п»їSouth Dakota Sports Betting Approved by Voters.
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South Dakota voters approved sports betting on the 2020 ballot, allowing legal sportsbooks in Deadwood as early as next year. The voter-ratified constitutional amendment will also pave the way for the state’s federally recognized Native American tribes to open sportsbooks at their gaming properties.
Voters overwhelmingly supported sports betting, approving “Amendment B” by a roughly 58% – 42% margin.
When Will South Dakota Sports Betting Begin?
Sports betting in South Dakota will likely begin sometime in 2021.
The ballot measure amends the state constitution to permit sports betting, but lawmakers will still need to pass critical follow-up legislation that, among other factors, determines tax rates and regulatory measures.
The initial measure passed with bipartisan support, and it appears some sort of sports betting legislation will pass after lawmakers begin the 2021 session, especially since legal wagering was backed by voters.
Assuming a bill passes sometime in the first half of 2021, regulatory officials will likely finalize sports betting rules in time for two-dozen Deadwood casinos and dozen tribal casinos to take their first bets sometime before the end of next year.
The bigger issue will be over how sports betting will be conducted, including the potential for online wagering. The state constitution only permits commercial gaming in Deadwood, but online sports betting backers may argue statewide mobile wagering is permissible as long as the computer servers are located in the town.
With gaming already controversial in one of the nation’s more politically and culturally conservative states, an online push could further complicate what may be a difficult legislative journey. Gaming stakeholders would likely support statewide mobile wagering, which would make up the vast majority of revenues in a sparsely populated state such as South Dakota, but it could face heavy resistance from lawmakers politically opposed to any gaming from outside Deadwood.
Was South Dakota Sports Betting Expected to Pass?
The fate of sports betting in South Dakota seemed like a toss-up heading into Election Day.
It was hard to gauge public interest with little public polling available, and, unlike in other states with 2020 sports wagering ballot measures such as Louisiana and Maryland, leading sportsbook operators DraftKings and FanDuel didn’t contribute financially to the “yes” vote.
South Dakotans had supported expanded Deadwood gaming options in 2014, and attitudes nationally continue to be more favorable toward legal gambling. Sports betting was previously legalized in 22 other states (plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico), including neighboring Montana and Iowa, which could have also played a factor.
Elected officials such as Republican Speaker of the House Steve Haugaard said sports betting would exacerbate problem gambling, a fear shared by some of his conservative colleagues (and a portion of South Dakotans). Other Republicans, including ballot-measure sponsor Sen. Bob Ewing, touted the revenue potential from sports betting, especially as it becomes legal in more states and is already occurring illegally through offshore sites and unlicensed bookmakers.
Notably, Republican Gov. Kristi Noem rescinded her previous opposition to legal sports betting after the state faced a budget shortfall from tax cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic. Sports betting tax revenues would be just a tiny fraction of the state budget, but South Dakota voters supported the potential for legal wagering over the existing prohibition.
Recapping Busy Start for 2021 Sports Betting Legislation.
Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images. Pictured: Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
A few weeks into 2021, lawmakers in more than a dozen states have already introduced sports betting legislation or have announced plans to do so.
Here’s a state-by-state recap of some of the most important such bills filed during a frantic start to the 2021 legislative session:
Georgia.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the state House of Representatives introduced a mobile sports betting bill last week that would allow at least six individually branded online licenses under the purview of the state lottery.
Status: The bill has not been assigned yet to a committee but it is being championed by Rep. Ron Stephens, who chairs the House Economic Development & Tourism Committee. That means it should at least get a serious look.
Look Ahead: Georgia came surprisingly close to passing legal sports betting last year, backed by Republican fiscal conservatives and the state’s professional sports organizations. However, any gaming bill still faces opposition from religious and social conservative organizations and lawmakers. The back-and-forth between these factions of the GOP could determine sports betting’s 2021 hopes.
Connecticut.
After years discussing legal sports betting, Connecticut finally seems on the verge of legal wagering legislation passing into law.
Status: A bipartisan, bicameral bill with 17 sponsors — and the backing of Gov. Ned Lamont — was filed last week and now awaits further action in the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security.
Look Ahead: The bill offers few details beyond approving the state’s two gaming tribes to open retail and online sportsbooks, as well as online casinos (the state lottery would also be able to expand its offerings). Significant work is required before this bill could pass but the fact so many lawmakers are on board, as well as the tribes, gives online sports betting and casino gaming a great chance to pass, even if it looks like there may be limited wagering options.
Missouri.
Lawmakers have already introduced six sports betting bills, meaning the Show Me State will once again consider legal wagering, even though significant logistical and political hurdles remain.
Status: Bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate but only one has been assigned to a committee.
Look Ahead: Missouri lawmakers must weigh sports betting against an ongoing legislative fight over video lottery terminals, which would have a far larger financial consequence than even online sportsbooks. Lawmakers must consider the casino industry interests while also determining if the state should regulate thousands of unlicensed “grey” gaming machines that are already in existence, legalizing new machines or banning them outright. They also will have to do so remotely, at least for this week; the 2021 legislative session has been suspended due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
Kentucky.
Rep. Adam Koenig is once again spearheading mobile sports betting legislation, this time with 16 co-sponsors. But after a similar 2020 bill faltered following a promising start, this year’s legislative session leaves little wiggle room for what appears a long-shot effort.
Status: This year’s bill hasn’t been taken up by a committee yet but assuming it advances as its counterpart did in 2020, the real question remains if it will get a vote before the full House floor.
Look Ahead: Kentucky gaming bills always face tough odds in a state with strong anti-gambling sentiment but this year, lawmakers are more focused on restoring historic horse racing terminals — and, more so, a major budget crunch execrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. With an already truncated odd-numbered legislative session to begin with, sports betting may struggle to gain much traction in Frankfort.
New York.
Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow and Sen. Joseph Addabbo have introduced identical bills in their respective chambers that would allow up to 14 online mobile operators as well as betting kiosks at professional sports stadiums and off-track betting venues.
Status : Both bills could see votes in their respective gaming committees as early as this week, but that vote isn’t as important as a budget proposal expected from Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the coming days.
Look Ahead: Cuomo surprised the gaming world earlier this month when he came out in support of legal online wagering but just as quickly angered stakeholders when he said he wanted only one operator. A press statement released last week indicated the governor may support a multi-operator model, but it will have to come with the backing of lawmakers already looking to advance a proposal of their own. The fate of New York online betting depends on finding an agreement on either a multiple operator or single operator model. Cuomo’s draft budget could go a long way toward that solution.
South Dakota.
After voters backed a 2020 ballot measure to legalize sports betting last fall, lawmakers introduced follow-up legislation in January that would lay out key regulatory and taxation details for retail sportsbooks in the historic gaming town of Deadwood, as well as Native American casinos.
Status: The bill in South Dakota has been assigned to the Senate State Affairs Committee and could be discussed as early as this month.
Look Ahead: Passing a retail sports betting bill seems like a safe bet in 2021. Online sports betting is the bigger question. Though gaming is only allowed in Deadwood, some mobile betting backers believe online wagering could be permitted statewide if the computer servers are physically within Deadwood limits. Though it would mean far larger revenue potential, it’s a logistically, politically and possibly legally more difficult endeavor, and the initial bill’s lack of mobile betting authorization indicates it may not even be considered in this year’s session.
Massachusetts.
Lawmakers discussed a handful of sports betting bills in 2020, including one sponsored by Gov. Charlie Baker, but elected officials couldn’t reach consensus despite bipartisan support. The General Court is set to take up wagering bills again in 2021, but some of the logistical hurdles remain.
Status: Rep. Bradford Hill introduced a trio of mobile sports wagering bills last week, and more are set to follow in the Senate (and possibly the House). With the state’s year-long session just beginning, additional legislation to follow and more pressing budget concerns to consider, it could be a while before these specific proposals see much momentum.
Look Ahead: Massachusetts, which has increasingly embraced gaming in recent years as competition for gambling dollars grows in other New England states, has frustrated the sports betting industry with its failure to advance legal wagering despite the latent political support. With statewide, legal wagering already in Rhode Island and New Hampshire (and likely in Connecticut) there’s more motivation than ever to pass a bill. Politicians still must work out operator access, college betting legality and a host of other issues they’ve struggled to reach consensus on in recent years.
Other States.
Several more are poised to introduce sports betting legislation in the coming weeks, while others with legal wagering already are working on growing their betting options.
Legislation Pending: Maryland is all but guaranteed to take up fleshed-out legislation later this year after voters overwhelmingly backed a 2020 referendum that legalized sports betting. Texas, Minnesota and Arizona are among the next wave of states that could also see legal sports betting bills in 2021.
Expanded Options: Officials in Oregon, Washington and Virginia have filed bills that would increase the number of legal sportsbooks in their respective states. Additional sports betting bills could face political obstacles, but it’s nevertheless a sign of political interest for expanded markets.
Online Betting South Africa.
Online betting remains one of South African gambler’s favourite pastime. For a long time, SA punters would have to travel to the different local branches to place a bet on sports games. That changed with the dawn of the internet. There are numerous online sports betting sites that you can find on the web that cater to South African gamblers. The issue then becomes how to differentiate between the bad online betting sites and the good ones.
Go through our online betting guide to find out how to gamble on sports and make money while you’re at it. We only recommend betting sites that we have personally vetted and have met our rigorous testing standards. Players can bet online without fear that their private information will be compromised. Here’s a list of betting companies in South Africa that offer the most competitive odds and lines that you will find online.
Best South African Betting Sites.
Online Betting Links.
Is Online Betting Legal in South Africa? How Online Betting Works.
Is it Legal to Sports Bet Online?
In South Africa, every sports betting website must be registered with the local online gambling commission in the land. The National Gambling Act of 2004, which is the highest law in the land, had banned all forms of online gambling. That is, internet casino operators were prohibited from offering SA punters gambling games. This decree did not include online betting on sports events. In September 2011, an updated version of the legislation further clarified the statute of the prohibition.
Online casino gambling operators with servers located outside of South Africa were prohibited from offering services in the country. This legislation did not include sports gambling online. Therefore, while online betting is legal in South Africa, players should still be wary of chancers on the net. Hence, we only recommend the best online betting sites in SA that we’ve visited and have found to be above board.
How Online Betting Works.
Before you proceed towards signing up to your favourite betting websites, you first have to know what you are doing. Betting on sports events at a local bookie is way different from online bookmakers. Internet sports gambling has way more betting markets than what you would find at a land-based bookie. What’s more, is that the odds constantly keep changing with time. Online betting markets are way competitive and punters can shop around for the best betting lines. Our betting guide shows you what you need to be on the lookout for when looking for the best online sports betting website:
Online Betting Sign Up Bonus Offer.
It has become a common business practice for betting sites in SA to offer new players an online betting deposit bonus as part of their welcome bonus. Players compare top betting websites in South Africa based on the bonuses they offer along with the promotions they run throughout the year before they register. This is different from placing a bet at land-based gambling establishments. These betting bonuses are used to attract SA players to register on the site daily. Some of the bonuses you can expect at SA betting sites include the following:
Most Competitive Betting Odds.
Once you are ready to place your bet, you need to line shop on the internet to find the best betting odds in SA. There is an entire list full of top SA online betting websites that regularly update their odds to compete with the competition. South African players are urged to sign up to at least more than three sportsbooks online in order to pick the best lines for every competition.
South Africa Online Betting Tips.
We don’t only provide tips on the best online sports betting websites to sign up for, we also recommend the best lines for SA bettors. Our expert tipsters have years of experience under their belt and provide predictions on different sports bets. Players are encouraged to always heed the advice of tipsters in order to find out how the public will bet. The online betting world has many sources that you can use to gauge how the public is going to bet. This includes pro gamblers, sports analysts, commentators and former professionals of the sport.
We would like to go on record to express that our tips are not the Holy Grail. This is to say that sports are very unpredictable and we will naturally get some things incorrect. Our margin of error is rather minimal, as our research is quite extensive and we have been in the game for some time now.
Online Betting Markets in South Africa.
Another avenue we use to measure the best online sports betting website in the land is by virtue of their betting markets. Some of the best places to bet on sports online have a mixture of international tournaments along with local competitions. The best site to bet on football games may not be the website that you can find top cricket odds. Thus, our top picks that we recommend for SA punters have to consist of a balance of the best markets in the world.
Fortunately, the best online sports gambling sites have been doing this for some time and have been able to correct this wrong. Place your bet on any of the top sports betting markets that we recommend below.
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