A bill allowing craps, roulette, and keno in Deadwood is one step closer to becoming law. In November voters approved an amendment giving the legislature the ability to authorize the games. Representative Brian Gosch spoke in favor of Senate Bill 57. He says the city of Deadwood was on the decline after the closing of Homestake Gold Mine, and gambling has helped revitalize the city.
“Money was going back into the community, it goes to schools, it goes to the state of South Dakota,” Gosch says. “Historic preservation obviously can be seen if you go there. And don’t forget the number two industry in our state is tourism. Keeping that town alive, after the HBO episodes of course, that brought more notoriety to the town of Deadwood and to the state of South Dakota, helping bring more people into our state and then visiting the town of Deadwood. So as Deadwood has kind of revitalized, it’s kind of re-grown, repopulated buildings have been re-improved on Main Street, other parts of town, it’s helped our tourism industry.”
But opponents say the measure means an expansion of gambling, an activity they say takes a heavy toll on South Dakotans who are addicted.
The majority of Representatives were in favor of Senate Bill 57. It passed the House with a vote of 46 to 22.