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A proposal that would let voters decide whether South Dakota should allow statewide mobile sports betting is still alive after a close committee vote, but it hasn’t faced the full Senate yet.
On Friday, February 6, 2026, the Senate Taxation Committee voted 4–3 to advance Senate Joint Resolution 504 (SJR 504). The measure would put a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot.
The “yes” votes came from Casey Crabtree, Tamara Grove, Sydney Davis, and Amber Hulse. The “no” votes came from Greg Blanc, Joy Hohn, and Sue Peterson.
SJR 504 is a ballot question, not legalization
SJR 504 would not legalize mobile betting on its own.
Instead, it would add language to the state constitution that lets lawmakers authorize sports wagering through a “mobile or electronic platform.” The proposal would allow bets from inside or outside Deadwood, as long as the platform is run by, or partnered with, a licensed Deadwood casino, and the servers are located within Deadwood city limits.
The proposal also includes a built-in revenue promise: 90% of taxes from mobile/electronic sports betting would go to property tax relief or property tax reduction.
Committee debate mixed taxes, risk, and personal testimony
Property taxes were a major theme in the hearing. Supporters presented mobile wagering as a new revenue stream that could help reduce the tax load on residents.
The hearing also included personal testimony from Sen. Amber Hulse, who said she is the daughter of a gambling addict. She argued that if people are going to wager anyway, the state should prefer a regulated environment with safeguards and limits.
Supporters also pointed to betting that already happens across borders or offshore. During the hearing, GeoComply data was cited that referenced 1.6 million geolocation checks from 55,000 people in South Dakota last year.
Opponents warned mobile betting changes the scale
Opponents argued that statewide mobile access changes the risk. Their point: betting stops being a trip to Deadwood and becomes an always-available option.
SBC Americas reported comments from Family Voice Action spokesperson Norman Woods, who said: “You can’t fix problems with gambling revenue because you create other problems.”
The South Dakota Catholic Conference also opposed the measure. In committee comment, one representative described problem gambling as “a form of enslavement.”
Status update: cleared committee, then delayed on the floor
After clearing committee on February 6, SJR 504 was scheduled for Senate floor action, but the chamber did not take a final vote.
Legislative tracking shows the measure was deferred to another day on February 9, 2026.
That keeps the proposal in play, but it still needs to pass the Senate, then the House, before it can reach voters in November 2026.
Source: InGame
