Senate loosens limit for casino ownership

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PIERRE — South Dakota senators voted Friday to repeal the three-casino restriction on ownership of Deadwood gambling establishments.

No one spoke against the change during the Senate consideration nor during a hearing Thursday by the Senate committee on commerce and energy.

The prime sponsor of the legislation, Senate Bill 112, is Sen. Tom Nelson, R-Lead.

The vote was 26-4 in favor. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives.

Senators delayed consideration of Nelson’s other Deadwood legislation that would increase the bet limit to $1,000 from the current $100.

Nelson said he sought the delay because the Senate had a long calendar of legislation scheduled for Friday afternoon.

He said the bet-limit increase would be considered “almost assuredly” on Monday.

“There’s no issues. I just wanted a full debate,” he said.

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