The state of South Dakota has a very tough set of laws but whether they apply them or not is up for debate. They have laid out pretty clear definitions of what you may and may not do when it comes to gambling and are one of the very few states that have bothered to update their penal code to involve online gambling, however this is targeted at operating an online poker room from the state, and we don't believe that many residents are thinking of doing that, but many do play at such places at BetOnline Poker and others that welcome them. It's not all bad though as you will find out when you keep reading to see where you stand in the state of South Dakota when playing a game of poker.
Playing Home Games in South Dakota
We nee look no further than the states ban on gambling for an answer to this one. Section 22-25-1 states that, “Any person who engages in gambling in any form with cards, dice, or other implements or devices of any kind wherein anything valuable is wagered upon the outcome, or who keeps any establishment… for such gambling… is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.” This law extends to both the participants and the host too and there are absolutely no exceptions for home games. Many states allows social games if the host is not making a profit by raking the pot or charging a fee, but not in South Dakota. One strange fact however is that there is a very active home game poker scene in South Dakota so it may be that a blind eye is turned to them. In any case those are the laws as they stand and should you fancy a game it may be worth checking with your local law enforcement agency.
Playing Online Poker in South Dakota
South Dakota is one of the few states to have mentioned online gambling in ts penal code. Section 22-25A-7 states that, “No person engaged in a gambling business may use the internet or an interactive computer service to bet or wager.” The key term in this is gambling business and by that they mean, “For the purposes of this chapter, the term, gambling business, means a business that is conducted at a gambling establishment or involves the placing, receiving, or making of bets or wagers or offers to engage in the placing, receiving, or making of bets or wagers.” This basically means that if you are not operating an illegal business from home that involves online gambling or involved in the operation of a state casino then you are fine. Many residents of South Dakota enjoy their Online Poker at such rooms as BetOnline Poker and Americas Cardroom, and it's worth point out that there is now law against online poker at federal level.
Playing in a South Dakota Casino
There's good new here too. Although South Dakota is not big on casinos, it does have a few scattered around and the state does not determine what games can and cannot be played. This means you'll find many table games such as Blackjack and Roulette, slots and in the larger establishments you'll find poker on offer.
