South Dakota tribes looking for ways to grow gaming operations


The Prairie Wind Casino, owned by the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Photo from Prairie Wind Casino

South Dakota tribes are seeing a growth in gaming revenue, according to Casino City's Indian Gaming Report.

But most tribes are hindered by provisions in the Class III gaming compact that limit them to 250 slot machines. They also must compete with non-Indian operations so they are turning to Class II devices, hotels and other services.

“Even for Indian gaming, it is saturated,” Pam Aungie, the assistant controller for the Yankton Sioux Tribe, told The Sioux Falls Argus Leader. “The way you keep your customers is through customer service, and that is what we are pushing here.”

The tribe plans to expand the Fort Randall Casino and add a hotel, Aungie said. But "that is still down the road yet,” she told the paper.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe also wants to expand its operations. Craig Dillon, a council member, said the East Wind Casino needs more machines.

"We are at capacity three or four nights a week,” Dillon told the paper. Expansion of the facility might be an option, he said.

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Tribal gaming revenue hits record high (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 4/10)

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