South Dakota Senate Approves Measure for Mobile Sports Betting Referendum

Proposed constitutional amendment would allocate 90% of tax revenue to property tax relief.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The South Dakota Senate has voted 23-10 to approve a resolution that would put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to legalize mobile sports betting statewide. The measure would allocate 90% of the tax revenue from mobile sports betting to reducing property taxes across the state.

Why it matters

Currently, sports betting is only legal in Deadwood and tribal casinos in South Dakota, while it is legal statewide in neighboring states like Iowa and Wyoming. Legalizing mobile sports betting could bring economic benefits to South Dakota communities by capturing revenue that is currently going to out-of-state operators, while also providing a new funding source for property tax relief.

The details

Senate Joint Resolution 504, introduced by Sen. Casey Crabtree, R-Madison, would put the constitutional amendment to legalize mobile sports betting on the November 2026 ballot. If approved by voters, the Legislature would then set additional policies to implement the program. Supporters argue that legalizing mobile sports betting would capture revenue that is currently going to illegal offshore operators, while also providing funding for property tax relief. Opponents have raised concerns about the potential for increased gambling addiction.

  • The South Dakota Senate voted 23-10 to approve the resolution on February 11, 2026.
  • If the state House of Representatives also approves the resolution, it will go on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

The players

Casey Crabtree

A Republican state senator from Madison who introduced the resolution to put mobile sports betting on the ballot.

Steve Kolbeck

A Republican state senator from Brandon who argued that legalizing mobile sports betting would bring economic benefits to South Dakota communities by capturing revenue that is currently going to out-of-state operators.

Amber Hulse

A Republican state senator from Hot Springs who supports the measure, arguing that it would allow the state to put in place safety measures and guardrails around mobile sports betting.

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What they’re saying

“This is us having revenue out there that we're not collecting, just like when Amazon was new, we had to go get that. We had to adjust as a state. Now we have this situation that this body needs to react to and adjust to so that revenue can come back into our state coffers.”

— Steve Kolbeck, State Senator (siouxfallslive.com)

“You can't legislate morality, but guess what? These people are already doing it. They're already doing it on the black market. They're already potentially making bets that are hurting their families more. So why don't we put some guardrails on it and help protect some families so that there aren't as many harms being done by this, especially to our communities?”

— Amber Hulse, State Senator (siouxfallslive.com)

What’s next

If the state House of Representatives also approves the resolution, it will go on the November 3, 2026 ballot for South Dakota voters to consider.

The takeaway

The proposed constitutional amendment to legalize mobile sports betting in South Dakota is a response to the growing popularity of online sports betting and the potential to capture tax revenue that is currently going to out-of-state operators. While there are concerns about the social impacts, supporters argue that regulation and guardrails can help mitigate potential harms, while also providing a new funding source for property tax relief.