Can You Play Online Poker in South Dakota?

No, you cannot play online poker for real money in South Dakota. The state currently has up to 10 casinos, and many of them have live card rooms where you can play poker in person. However, the state has not legalized online poker or any other form of internet gambling and will probably not do so in the near or distant future. 

Why Not? What Are the Online Poker Laws in South Dakota?

South Dakota has a good number of physical gambling locations. However, the state’s law clearly prohibits gambling over the Internet, and this restriction applies to South Dakota online poker games as well. 

There’s an entire chapter in South Dakota’s laws focused specifically on internet gambling and the penalties for defaulters. Chapter 22-25A of South Dakota’s statutes makes it illegal to run or promote internet gambling. This law was drafted several decades ago and seems to be more focused on operators than players. 

This means you don’t need to worry about legal repercussions in South Dakota when playing on offshore poker sites – but there are other significant risks to doing that. 

There are numerous offshore sites that allow South Dakotans to register and play poker online for real money. But MyPokerCoaching does not recommend playing poker and other online games on these sites due to the other risks they carry.

Offshore sites operate outside US laws because they’re licensed in other countries where poker is legally allowed. While it’s legally safe to play on these sites, it’s unsafe in other ways. Players have no guarantees of getting their money or playing a fair game (i.e., you may be playing against a cheater or a bot). Many of these sites are not held to high standards of fair play, and they are at a high risk of getting shut down unexpectedly without players recovering their deposits. 

Potential South Dakota Poker Sites to Launch in the Future

Poker has been popular in South Dakota for many years, but the state is still to regulate online poker sites. There have been several attempts at it over the years, but so far, none have come to fruition.

It is a pretty safe bet that online poker in SD will be regulated at some point in the future, so the only real question is when. While it’s hard to give any definitive answer at this point in time, we continue to monitor the situation and will keep you updated with any important developments.

When online poker is finally legal in SD, there are a few sites that we can expect to go live. These are all operators with a major presence in the regulated US market, and they’ll likely jump at the opportunity to expand their presence.

BetMGM Poker South Dakota

BetMGM has established itself as a household name in the regulated US online poker space, and the operator will likely be among the first to stake a claim in such an attractive new market.

We expect BetMGM Poker will bring out a platform similar to that in other states like PA, MI, and NJ. A poker client powered by the PartyPoker technology offers a modern and very reliable solution for all online poker fans, even if it is not as rich in functionalities as some other platforms.

In terms of game variety, players can look forward to a nice mix of online tournaments, a wide range of cash game stakes, and, in all likelihood, BetMGM Poker’s staple SPINS – a hugely popular sit & go variation featuring a random jackpot.

It is also likely that BetMGM Poker SD will come out of the gate swinging, offering a generous welcome bonus. With what’s likely to be heavy competition in the state, all sites will look for ways to stand out, and this is generally a good thing for the players.

PokerStars South Dakota

Although the company couldn’t enter the US before 2016, PokerStars has established itself as a staple name of online poker in the country, just like they have done in the global market.

Once the regulation is finally passed, the launch of PokerStars is pretty much a guarantee. This is especially true if the state passes a law with the expectation of joining the MSIGA, as the operator seems eager to take advantage of opportunities provided by interstate poker.

But even without that particular element, SD is a big enough market on its own.

What PokerStars brings to the table is the operator’s experience in organizing major online series, first and foremost. US versions of ‘COOP events have been hugely successful in all states where the site currently has a presence, and there is no reason to think South Dakota would be an exception.

PokerStars also offers one of the best software solutions for desktop computers and mobile devices alike. This enhances the player experience and certainly helps push the site towards the top of the list when deciding where to play.

WSOP South Dakota

The third SD poker site likely to go live as soon as legal requirements are met is WSOP.com. Right now, WSOP is the only operator present in all regulated US markets with active poker sites, and the company is on the constant lookout for expansion opportunities.

WSOP.com has one trump card that no other operators can match, which is its ability to host bracelet-awarding events and exclusive satellites to live World Series of Poker tournaments. This has helped the operator remain competitive across the country.

A launch in a new state would likely mean an exclusive bracelet series, giving players in the state great opportunities to win some WSOP silverware from the comfort of their home, and if past experience is any indicator, this is an opportunity that players jump on.

WSOP should have no problem claiming its fair share of the new market despite competitors, with the operators’ numbers surging during major live and online events.