Voters could decide whether to offset property taxes with sports betting revenues

Thousands of South Dakotans going to other states to place wagers, analysis finds

Tens of thousands of South Dakotans are flocking to neighboring states to place wagers on sporting events, but voters could decide to keep that money in-state.

A proposed constitutional amendment passed a key legislative committee vote 4-3 Friday. Senate Joint Resolution 504 still must run the gauntlet of the full Senate and House, but supporters have wind at their backs.

The measure would allow voters to decide in November whether to expand sports betting to all South Dakotans. Ninety percent of the revenues generated from the proposal would be used to offset rising property taxes.

Sen. Casey Crabtree, the prime sponsor of SJR 504, told the Senate Taxation Committee that the measure provides “real property tax relief.” The Madison Republican said that rising property taxes are hammering homeowners, and he relayed the story of one homeowner who paid off his mortgage, but his property tax bill is now larger than his old mortgage payment.