Voters OK $100 bets in Deadwood

Joe Kafka

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000 | 11:07 a.m.

Approved

Rejected

Retained

Rejected

Passing

Passed

Rejected

Yes

Too close to call Sources: Associated Press, Rocky Mountain News, Seattle Times, Portland (Maine) Press Herald

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Stagnant for 11 years, the $5 bet limit in Deadwood casinos will be bumped to $100.

Voters approved an initiated law Tuesday that increases the bet limit for the first time since legalized gambling began in Lawrence County.

With ballots tallied in all the state's 888 precincts, 52 percent of voters, or 161,105, favored the higher bet limit and 48 percent, or 151,156, opposed it.

Melodee Nelson, who took the lead in the campaign for $100 bets, said early today that she expected a close race.

"Our polling said we were three or four points ahead. We won by what we thought we would. I'm thrilled."

The higher bet limit will allow Deadwood casinos to compete with other states for a new clientelle, Nelson said.

"It's going to allow us to market to a whole new group of people," she said.

"And contrary to what our opponents said, it's not about greed. It's about wanting to do good for our employees, to be competitive and give our customers what they want."

Opponents of the higher bet limit said it would draw high rollers who would make the Black Hills their playground, boxing out average South Dakotans who no longer could afford to vacation in the mountains. They also warned that the state's Indian casinos also would be allowed to match the $100 bets, providing an expansion of gambling across the state.

Deadwood gambling was approved in 1988 when 64 percent of voters decided that the state constitution should be changed to allow slot machines and card tables in the Old West town.

There were once about 140 card tables in Deadwood casinos, but that has dwindled over the years to about 30 tables, said Tom Blair, a local campground owner who campaigned for the higher bet limit.

"A lot of casinos don't have them anymore," he said. "There's twice as many tables in storage as there are on the floors."