South Dakota gaming revenue for August was mixed, with sports betting seeing a rise in revenue while Deadwood casinos showing a small decline, according to the South Dakota Department of Revenue.
Casino revenue for August reached almost $14.9 million, down 5.6 percent compared to the $15.8 million reported in the same month last year. This came as slots reported a 6.1 percent drop in revenue to $13.4 million, after rewarding an average payout of 91 percent. Meanwhile, table games paid out around 83 percent and collected $1.5 million in revenue, up around 11.4 percent compared to August 2023.
Nearly $148.7 million was wagered on slots, a 6 percent drop from last year’s handle. Around $9.4 million was spent on table games in August, up 4.2 percent year-over-year.
Sports betting handle fell 2.3 percent year-on-year in August, at $505,986, but with an average payout of 79.1 percent compared to 92.8 percent last year, revenue was up 182.3 percent. August 2023 saw $37.5 million in sports betting revenue, while it totaled $105.7 million in August 2024.
South Dakota legalized sports betting in September 2021, but it remains limited to retail locations in the city of Deadwood or at the state’s tribal casinos. Sports wagering handle reached $4.36 million in the first half of 2024, marking a 9 percent increase from the same period in 2023.
