America's Most Historic Gambling Town
Wild West history. Black Hills scenery. Legal gaming since 1989. Deadwood is unlike any casino destination on earth.
Deadwood: Where the Wild West Still Deals Cards
Deadwood, South Dakota is one of the most extraordinary casino destinations in the United States — not because of its size, but because of what it is. Nestled in a narrow Black Hills gulch where gold was discovered in 1875, Deadwood was the most notorious outlaw town of the American frontier. Wild Bill Hickok was shot at a poker table here on August 2, 1876. Calamity Jane walked these streets. Seth Bullock brought law and order. The whole town is a National Historic Landmark.
In 1989, South Dakota voters made Deadwood the first jurisdiction in the United States outside of Nevada and New Jersey to legalize commercial casino gambling. On November 1, 1989, Deadwood opened its casino doors — and the town that gold built was reborn. Today, over 80 gaming establishments operate in this small mountain town of roughly 1,400 residents, ranging from the historic saloons that put Deadwood on the map to full-service casino resort hotels. Limited stakes gambling — with maximum bets up to $1,000 per hand or spin — keeps the atmosphere accessible and the history front and center.
Deadwood isn't Las Vegas. It's better than that. It's a living piece of American history where you can pull a slot machine handle in the same building where gunslingers once played faro.
National Historic Landmark
The entire town of Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark — every casino you visit sits in a piece of American frontier history.
Legal Since 1989
South Dakota voters approved casino gambling in 1988. Deadwood launched November 1, 1989 — one of America's longest-running casino markets.
Black Hills Setting
At 4,200 feet in the Black Hills, Deadwood combines casino gaming with proximity to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, and the Badlands.
Deadwood Mountain Grand
Deadwood Mountain Grand is the anchor resort of Deadwood's casino scene — the largest gaming and hotel property in town, perched on a hill above the historic main street with panoramic Black Hills views. The Mountain Grand combines a full casino floor with a premium hotel, multiple dining venues, and a performance entertainment venue that draws national touring acts. It represents the full-scale resort experience within Deadwood's unique historic context.
For visitors who want a true casino resort stay — not just a quick gaming stop — Deadwood Mountain Grand is the base of operations for a Deadwood trip.
★Best for: Visitors who want the most complete resort package in Deadwood — hotel, full casino floor, dining, and entertainment all on property.
Full-Service Deadwood Casino Resorts
Lodge at Deadwood
The Lodge at Deadwood is a full-service casino resort offering hotel accommodations, a casino floor, multiple dining options, and easy access to Deadwood's historic main street. The property balances modern resort comfort with proximity to the historic town — a strong choice for visitors planning multiple days in the Black Hills. Clean, well-appointed rooms, solid gaming options, and good dining make it a reliable base camp for a Deadwood trip.
→ EXPLORE THE LODGE AT DEADWOOD
Cadillac Jack's Gaming Resort
Cadillac Jack's sits right in the heart of Deadwood's downtown casino corridor — the walkable stretch of historic main street where the concentration of gaming establishments puts Deadwood's unique character on full display. The resort offers casino gaming, hotel rooms, and dining, all within walking distance of Saloon No. 10, the Bullock Hotel, and the rest of historic downtown. For players who want to be in the middle of the Deadwood action, Cadillac Jack's is the downtown anchor.
→ EXPLORE CADILLAC JACK'SDeadwood's Most Historic Gaming Venues
Deadwood's most famous gaming establishments aren't resort hotels — they're the historic saloons and landmark buildings that connect modern visitors directly to the Wild West. These are the places that define what makes Deadwood unlike any other casino destination.
Saloon No. 10
On August 2, 1876, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok was shot and killed at a poker table in Deadwood while holding what has become known forever as the "Dead Man's Hand" — two pair, aces and eights. The location is disputed, but Saloon No. 10 has honored the legend for generations, reenacting the shooting daily and keeping the spirit of frontier Deadwood alive. Gaming is available, but the history is the draw. No trip to Deadwood is complete without walking through these doors.
saloon10.com
Bullock Hotel
Seth Bullock was Deadwood's first sheriff — a real lawman in a town that desperately needed one, and a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt. He built the Bullock Hotel in 1895, and it stands today as one of Deadwood's most storied historic properties. The hotel operates with casino gaming, and its Victorian architecture and frontier history make it one of the most atmospheric stays in all of South Dakota. Widely considered to be haunted — which may or may not enhance the gaming atmosphere.
bullockhotel.com
Midnight Star
Actor Kevin Costner and his brother Dan opened the Midnight Star on Deadwood's historic main street — a casino, bar, and restaurant filled with Hollywood memorabilia from Costner's film career. The Midnight Star has been a Deadwood institution for decades, blending celebrity culture with frontier history in only the way Deadwood can pull off. Gaming, dining, and a piece of Hollywood history on the wildest main street in America.
midnightstar.comNotable Deadwood Casino Properties
Deadwood's 80+ gaming establishments range from full resort hotels to historic frontier saloons — all in one remarkable National Historic Landmark town.
Deadwood Mountain Grand
Full casino floor, hotel, entertainment venue. Black Hills panoramic views. Deadwood's flagship resort property.
Lodge at Deadwood
Casino, hotel, dining. Great base for multi-day Black Hills trips. Modern comforts with Deadwood access.
Cadillac Jack's Gaming Resort
Prime main street location. Casino, hotel, dining. Heart of Deadwood's downtown gaming corridor.
Silverado-Franklin Hotel
Deadwood's storied Franklin Hotel. Historic landmark property with casino gaming. A piece of genuine Deadwood history.
Saloon No. 10
Where Wild Bill Hickok was shot, August 2, 1876. Daily reenactments. Gaming and bar. The most famous saloon in the American West.
Bullock Hotel
Deadwood's legendary Victorian hotel. Built 1895 by Sheriff Seth Bullock. Casino, hotel rooms, frontier atmosphere — and reportedly haunted.
Midnight Star
Celebrity-owned Deadwood institution. Gaming, bar, dining, Hollywood memorabilia. Kevin and Dan Costner's landmark on main street.
Mineral Palace Hotel & Gaming
Deadwood's historic Mineral Palace. Hotel accommodations and casino gaming in a classic downtown Deadwood setting.
Tin Lizzie Gaming
Downtown Deadwood slot and gaming venue. Classic Deadwood main street gaming atmosphere.
*Deadwood has over 80 licensed gaming establishments. The properties above represent a selection of notable casinos and historic venues. All Deadwood gaming is regulated by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming.*
Gaming in South Dakota: What's Legal
🎰 Limited Stakes Casino Gaming
South Dakota voters approved limited-stakes casino gambling for Deadwood in a 1988 ballot measure. Deadwood opened for gaming on November 1, 1989. Today, all casino gaming in Deadwood is regulated by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming.
- Casino gaming legal in Deadwood since November 1, 1989
- Maximum bet: up to $1,000 per hand or spin
- Games: slots, blackjack, poker, and other live table games
- All properties licensed by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming
- Tribal casino gaming also legal on South Dakota reservation lands
🏈 Sports Betting in South Dakota
South Dakota voters approved sports wagering via Amendment B in November 2020. Sports betting launched in Deadwood on September 1, 2021, at licensed Deadwood casino locations.
South Dakota sports betting is available in-person at licensed Deadwood casino locations and tribal casino facilities. There is no statewide mobile or online sports betting app in South Dakota. You must be physically at a licensed Deadwood casino or tribal casino property to place a legal sports bet.
No legal online casino gaming in South Dakota. Must be 21+ to bet.
More Casino Destinations
Play Responsibly
All casino gaming in Deadwood, South Dakota is regulated by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. South Dakota offers a voluntary self-exclusion program for individuals who wish to ban themselves from licensed gaming establishments. Self-exclusion applies across all licensed Deadwood casino properties. Sports betting at Deadwood casino locations is regulated under South Dakota's Amendment B gaming framework.
Must be 21+ to gamble at Deadwood casino establishments. Please gamble responsibly and within your means.