Gambling and the Wild West
Gambling grew up as an important hobby and ultimately an important part of the economy almost from the founding of the Dakota Territory (North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Montana and Wyoming). As was typical in the Western American states, the discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 brought a rush of people to the area, and along with them, saloons and casinos. The town of Deadwood, in particular grew up as a center of both the mining industry and the gambling economy of the state. Deadwood's history, which was featured in the HBO series Deadwood, is full of colorful outlaw characters from Wild Bill Hickock to Calamity Jane, to Seth Bullock. Each of these figures was affected by the gambling lifestyle, with Hickock, for example, being shot dead in the middle of a poker game.
By 1905 the Wild West began to domesticate itself, and gambling was outlawed in South Dakota. Not until 1987 were bingo and raffles allowed for non-profit organizations. However, in 1989, gambling began to make a more serious comeback in the state, and by 1993, with the institution of the first tribal gaming compacts, high stakes gambling officially returned to the place where it had formerly played such a formative role.
A Gambling Legacy
Gambling continues to play an important role in South Dakota's economic and cultural life. While the dangerous outlaw lifestyle of gambling is long gone, the gaming industry continues to provide important monetary benefit for both the Native American tribes who own the casinos and the state itself, which taxes gambling earnings at a rate of nine percent.
Gambling grew up as an important hobby and ultimately an important part of the economy almost from the founding of the Dakota Territory (North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Montana and Wyoming). As was typical in the Western American states, the discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 brought a rush of people to the area, and along with them, saloons and casinos. The town of Deadwood, in particular grew up as a center of both the mining industry and the gambling economy of the state. Deadwood's history, which was featured in the HBO series Deadwood, is full of colorful outlaw characters from Wild Bill Hickock to Calamity Jane, to Seth Bullock. Each of these figures was affected by the gambling lifestyle, with Hickock, for example, being shot dead in the middle of a poker game.
By 1905 the Wild West began to domesticate itself, and gambling was outlawed in South Dakota. Not until 1987 were bingo and raffles allowed for non-profit organizations. However, in 1989, gambling began to make a more serious comeback in the state, and by 1993, with the institution of the first tribal gaming compacts, high stakes gambling officially returned to the place where it had formerly played such a formative role.
A Gambling Legacy
Gambling continues to play an important role in South Dakota's economic and cultural life. While the dangerous outlaw lifestyle of gambling is long gone, the gaming industry continues to provide important monetary benefit for both the Native American tribes who own the casinos and the state itself, which taxes gambling earnings at a rate of nine percent.