Poker in South Dakota
South Dakota is most widely recognized for being home to one of the recognizable symbols of the United States: Mount Rushmore. Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt’s faces were carved into a massive sculpture that was constructed between 1927 and 1941. Aside from its great history, playing poker in South Dakota might also contribute to its remarkable recognition.
Thankfully, the state allows visits to brick-and-mortar casinos. Licensed casinos in the state number 38, according to WorldCasinoDirectory.com. For a city with fewer than a million residents, that’s quite respectable.
The city of Deadwood serves as the region’s unofficial gambling epicenter and is home to the vast majority of these establishments. There has been a lot of poker history made there as well.
It was in this city that the legendary “Wild Bill” Hickok was killed in 1876, throughout a game of 7-Card Stud. His assailant’s bullets, so the urban legend goes, struck the back of his head on Fourth Street. He had AA88 of spades and clubs, making two pairs. The “Dead Man’s Hand” comprises of 2 black Aces and two black 8s.
Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon was the site of the infamous and deadly poker game. After the incident, it became a popular tourist destination, but a fire destroyed it in 1879.
Quick Summary
- Inhabitants: 886,667
- Political Center: Pierre
- Money in U.S. dollars ($)
- Location: UTC+6
- Shorthand for South Dakota as a state is SD.
Where You Can Play Poker in South Dakota Casinos:
- Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel
- Original Saloon no. 10
- Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort
Poker Stars From The State Of South Dakota
As of right now, William Eichel, of Parker, SD, tops the Hendon database’s South Dakota all-time money list. He has won a total of $650,506 in live tournaments. At the first annual World Poker Challenge in Reno, Nevada in January 2001, he placed second in the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Championship event and won $165,870. That is the most money he has ever won in a single live tournament.
Michael Moore of Agar, South Dakota comes in at #2 with $576,113 in live cashes. At a live event, he won a record $211,743. That was his prize for winning the $5,000 Limit Hold’em event at the 2013 World Series of Poker. In 1995, he placed 10th at the World Series of Poker Main Event, earning $27,680.
![Michael Moore winning the first gold bracelet](https://fullhouseclubs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/michael-moore.jpg)
Michael Moore
How to Participate in Live Poker in South Dakota
South Dakota’s Live Poker Laws
Gambling in South Dakota is governed by Article 20:04 of the state’s codified laws. Gambling is, thankfully, allowed in commercial casinos and on Native American land. However, in order to legally run a casino in South Dakota, you will need to apply for licenses with the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. The governor appoints the commission’s five members.
In theory, “social gambling,” or private games, are against the law in the Mount Rushmore State. If you and your friends want to play cards for money, you won’t be breaking any laws by doing so at your house.
South Dakota Locations With Live Poker
You can play Hold ’em cash games at varying stakes at Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort in Deadwood, South Dakota. All of them, however, are spread limits, which is unusual for the era. Spread limit is an unusual betting structure in which players are limited to wagering an amount on each street that falls within a predetermined range. This poker room features $2/$10, $3/$15, $3/$25, $5/$200, and $10/$300 Hold’em games with the corresponding spread limits.
On Tuesdays and Fridays each week, they hold tournaments as well. On Tuesdays, there are two tournaments: a smaller, $60 NLHE tournament that begins at 12 PM, and a larger, $140 NLHE tournament that begins at 6:30 PM. On Fridays at noon, there is another $60 NLHE tournament.
Similarly, Original Saloon No. 10 can be found in Deadwood, right where the fabled Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon once was. Cash games of Limit 7-Card Stud are still played there, the game Wild Bill was playing when he was shot; just don’t sit with your back to the door. Limit 7-Card Stud, $2/$10 Spread In addition to Hi-Lo, we offer $4/$8 Limit Omaha-Omaha 8 and $2/$10 Spread Limit Dealer’s Choice as well as other mixed games.
Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel’s cardroom in Watertown, South Dakota, features poker tournaments and cash games every day of the year. Historically, they have organized a number of poker celebrations, such as the Summer BankRoll series and the $175 NLHE End of Summer Tournament.
Places to Play Casino Games and Poker in South Dakota
South Dakota’s Legal Online Poker Scene
South Dakota does not permit online casinos or gambling.
As bad as it is in other states, it is even worse here. Even though federal law prohibits states from explicitly legalizing online gambling, no such law exists in most of the United States, for example, when we look at California online poker or poker in Arizona. However, due to state legislation, it is illegal for any business in South Dakota to facilitate an online wager.