Best South Dakota Social Sweepstakes Casinos
Barely a million people live in South Dakota, but the state still has over 30 land-based casinos, both tribal and commercial, most within the famous and historic Deadwood. There’s no casino online gambling to speak of, but sweepstakes casinos that offer a casino-like experience are more than there - they are thriving.
In this detailed guide, we’ll talk about how these sites work and what the local laws state. We’ll also cover the history of sweepstakes casinos and gaming in an effort to show you where the industry is in South Dakota, how it got there, and where it might go. Let’s begin.
Sweepstakes Casino Regulations in South Dakota
South Dakota’s main gambling options are land-based casinos, which rake over ten times more than sports betting, which exists in both the online and offline form in the state, although it’s limited to the local commercial and tribal casinos.
Even though casino gaming is open in person and sports betting is available both in person and online, online casino gaming isn’t.
However, players are free to play at sweepstakes casinos, which don’t allow users to play with real money but with virtual currency. They operate under local sweepstakes laws, which are effectively the same as in most other states. This means players can join and play in sweepstakes casinos without restrictions.
The state doesn’t have any special rules you need to consider about these sites, which is why the overwhelming majority of sweepstakes casinos operating in the United States market also offer their services in South Dakota. The minimum legal participation age is 18.
History of Social Sweepstakes Casinos in South Dakota
According to some estimates, gambling in South Dakota started long ago, in the late 1800s. However, the state banned all forms of gambling in 1899. Not much happened until 1933, when the government legalized pari-mutuel betting on horses.
Voters moved the industry forward by approving the lottery in 1986, while land-based casinos with limited stakes were legalized three years later, but only in Deadwood.
Much later, in 2019, the state decided to legalize sports betting but to limit it to the Deadwood casinos, meaning in-person and online betting must happen on the premises. Betting began in 2021.
Not much has happened in the legal sphere since then, but sweepstakes casinos have been proliferating here since 2020, while some joined the market a few years prior.
They operate under the South Dakota Codified Laws, Chapter 37-32, which talks about sweepstakes prizes, which effectively cover sweepstakes casinos.
Best Sweepstakes Casinos in South Dakota
As we’ve stated, South Dakota is home to most sweepstakes casinos operating in the US. This includes around 100 websites, making it difficult to find the ones you’ll like the most. We’ve reviewed most of them over the years and have found a couple we believe offer the overall best services for most players in South Dakota. The best ones are:
• Stake.us
• Fortune Coins
• Yay! Casinos
• Jackpota
• Mega Bonanza
All these sites operate under the same premise. They have two sets of virtual coins, commonly called gold coins and sweepstakes coins. This is precisely what allows them to operate under sweepstakes regulations.
Gold coins are the main currency offered through promotions or gold coin packages that you can purchase. They are for entertainment purposes only and are used for gaming, but they cannot be withdrawn or exchanged.
Sweepstakes coins are used in the same way, but they can also be redeemed for cash prizes once conditions are met, usually revolving around having to play with them once before you request a redemption. You can only obtain them for free through promotions and gold coin packages, where they are added as free extras. You can also request them by mail.
This currency system allows sweepstakes casinos to operate under sweepstakes rules, offering only free play while also giving players a chance to redeem sweepstakes coins for cash prizes.
The rest of the experience is what you can expect from a casino-like platform. There’s a library of casino-style games, including slots, table games, live dealer releases, etc. You can also claim various promotions, starting with a no deposit bonus at registration, then various other promotions, like daily login bonuses, tournaments, and social media contests and giveaways.
FAQ
Are online sweepstakes casinos legal in South Dakota?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are fully legal in South Dakota, just like in most other states. Moreover, unlike other states with certain restrictions, South Dakota has none, allowing every reputable sweepstakes casino to operate here freely.
Can you win real money playing games at South Dakota sweepstakes casinos?
No, you can’t win real money at sweepstakes casinos, as that would make them gambling sites. You can only play for free with the virtual coins the platform supports. However, one of these, sweepstakes coins, can also be redeemed for cash prizes once site-specific conditions are met.
Can I claim bonuses at South Dakota sweepstakes casinos?
No, sweepstakes casinos don’t offer standard deposit-based bonuses. However, they offer no deposit bonuses, daily login bonuses, and various other promotions designed to give players free gold and sweepstakes coins.
