South Dakota tribe prepares for massive Deadwood casino resort

The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribe has announced plans to build a massive $450 million casino resort in Deadwood, South Dakota. The casino will include a hotel, restaurants, and a convention center, and is expected to create 1,000 new jobs in the area.

"This is a great opportunity for our tribe and for the people of Deadwood," said tribal chairman Harold Frazier. "We're committed to creating a first-class resort that will be a major attraction for the region."

The project has been met with mixed reactions from local residents. Some are excited about the prospect of new jobs and tourism dollars, while others worry about the impact on the community.

"We don't really know what to expect," said local resident Sandy Kooiker. "A lot of people are worried about traffic congestion and crime, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

Work on the casino is scheduled to begin in early 2019, with completion expected in late 2020.

First Deadwood gaming license goes to Hollywood Casino

On Tuesday, the South Dakota gaming commission awarded the first Deadwood gaming license to Hollywood Casino. The casino is a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming and plans to invest $170 million in a new facility in downtown Deadwood.

The new Hollywood Casino will be located on Main Street in Deadwood, close to the historic district. It will feature a 300-room hotel, a spa, and a convention center. The casino will also have 85 table games and 1,500 slots.

"This is an exciting day for Penn National Gaming and for Deadwood," said Timothy Wilmott, CEO of Penn National Gaming. "We are looking forward to becoming part of this vibrant community and bringing our world-class entertainment and hospitality to Deadwood."

Hollywood Casino wasn't the only bidder for the first Deadwood gaming license. Other companies that expressed interest included Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Golden Entertainment, and Boyd Gaming Corporation.

Deadwood Mayor Chuck Turbiville was happy with the decision by the commission. "Hollywood Casino has a long history of successful operation in other states," said Turbiville. "They are committed to Deadwood and will be a great partner in developing our downtown area. I believe they will provide significant economic benefits to our community."

The opening of Hollywood Casino is still several months away. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2019, with the casino opening in 2020.

Nevada company gets nod for Deadwood online casino

The Nevada company that won approval from the state Friday to build an online casino in Deadwood has a track record of launching and operating successful casinos.

Alpha8 LLC was one of two companies approved by the state to offer internet gambling in Deadwood, the first municipality in South Dakota to legalize the activity. The company already operates two casinos in Nevada: The D Las Vegas and the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino.

"We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with the city of Deadwood to bring our proven online gaming experience to their residents and visitors," said Dave Farah, CEO of Alpha8.

The company plans to invest $5 million in its new casino, which is expected to create 36 jobs. It will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will offer blackjack, roulette, craps and slots. Players will be able to make deposits and withdrawals at the casino cage or receive winnings through direct deposit or check mailed to their home.

Alpha8's entry into Deadwood comes as other states consider legalizing online gambling. A bill legalizing it was introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature last month.

10 things you need to know about Deadwood slotgaming

1. Deadwood is a slot game based on the popular HBO series of the same name.

2. The game features 5 reels and 30 paylines, with bonus rounds and free spins available.

3. Symbols on the reels include characters from the TV series such as Al Swearengen, Seth Bullock and Calamity Jane.

4. The highest paying symbol is Al Swearengen, awarding up to 2,500 coins for 5 matching symbols.

5. The Wild symbol is represented by the show's title and can be used to replace any other symbol to create a winning combination.

6. The Bonus symbol is a wanted poster and will trigger the Deadwood bonus round when 3 or more appear simultaneously on the reels.

7. In the bonus round, players must choose one of three characters to help them win prizes.

8. The Free Spins symbol is a golden token and will award 10 free spins when 3 or more appear simultaneously on the reels.

9. During free spins, all prizes are doubled in value.

10. Deadwood is a highly entertaining slot game that offers plenty of excitement and winning potential for players of all levels of experience.

Deadwood bet: How to play and where to bet

The Deadwood bet is a relatively new wager that has been gaining in popularity in the past few years. Named for the town of Deadwood, South Dakota where it was invented, the Deadwood bet is essentially a three-card monte game that can be played at any blackjack table.

To play, each player makes a bet on either the king or queen of spades. The dealer then deals out three cards face down - one to themselves, and two to the other players. The players then take turns flipping over their cards one at a time. The goal is to guess which of the two cards revealed by the other players is the king or queen of spades. If you guess correctly, you double your money; if you guess incorrectly, you lose your bet.

Because it's essentially a game of chance, the odds are fairly even for both players and the house. However, as with any gambling game, there is always the potential for big payouts - or big losses. So if you're feeling lucky, give the Deadwood bet a try the next time you're at the casino!