South Dakota’s House Commerce and Energy Committee approved House Bill 1058, which would allow the licensing and regulation of online parimutuel betting providers to support the state’s struggling horse racing industry. Shane Kramme of the South Dakota Horseman’s Association highlighted the long-standing challenges faced by the industry. The bill passed the committee with an 11-2 vote and will now move to the full House for consideration.

Opposition to the bill was minimal and described as “soft” by groups like Family Voice Action, which expressed concerns about gambling. Representative Tina Mulally shared similar reservations. Meanwhile, Representative Drew Peterson suggested that the bill’s passage might help address issues related to gambling addiction, indicating a nuanced view on the potential impacts of legalizing online betting in this context.