March Madness has become Deadwood’s biggest sports‑betting draw, with the NCAA men’s basketball tournament now generating the highest monthly handle of any sport since wagering was legalized in 2021.
Last March, bettors wagered $1.28 million on the men’s tournament—the first time Deadwood sportsbooks saw more than $1 million on a single sport in a single month, according to the South Dakota Gaming Commission. For the 2025 fiscal year, NCAA men’s basketball totaled $2.24 million in wagers.
The NFL remains Deadwood’s top sport overall, drawing $2.58 million in bets for the year. But the NCAA men’s tournament consistently ranks as the top single‑month event, with March leading the handle every year.
Sports betting remains a small slice of casino revenue. In 2025, Deadwood sportsbooks generated $925,478 in gross revenue—compared to more than $153 million in overall casino revenue.
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