South Dakota commission approves rules to conform with law on higher bet limit

Chet Brokaw

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2000 | 5:14 a.m.

PIERRE, S.D. - The state Gaming Commission has taken another step toward allowing $100 bets in Deadwood casinos.

Voters last week approved an initiated law boosting the $5 bet limit to $100, and the commission met by two-way television Thursday to adopt emergency rules so that five rules and one reporting form will match the new law.

After the five commission members' signatures are received by mail to confirm their votes, the emergency rules can take effect next week after being filed with the secretary of state's office.

However, officials have said most casinos will not move to the $100 bet limits next week. Casinos will wait to boost the bet limits because they need to get higher-value chips and tokens and they plan to give their staff additional training to handle the higher bets.

The Deadwood casinos have had a $5 bet limit since legalized poker, blackjack and slot machines began in 1989.

Tribal casinos also can raise their bet limits because gambling compacts the tribes have negotiated with the state give them the right to have the same bet limits as Deadwood's gambling halls.

Representatives of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe attended Thursday's state commission hearing. They said their casino might move to $25 bets soon, but it will wait awhile before going to a $100 bet.

The state law allowing $100 bets took effect Thursday, a day after the state Canvass Board finished the official vote count for last week's election.

The Gaming Commission had to change a few rules to match the new law. Some of those rules specifically limited bets to $5 in card games and slot machines.

The emergency rules adopted by the commission can remain in effect no more than 90 days, said Larry Eliason, the commission's executive secretary. The commission plans to hold a hearing Jan. 4 to adopt permanent rules dealing with the higher bet limits, he said.