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South Dakota Lottery Retailers

Are you interested in becoming a South Dakota Lottery retailer?

If you're not currently a South Dakota Lottery retailer but would like to become one, please see the information below. Online application is available for any type of license issued by the Lottery. The online application is the only form of submission. This application also allows you to make required payments electronically. Find out more at the links below. Electronic License Application Note: The South Dakota Lottery is using the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct background investigations. This involves utilizing state and federal fingerprint cards for Lottery employees, new applicants, current licensees and vendors. For more information on the requirements of this process, contact the Security Division of the South Dakota Lottery at (605) 773-5770

Become a Scratch Ticket and Lotto Retailer

Want to join the more than 600 businesses throughout the state that offer "Good Fun"? The Lottery recognizes ticket retailers as important partners and pays retailers a 5 percent commission on the sale of each lottery ticket, plus incentive commissions. Scratch ticket retailers have earned more than $27 million in commissions from selling tickets, and Lotto ticket retailers have earned more than $25 million in commissions.

Scratch Ticket & Lotto Retailer Application Checklist

Note: All Lottery retailers are required to sell both instant tickets and lotto tickets with the exception of retailers on Indian Reservations who are prohibited from selling lotto tickets.

Retailers are charged $12.93 per week for communications costs. As an incentive, retailers who sell $5,000 or more in instant tickets in a quarter are credited $168.09 (13 weeks of communications costs) at the end of that quarter. Retailers who are part of a chain in which the chain's per store average is $6,000 in instant ticket sales for a quarter are credited the communications costs for that quarter. A chain store is defined as two or more stores under the same ownership or entity.

Pursuant to SDCL 42-7A-50, information provided in license applications is considered confidential information on file with the South Dakota Lottery except:

  • Business name, business address, and business phone number
  • Name of any video lottery operator including, if the video lottery operator is a partnership, the name of any partner and, if the video lottery operator is an association or corporation, the name of any director, any officer, and any stockholder who owns five percent or more of the stock in the association or a parent or subsidiary corporation.

Become a Video Lottery Partner

There are four types of video lottery licenses.
  • Establishments, which must have an on-sale alcohol beverage license, are the businesses where the terminals are located.
  • Operators own the terminals and provide maintenance using technicians certified by the Lottery.
  • Distributors provide the terminals and parts to the operators.
  • Manufacturers produce the terminals after the hardware and software have been tested and approved by the Lottery and an independent gaming laboratory.

BECOME A VIDEO LOTTERY LICENSEE

Through the online application process, you can easily complete the form and submit it electronically and make any required payments electronically. Online application is available for all types of video lottery licenses. If you'd like to apply electronically, click Online Application.

The following checklist will help you complete the application process: Checklist

A Federal Bureau of Investigation background check is required. This applies to ALL license categories shown below and involves the use of state and federal fingerprint cards for new applicants and current licensees. For more information on the requirements for this process, contact the Security Division of the South Dakota Lottery at (605) 773-5770.

Establishment License Checklist

Applicants for an Establishment License must:

Note: Law requires that a licensed video lottery establishment be a bar or lounge.

For more information, view our video lottery establishment fact sheet.

Operator License Checklist

Distributor License

Applicants for a Distributor License must submit:

Manufacturer License

Applicants for a Manufacturers License must submit:

Note: Pursuant to SDCL 42-7A-50, information provided in license applications is considered confidential information on file with the South Dakota Lottery except:

  • Business name, business address, and business phone number
  • Name of any video lottery operator including, if the video lottery operator is a partnership, the name of any partner and, if the video lottery operator is an association or corporation, the name of any director, any officer, and any stockholder who owns five percent or more of the stock in the association or a parent or subsidiary corporation.