South Dakota has a thriving gaming scene, boasting many types of legal gambling across the state from casinos to pari-mutuel betting and more. Lotto has been part of this scene since legalized in the ‘80s, and the state now takes part in multi-jurisdictional games such as Powerball and Mega Millions among others. Online lotto is a notable exception to South Dakota’s fairly open stance towards gaming. So far, no online betting of any kind is allowed in the Mount Rushmore state.

Could online lottery soon become legal in South Dakota despite its firm stance against online gambling? Though no bills are currently on the table in the state’s legislature, several recent signs point towards progress in this area. For one, the state recently voted on a sports betting bill; it was narrowly rejected and the issue will most likely come up again soon in another form. State voters have also continuously supported video lottery, despite referendums to end the games.

Legal Online Lotteries Available in the USA

There are currently no legal online lotteries available in South Dakota. If online play is introduced, residents could potentially take part in some of the USA’s most popular and exciting lotteries, including US Powerball and Mega Millions. These lottos sell millions of tickets every week and have offered billions in payouts since their creation, making them two of the USA’s most popular draws. We will update this page as South Dakota makes any changes to its lottery laws so you’ll be the first to know what games are available!

US Powerball

Being the earliest national lotto, Powerball is among the most beloved games in the States. Played in 21 of them, it was formed in 1992 and since then offers amazing prizes. The minimum jackpot is 40 million dollars. Powerball also holds a record for largest jackpot ever – a total of 1.586 billion dollars was paid to three players, back in 2016.

Mega Millions

The Big Game, which is the old name of Mega Millions, was launched in 1996 and is now the most widely played lotto. More than 46 jurisdictions participate in it, among which are D.C and the Virgin Islands. The lucky numbers are chosen twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. The minimum jackpot is $40 million, while the biggest one is 1.537 million dollars and it was won in 2018.

Lucky for Life

Lucky for Life is an averagely new lottery game – it was launched in 2009 in Connecticut, but fastly expanded to more than 25 states. The big prize is set at $1000 per day for a lifetime, with a minimum guarantee of 20 years. Still, players can also choose a cash prize. This was done for the first time in 2015 and the lucky winner received a total of 5.750.000 dollars.

Lottery Regulator in South Dakota

h Dakota’s lottery system is overseen by a seven-member board and chairmen, appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate. As with many U.S. state lottos, revenue from South Dakota’s lottery is mainly allocated to education projects. $441 million in revenue has gone to the General Fund, with half of that going towards education. Additional funds have gone towards developing natural resources and promoting responsible gaming.

History of South Dakota Lottery

Aside from social gambling, South Dakota is a fairly wide open field for interested players, offering a plethora of casinos, horse racing and, of course, a popular lottery. The lotto was created via a voter referendum in 1986, and approved in 1987. It proved hugely successful, and the start-up loan of $1.5 million to create the lotto was paid back in full within three months of operation. The state was also a pioneer in video lottery, despite various legal setbacks. Perhaps online lotto will be the next win for South Dakota’s lawmakers and residents!

Famous Winners – Shining like a rhinestone cowboy!

23-year-old Neal Wanless was down-on-his luck, to say the least, when he bought a fateful lotto ticket in 2009. Wanless had been known as an all-around good kid, working hard in school, dedicated to his ranching life, and trying to help out his family who had all recently moved into a dilapidated camper van together. It seemed his win could not have come at a better time. The jackpot was worth a stunning $232 million.

Online Lotto Legal Age in South Dakota

We can hardly guess what the legal age for online lottery would be if South Dakota decides to legalize it. We can assume, though, that it will be the same as the one for regular lottery, which is 18. From there on, online operators take great care in checking the rightfulness of your data and documents and underage gambling is not tolerated at all.

• Lottery Age
  There is no legal online lottery age in South Dakota as it is currently illegal.
• Alcohol Age
  The legal drinking age is 21 in South Dakota.
• Weed Age
  There is no legal cannabis age in South Dakota as it is currently illegal.

Is Online Lotto Legal When You Are Out of the State?

Since you can’t enjoy online lottery in South Dakota, you can try another state that gives you the chance to play. New Hampshire lottery, for example, can grant you impeccable betting opportunities. Just pay attention to any restrictions applied by the states themselves.

The Best Lottery Mobile App

With no legal online lottery, honestly, there are no apps that you can enjoy. But, just for your information, the operators developed great pieces of art which are in no way different from the desktop versions and have all the features and settings of the regular website.

Online Lottery Promotions to Take Advantage Of

From time to time, you can find tempting bonuses on the sites of lotto operators. They can be either deposit matches or tickets for free with which you can participate in certain draws. And while online lottery is not legal, you can still check the other types of gambling in South Dakota.

Taxes on Lotto Winnings in South Dakota

South Dakota’s lottery is subject to taxation at 25% on prizes over 5000 dollars. That might sound steep but actually, residents here are in luck: The state charges no additional tax on winnings, unlike almost all of its counterparts in the U.S. Since online lottery is not yet legal in South Dakota, we cannot say for sure if it will be taxed differently than normal earnings, though.

Upcoming Regulation Changes for Online Lottery

All in all, we reviewed everything that is related to online lottery, which is, unfortunately, illegal. The worst part is that at least for now, there are no plans to create new laws or pass any bills. Still, we can keep on hoping – after all, online lotto is a source of a nice income for whatever state and legalizing it would only reward South Dakota.

Lottery Guides for Nearby States

• North Dakota
• Nebraska
• Iowa
• Minnesota