Deadwood Casinos Fined for Violating South Dakota Gambling Laws

Multiple Deadwood casinos recently faced hefty fines for violating South Dakota’s stringent gambling laws, spotlighting lapses in adherence to state regulations. The South Dakota Commission on Gaming officially sanctioned these penalties earlier this week, following occurrences that took place over the past few months. One notable incident involved a self-serve kiosk operated by IGT at The Lodge at Deadwood Casino, which accepted bets on a football game between Black Hills State University and St. Thomas University. This action directly breached South Dakota law, which prohibits wagering on games involving state college or university teams.

Though the bets were voided within 10 to 15 minutes, and IGT self-reported the violations on September 16, the company was hit with a $3,000 fine. DWD Resorts, the owner of The Lodge at Deadwood, was also penalized for the same infraction, albeit with a partial suspension on their $3,000 fine, reducing it to $750. Casino staff were quick to address the issue by voiding the illegal bets, refunding the money, and promptly notifying both IGT and the gaming commission.

In a separate incident, Blue Sky Gaming, the operator of Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort, incurred penalties for failing to maintain adequate surveillance over critical areas such as tables, count rooms, and the cashier cage on August 20. This lapse was attributed to a hardware malfunction, as stated by executive secretary Mark Heltzel. In response, Blue Sky Gaming has invested in new surveillance equipment to ensure future compliance. Their fine amounted to $3,000, with $1,500 suspended pending no future violations. Furthermore, a table games manager at Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort, named Colt Martin, was fined $100 for not reporting until ten days later that blackjack dealers had allowed bets exceeding the $200 table limit on July 16. This incident highlights how even minor oversights and delays in reporting can result in financial penalties and increased scrutiny from regulators.

Continuing the spate of penalties, Rivers Casino Portsmouth faced significant repercussions in July, receiving $545,000 in fines due to breaches related to underaged individuals and self-excluded players participating in gambling activities. Such incidents emphasize the critical importance of robust identity verification processes and vigilant monitoring systems within casino operations. Earlier in the year, Ontario-based MGE Niagara Entertainment Inc. encountered a substantial $52,000