South Dakota Daily Fantasy Sports
South Dakota’s gaming laws do not directly address daily fantasy sports, but all major DFS apps are active in the state and accept customers 18 or older.
Lawmakers have never passed legislation to formally legalize DFS apps in South Dakota, so they operate in a familiar category: not expressly authorized but also not prohibited.
On this page, we list the safest South Dakota daily fantasy sports sites, explain how state law impacts players, and answer the most frequently asked questions.
DFS Apps in South Dakota
Play $5, Get $100Underdog Sports Promo Code: BETUSA
Trading involves risk, including total loss on positions. Content is promotional and not a recommendation to trade. Promotion issued by affiliate. Terms apply. Must be 18+ (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ, MA, and VA) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org. NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).
Free Entry + $100 Deposit BonusParlayPlay Promo Code: BUSA
18/21+, T&Cs Apply. Welcome offer is for players who make their first successful deposit to ParlayPlay. Following the deposit, you receive promo entry(s) that matches the deposit amount up to $100. The promo entry can only be used to enter up to 4-pick More/Less contests. If you lose the promo entry, your account balance is not impacted. The deposit promo entry(s) must be used within 7 days of deposit. After 7 days the free entry will expire. If you have concerns about managing your play on ParlayPlay or anywhere else, or if you’re concerned about a family member or friend, the National Council on Problem Gambling offers support through telephone or text. They can be reached confidentially (24-hours a day) at 1-800-522-4700. Or contacted on their website at https://www.ncpgambling.org/ or through chat at ncpgambling.org/chat.
$200 in No Sweat Tokens + A Free PickBetr Picks Promo Code: USGAMLING
Must be 21+ and located in a jurisdiction where Betr Picks operates. Product offering may vary by jurisdiction. T&Cs apply. For more details, please visit betr.app. Concerned about your play? Call the NCPG at 1-800-522-4700.
Play $5, Get $150 in Lineups If You WinPrizePicks Promo Code: BUSA
New customers only. To qualify, your first PrizePicks lineup that settles must be (i) at least $5, (ii) a “power play” lineup and (iii) played with real money. If that lineup receives a prize payout (a “win”), you will receive $150 in PrizePicks Bonus Lineups. Bonus Lineups carry no cash value and if not used within 7 days of issuance may become null and void. Limit one (1) bonus per user. Promo ends 12/31/26. Promo does not apply to event contract purchases. US residents: If you or someone you know has a gaming problem, get help. Crisis services and responsible gaming counseling can be accessed by calling 1-800-426-2537 or online at www.ncpgambling.org. Concerned about your gaming? Call 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). Must be 18+ and physically located in NY. Standard text rates may apply. For more information, visit gaming.ny.gov/responsible-gaming
21+ to Play, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Because South Dakota does not regulate daily fantasy sports, the market is wide open and competitive. That benefits players because the most common ways fantasy sports brands compete for new users include DFS bonuses, ongoing promos, and contests with high payout potential.
The flip side is that an unregulated market lacks the customer protections present in regulated states. Unlike regulated states, South Dakota does not have a dedicated DFS regulator, a formal dispute resolution procedure, or a licensing process to separate the good operators from the bad.
As such, it’s even more important for fans to choose DFS apps in South Dakota that are established, reputable, and licensed in other states. The following daily fantasy sports apps meet all three of those requirements and accept customers located in South Dakota:
Fantasy Pick’em Apps in South Dakota
Fantasy pick’em apps operate in South Dakota without restriction.
Prominent South Dakota DFS apps like PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy let you predict whether two or more athletes will finish above or below their projected stat totals. For example, a typical fantasy pick’em contest may ask users to predict whether:
- A quarterback will throw for more or less than 243.5 yards
- An NBA player will record more or less than 8.5 rebounds
- A pro golfer will have more or less than 4.5 “birdies or better”
The primary difference between prop bets (which are illegal outside of authorized sportsbooks in South Dakota) and pick’em contests is that the latter require every “slate” to cover at least two athletes.
By requiring every slate to include two or more athletes, fantasy pick ‘em apps in South Dakota contend that they meet the UIGEA’s definition of “fantasy sports,” which exempts them from classification as sports betting.
Gaming regulators in some states disagree with that assertion and have forced fantasy pick ‘em apps to either cease and desist entirely or to adjust their contest mechanics. That has not happened in South Dakota, and numerous fantasy pick’em sports apps have operated openly for years without enforcement action or legal threats.
South Dakota Daily Fantasy Sports Law
South Dakota’s laws do not specifically address daily fantasy sports. The current legal landscape in South Dakota is a product of (a) how the law treats games of skill and (b) a 2015 decision by the Attorney General not to pursue operators.
The most relevant official guidance came in 2015, when daily fantasy sports sites launched a massive advertising blitz that drew national scrutiny and enforcement actions in multiple states.
In a public statement, then-Attorney General Marty Jackley stated that free-to-play DFS contests are legal and that it had traditionally been the Attorney General’s position that contests of skill are exempt from the state’s gambling prohibition.
The statement did not address paid daily fantasy sports contests, but it did lay the groundwork for DFS apps to operate in South Dakota under the legal theory that they rely on in most states: paid fantasy sports contests are games of skill, not illegal gambling.
Around the same time, the South Dakota Commission on Gaming held a meeting in which it stated that the commission had no legal authority to regulate fantasy sports.
Neither position has changed in the years since. The legislature has not passed a DFS law, and no Attorney General or court has revisited the question. As a result, the status quo remains in place to this day: daily fantasy sports are unregulated but tolerated in South Dakota.
South Dakota Daily Fantasy Sports FAQ
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.