South Dakota Constitution
Article 3 - Legislative Department.
§ 25 Games of chance prohibited--Exceptions.

§ 25. Games of chance prohibited--Exceptions. The Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery, or gift enterprise, under any pretense, or for any purpose whatever provided, however, it shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize by law, bona fide veterans, charitable, educational, religious or fraternal organizations, civic and service clubs, volunteer fire departments, or such other public spirited organizations as it may recognize, to conduct games of chance when the entire net proceeds of such games of chance are to be devoted to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious, or other public spirited uses. However, it shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize by law a state lottery or video games of chance, or both, which are regulated by the State of South Dakota, either separately by the state or jointly with one or more states, and which are owned and operated by the State of South Dakota, either separately by the state or jointly with one or more states or persons, provided any such video games of chance shall not directly dispense coins or tokens. However, the Legislature shall not expand the statutory authority existing as of June 1, 1994, regarding any private ownership of state lottery games or video games of chance, or both. The Legislature shall establish the portion of proceeds due the state from such lottery or video games of chance, or both, and the purposes for which those proceeds are to be used. SDCL 42-7A, and its amendments, regulations, and related laws, and all acts and contracts relying for authority upon such laws and regulations, beginning July 1, 1987, to the effective date of this amendment, are ratified and approved. Further, it shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize by law, roulette, keno, craps, limited card games and slot machines within the city limits of Deadwood. The entire net Municipal proceeds of such roulette, keno, craps, card games and slot machines shall be devoted to the Historic Restoration and Preservation of Deadwood.

History: Amendment proposed by SL 1970, ch 1, approved Nov. 3, 1970. Amendment proposed by SL 1974, ch 1, rejected Nov. 5, 1974. Repeal proposed by SL 1975, ch 2, as amended by SL 1976, ch 1, rejected Nov. 2, 1976. Amendment proposed by SL 1982, ch 3, rejected Nov. 2, 1982. Amendment proposed by SL 1986, ch 2, approved Nov. 4, 1986. Initiated amendment, approved November 8, 1988. Amendment proposed by 1st SS 1994, ch 1, approved Nov. 8, 1994. Amendment proposed by initiated amendment, rejected Nov. 7, 2000. Amendment proposed by SL 2014, ch 2, § 2 approved Nov. 4, 2014.