South Dakota Casino Revenue Drops 10.4% in February 2025

South Dakota’s casino industry faced a notable decline in February 2025, with the total gaming handle dropping to $106.3 million. This reflects a 10.4% year-over-year decrease from the $118.6 million recorded in February 2024, as reported by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. The downturn affected both slot machines and table games, while sports betting managed to see slight growth.

Slot Machine Revenue Sees Notable Decline

Slot machines, which contribute the most to the state’s gaming handle, recorded $98.8 million in wagers last month. This marks a 10.8% decrease from the $110.8 million generated in February 2024. The decline indicates reduced player activity across the state’s seven commercial casinos. Despite slot machines typically being the most stable source of revenue for casinos, the drop suggests a shift in gambling behavior or potential external economic factors impacting player spending.

The statistical win from slot machines also saw a decrease. In February 2025, the total winnings from slots amounted to $9.2 million, down from $9.8 million in the same period last year. This decline follows the overall downward trend in slot machine activity and further emphasizes the industry’s struggle to maintain previous levels of profitability.

Table games also experienced a decline in revenue, though to a lesser extent compared to slot machines. The total handle from table games in February 2025 reached $6.7 million, reflecting a 5% drop from the $7.1 million recorded in February 2024. The reduction in table game wagers suggests lower player participation in blackjack, roulette, and other traditional casino games.

Similarly, statistical win from table games followed a downward trajectory. Casinos earned $1.2 million in table game winnings, according to the January 2025 report, which represents a decrease compared to $1.4 million in February of the previous year. While the decline is smaller than that seen in slot machines, it still indicates a shrinking player base or lower betting amounts per game.

Sports Betting Sees Modest Growth

In contrast to the declines seen in other gaming segments, South Dakota’s sports betting market saw an increase in activity. The total sports betting handle for February 2025 reached $733,611, representing a 5.4% rise from the $696,016 reported in February 2024. The NCAA men’s basketball season played a major role in this growth, with bettors wagering $362,696 on college basketball events last month.

However, despite the increase in handle, sportsbooks’ statistical win dropped significantly. In February 2025, sportsbooks earned $18,295 in winnings, a sharp decline from the $38,405 recorded in February 2024. The discrepancy between handle growth and sportsbook profitability may be attributed to favorable odds for bettors or a higher number of successful wagers.

The combined statistical win from all gaming sectors—slot machines, table games, and sports betting—amounted to $10.5 million in February 2025, down 6.8% from $11.2 million in February 2024. The overall decline in revenue suggests that South Dakota’s casino market may be experiencing temporary fluctuations or broader shifts in gambling trends. As the industry looks ahead, casinos may need to adapt marketing strategies or introduce new promotions to attract players and stabilize revenue streams.

Source:

‘’South Dakota Gaming Statistics Monthly Summary’’, dor.sd.gov, February 2025.