An area rich in native history, gambling is quietly becoming a more significant part of the landscape in South Dakota. If you seek the convenience of online casinos, you’ll find that your current options are limited to sweepstakes casinos. While you don’t play directly with or for real money, these sweepstakes casinos offer the opportunity to exchange winnings for prizes. Read this guide to find out everything you need to know.
RTP: 97.96%
Payout: 1-2 days
Games: 650+
RTP: 95%
Payout: 1-5 days
Games: 500+
RTP: 96.01%
Payout: 1-3 days
Games: 1,200+
RTP: 96.59%
Payout: 0-24 hours
Games: 3,000+
RTP: 97%
Payout: 1-5 days
Games: 650+
RTP: 96.80%
Payout: 2-10 days
Games: 1,500+
RTP: 96.49%
Payout: 1-3 days
Games: 1,800+
RTP: 96%
Payout: 3-5 days
Games: 1,300+
RTP: 97.82%
Payout: 1-3 days
Games: 1,400+
RTP: 97.10%
Payout: 2-3 days
Games: 700+
Historically, South Dakota has prohibited online casinos; however, customers are still free to play on several sweepstakes and social casinos that offer interactive gaming sessions. They provide an interactive and legal alternative to traditional online casinos, featuring a diverse selection of games and opportunities to win cash payouts through sweepstakes models.
97.96%
RTP
As a newcomer to the state of South Dakota, the CrownCoins library is smaller than its competitors, but it makes up for this with high-quality slots from Pragmatic Play and Booming Games. We recommend Power of Thor Megaways for unlimited multipliers, and Ten Ton Ways Luck for a classic feeling slot with an Irish theme.
The daily mission prizes, Crown Races feature, and social media giveaways, give players many options to claim free GC on top of the no deposit bonus.
Read reviewSweepstakes Expert
Pros
Great VIP program
4.7 rating on Trustpilot
Customer support is quick
Cons
Small library
PayPal not supported
Live chat is locked behind VIPs
96.49%
RTP
Not many sweepstakes casinos offer as much variety for players in South Dakota as Big Pirate does! The vast game library of 1,600+ games is just the start, as there’s also a live dealer casino, table games, jackpot slots, and exclusive titles. These are powered by some of the most popular software providers, including Booming Games and NetEnt, demonstrating that the games are top-tier.
Coins are not difficult to come by either, with many promotions offering free bonuses or affordable purchase packages. Redemptions are limited to a minimum of $50, around the industry average, but gift card redemptions are not available.
Read reviewSweepstakes Expert
Pros
Many options to claim free coins through mini games
A grander live dealer casino (80+) than McLuck (32+)
Entertainment value through island-building mechanics
$50 minimum redemption is lower than Casino.click ($100)
Cons
No iOS or Android app that can be found at RealPrize
Coins must be used within 40 days
Verification process has caused issues
96.01%
RTP
Funrize lives up to the ‘Fun’ in Funrize, as it is a great option for sweepstakes casino players! The race tournaments feature lets you climb the leaderboard by landing in-game multipliers. If you finish near the top of the board, you’ll be rewarded with a potentially huge number of coins in the collective prize pool. You can also find a few extra mini games, such as rolling dice to land on a spot and claim a hidden free prize.
There are several first purchase bundles available, such as 1.05 million Tournament Coins and 60 free Promotional Entries for just $29.99, 350% extra compared to standard purchase packages. While you never need to make a purchase at a sweepstakes casino, the extra bonus coins you can grab from your first purchase make it a worthy offer.
Read reviewSweepstakes Expert
Pros
Unique promotions, such as scratch tickets, that allow you to claim free coins
24/7 live chat support is available to all players, unlike LoneStar
Live dealer casino games include blackjack, roulette, and baccarat
Get back up to 20k TC and 20 PE on losses with its PlayBack offer
Cons
RTP of some games can be as low as 92%
No RNG table games that you can find at McLuck
Doesn’t offer any casino apps, unlike Stake.us
96.59%
RTP
Stake.us is "America's Social Casino," offering a diverse range of games, including slots, exclusive titles, live dealer games, and table games. The platform is unique in accepting cryptocurrency as payment, which offers a secure and fast gaming experience. New members receive 250,000 Gold Coins, $25 Stake Cash, and extra daily rewards, making it the best no deposit bonus around.
Stake.us offers challenges, races, raffles, and promotions to boost player bankrolls. Although it does not have a dedicated mobile app like McLuck, Stake.us provides a seamless browsing experience through web browsers. The customer service provided by the live chat system is speedy and responsive.
Read reviewSweepstakes Casino Expert
Pros
Crypto-only site
Exclusive and unique games
Regular leaderboard tournaments
Cons
Limited first-purchase bonus
No mobile app support
Smaller selection of live dealer games
96.50%
RTP
Playing sweepstakes casino games on your phone is becoming more common, so we're glad that NoLimitCoins offers apps for both iOS and Android users! Their apps let you easily navigate their game options, with decent filtering and the ability to sort games by new, most popular, or provider. The site has a nice purple and gray color scheme, and the app loaded faster on our phones than the desktop site did. If you have notifications enabled, you can stay informed of the latest bonuses, promotions, and giveaways.
One of our favorite features is the VIP loyalty scheme, with ten tiers of great rewards. Start at the Iron tier, and progress up to the Crystal tier to unlock weekly rewards, exclusive promotions, a birthday gift, and more. However, it can be quite difficult to progress through to the top tiers without making large purchases.
Read reviewOnline Casino Expert
Pros
PayPal banking method option allows for instant purchases
Redemptions are often processed within 48 hours, faster than the 72+ hours at Ace.com
Offers double the number of live dealer games (44+) than PlayFame (21+)
24/7 live chat service that isn't locked behind a paywall, unlike Hello Millions
Cons
Lowest coin package starts at $4.99, higher than the $1.99 at McLuck
25 SC limit on redemptions from bonus funds
Too many pop-ups that regularly prompt you to purchase coins
The gambling landscape in South Dakota changed in 1989 with the opening of the first land-based casino in the historic town of Deadwood. Initially, the casino offered slot games, poker, and blackjack.
Today, 35 land-based casinos are operating in the state, all of which are located in Deadwood. An interesting aspect of South Dakota's gambling laws is that the maximum allowable legal bet on any wager in the state is capped at $1,000. Land-based casinos in South Dakota may operate up to 30 limited table games or slot machines per retail license they hold. There are also 12 tribal casinos situated on reservation land, which generally offer between 200 and 250 games on the casino floor.
The only option to play casino games online in South Dakota is through social casinos. Unlike legal and regulated online casinos, you won’t be directly wagering or winning real money at a social casino. These sites operate similarly to sweepstakes competitions such as the Publishers Clearing House prize.
There is also pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing and a state lottery available in South Dakota.
When playing at social casinos in South Dakota, you’ll be delighted to find that the selection of games is as plentiful and comparable to what you’d encounter when playing at a real-money online casino.
South Dakota online casinos offer extensive slot libraries featuring progressive jackpots and Megaways games. Table game options include blackjack, baccarat, roulette, video poker, scratch cards, and arcade-style games. Live dealer studios offer a wide range of these types of games, along with popular game show themes.
The Return to Player percentage (RTP) is offered for every game inside South Dakota sweepstakes casinos. The number indicates what percentage of money bet on that game will ultimately return to players as winnings. However, it’s important to remember that the equation isn’t as straightforward.
South Dakota legalized land-based casinos in 1989. Initially, one casino located in Deadwood offered slots, poker, and blackjack. Today, 35 land-based casinos are operating in South Dakota. Seven Dakota Native American tribes operate 12 tribal casinos.
In 2021, the state gaming commission legalized retail sports betting sites that could operate inside South Dakota land-based casinos. However, if you desire online casinos, your only choice remains sweepstakes casinos.
The South Dakota State Lottery was approved in 1986 and has been operational since 1987. The state also offers pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing and online advance deposit wagering on the sport.
Although land-based casinos and retail sports betting are available in the state, South Dakota legislators have thus far made no attempt to pass legislation legalizing online casino gambling for real money. That leaves social casinos in South Dakota as the only option for playing online casino games.
Signing up for an account is a simple process. Just complete the following steps:
It’s essential to remember that spending your own money to purchase Gold Coins is never necessary. If you choose to do so, you’ll find packages of GC available for purchase from South Dakota social casinos. Casinos will often include free SC as part of these packages. Under social casino laws, SC must always be given away. It’s not possible to purchase Sweepstakes Coins.
The usual banking methods for purchasing these coins are major debit or credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. The same options can also be employed when redeeming SC for cash prizes.

You must be at least 21 to play online casino games at South Dakota social casinos legally. It’s not necessary to reside in the state to play any of these games. However, you must be physically present within state lines to access any social casinos in South Dakota. This factor is assured through geolocation software.

You will need to provide documentation to any South Dakota online casino to verify that you are at least 21 years of age. You can confirm your identity by providing a copy of a government-issued ID such as a driver’s license or passport. While you don’t have to live in South Dakota to play at online casinos, you must be in South Dakota to be eligible to play.

The South Dakota Commission on Gaming is the governing body that regulates the limited slot machines and card games permitted in the state. The commission oversees the licensing and regulation of casino gambling and sports betting in Mount Rushmore State.
It’s important to understand that not all casinos you can play online are safe. There are many unsafe casinos that don’t have the same player protections from the ones we recommend.
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Bonus offers remain a significant draw for players to play at online casinos. A welcome bonus is a surefire way to attract new players to sign up with a South Dakota sweepstakes casino. You’ll receive a cache of Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins for signing up with a site, all free of charge. It is possible to purchase bundles of GC, but it’s never necessary for you to be able to play.
Several bonus offers make it easy to acquire more coins regularly. These include daily login bonuses, refer-a-friend bonuses, and tournament and leaderboard competitions, which are additional options for earning free coins on your South Dakota social casino account.
Crown Coins
200% More Coins on First Purchase - 1,500,000 CC + 75 SC
Welcome package / First purchase bonus
Wagering
1x
Min purchase
$1.99
Valid
48 hours
LoneStar
500K GC + 105 free SC + 1000 VIP points
Welcome package / First purchase bonus
Wagering
1x
Min purchase
$2.99
Valid
60 days
Funrize
125,000 Coins + 10,000 FREE Entries
Welcome package / First purchase bonus
Wagering
1x
Min purchase
$2.99
Valid
N/A
Mobile apps offer a quick way to get in on the action and start playing sooner rather than later. Many casinos provide optimized websites for seamless online gambling experiences. However, some go even further with a streamlined app.
South Dakota has a rich history of gambling, dating back to the days of the Wild West. Wild Bill Hickok was famously shot and killed during a poker game in Deadwood while allegedly holding a hand of aces and eights. That’s why it’s known as the Dead Man’s Hand today.
The state lottery was launched in South Dakota.
Land-based casinos legalized in the state.
Retail sports betting legalized in the state.
Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing legalized in South Dakota.
You’ve likely seen ads offering legal online sports betting and casino gambling for South Dakota players. These sites are known as offshore casinos, which are illegal operations under US federal gambling law. Gambling with one of these sites is a dangerous pursuit.
Since these sites are unregulated, there is no recourse if you do not receive your money after a significant payday. There is also no guarantee that these sites take any precautions to protect your personal information or the funds in your account. There’s no reassurance that the site isn’t simply a scam looking to steal your money. Likewise, if the site were to shut down suddenly, you’d have no options through any regulatory body to ensure you’d get your money back.
The first land-based casino, which offered slots, blackjack, and poker, opened in Deadwood in 1989. Today, there are 35 casinos, all situated in Deadwood, and a dozen tribal casinos operated by seven different South Dakota tribes.

The Fort Randall Casino is a tribal casino operated by the Yankton Sioux Tribe. The casino is 10 miles west of Wagner, SD, and 3 miles east of Pickstown, SD, on Highway 46. Fort Randall Casino offers a variety of gaming options, including 350 slot machines, bingo, poker, blackjack, and roulette. A restaurant and a 60-room hotel are also on site.

Formerly owned by actor Kevin Costner, the Midnight Star Casino recently reopened under new ownership. A lounge and restaurant are on-site, along with slots, blackjack, and three-card poker.

There are more than 200 games to play at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Casino, along with a sportsbook. Along with slots like The Voice, Harley Davidson, Mardi Gras, and Wheel of Fortune, you’ll find exciting table games such as blackjack, three-card poker, roulette, Texas hold ‘em, and live craps.
No, real-money online casinos are not currently legal in South Dakota. If you want to play online casino games in the state, your only current option is to sign up with South Dakota social casinos.
Yes, online sweepstakes casinos are legal in South Dakota. You’ll find dozens of sites that replicate real-money online casinos, offering slots, table games, and live dealer action for virtual currency.
You’ll find that you have access to all the leading online social casinos operating in the US market, including those in South Dakota. If you are legally allowed to gamble (21), you’ll be welcome to play at sites like Pulsz Casino, RealPrize Casino, and High 5 Casino.
Yes, the South Dakota Commission on Gaming must approve all gaming equipment, machines, and devices. The SDCG utilizes testing laboratories that are certified and accredited by the International Organization for Standardization.
Just like at a real-money online casino, bonus offers are available from social casinos in South Dakota. These offers will include a no deposit welcome bonus, daily login bonuses, and refer-a-friend bonuses. Additionally, welcome bonus packages of extra coins can often be purchased at a discounted rate.
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