Look out Vegas, here comes South Dakota!

This week I had the unique and exciting opportunity to travel to Rapid City, South Dakota for business. While driving in my rental to my hotel, I glanced over and saw as sign reading ‘CASINO!’. I slammed on the brakes and pulled the car into the parking lot. Let’s just say this was no Caesars Palace. What made this casino unique was that it was located in a strip mall, just like a Subway or Verizon store would be.

This was not a unique location, however, as there were these ‘casinos’ all over Rapid City, in similar locations. So I asked around, and it turns out that these establishments are video keno and video poker only, no slots or table games. (Although they do have traditional casinos in Deadwood and on the reservations) Also interesting is that the machines are centrally controlled and operated by the state’s lottery program.

From a description of the state’s gambling laws:

In the first year of operation, 700 establishments were licensed and generated revenues that surpassed projections by nearly $2.5 million. The number of establishments and terminals grew quickly, leveling off by 1994, but with steady growth to near the current levels of approximately 8,300 terminals in 1,400 establishments across the state.

South Dakota’s video lottery terminals offer variations of poker, blackjack, keno, and bingo games, with both quarter and nickel games available. The maximum bet is $2 and the top prize is $1,000. Winnings from video lottery play are not dispensed right from the terminal, but rather a voucher for the winnings is printed by the terminal, which the player is required to claim at the establishment that same day. Terminals pay out – credits won as a percentage of credits played – between 88 and 92 percent.

I didn’t have time to check one out unfortunately, although who wouldn’t love having a ‘casino’ on every street corner?

Here are a few pictures:

So you have a place to spend your winnings...


I couldn't get it in the frame, but there is actually a liquor store to the right...one stop shopping.


And my personal favorite, that's a women's gym below the 'Casino'...

Video Lottery in South Dakota