.

Two of the other proposed rules would authorize new games. One game, War Blackjack, combines war and blackjack. The change was requested by the general manger of Four Aces Casino in Deadwood, Tony Sieber. He said that the game is popular in California and Nevada and expects it to be successful in South Dakota. The other proposed new game is Dead Man’s Hand.