Deadwood was once a hotbed for gamblers, but the historic Black Hills town had lost some of its flair in the 20th century. Now Deadwood residents have hope again, as new games will be available, including craps, keno, and roulette. The new games were approved by South Dakota residents in a November election. The overwhelming response allowed lawmakers to give casinos permission to add in new games starting July 1, 2015. Casino operators feel the new games will bring tourists, as well as consumers to the historic mining city. Prior to adding the new games, many gamblers traveled to Colorado or Iowa to gain access to the more popular games.
Mike Rodman, director of Deadwood Gaming Association, stated, “It changes the image of Deadwood to being a fully-fledged gaming destination competing on a national level. We’re just excited about the games, and 8 o’clock on July 1, we’ll be paying them.”
Rodman is hopeful that the new games will increase revenue by 4 to 5 percent over the last two years, which has been flat. An estimate states Deadwood could find approximately $2 million more in revenue each year.?Deadwood is not going to be slot machines, blackjack and poker anymore, now providing a host of casino games.
Silverado-Franklin Historic Hotel and Gaming Complex is one location that will start offering craps on July 1. Thom Rensch, who manages the hotel/gaming complex, stated guests have been asking for craps for years.