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Deadwood in South Dakota's Black Hills marks 20th anniversary of legal gambling
Legalized
gambling
began
in
Deadwood
on
Nov.
1,
1989,
when
an
actor
portraying
Wild
Bill
Hickok,
accompanied
by
a
woman
portraying
Calamity
Jane,
shot
a
revolver
into
the
air.
This month the historic town celebrates not just 20 years of legalized gambling, but also the economic rejuvenation that has come along with it.
Before voters approved the change in the state constitution that allowed casinos to open in Deadwood, buildings around town were crumbling and businesses were dying. Then most of Main Street was converted to casinos. Real estate started to sell for far more than anyone had imagined.
The entertainment industry noticed. Actor Kevin Costner bought a casino after making his hit movie, "Dances with Wolves," in South Dakota. HBO created an acclaimed series, "Deadwood," that ran for three seasons and capitalized on the town's notorious past. Characters in the show included Hickok, a real gunfighter who was killed in Deadwood during a poker game in 1876.
Today, Deadwood has about three dozen casinos, 3,500 slots machines and about 100 card tables, according to the state Gaming Commission. Over the years, the casino industry brought 2,000 jobs, millions of dollars in profits, and money for extensive renovations to Deadwood's buildings and infrastructure.
The town, nestled in a canyon between pine-covered mountains, is close enough for visitors to Mount Rushmore, the Badlands and Sturgis to include on their itinerary, so it's benefitted from regional tourism too. Forbes Traveler magazine recently put Deadwood on its list of "America's Prettiest Towns" in a feature posted on its Web site, citing the historic architecture and picturesque Black Hills setting.
The latest new local attraction is a new US$47 million resort, The Lodge at Deadwood. It includes a four-storey hotel, convention centre, water park, restaurant, bar and casino. The hotel, water park and bar opened Nov. 6, and the casino and restaurant will be ready in early December.
Still, Deadwood has to keep an eye on the competition for gamblers. Deadwood was just the third place in the nation to legalize gambling back in 1989. Nevada did so in 1931 and Atlantic City casinos opened in 1978. But now most states have casinos, including Colorado, where casinos were allowed to add ...[next page]
This month the historic town celebrates not just 20 years of legalized gambling, but also the economic rejuvenation that has come along with it.
Before voters approved the change in the state constitution that allowed casinos to open in Deadwood, buildings around town were crumbling and businesses were dying. Then most of Main Street was converted to casinos. Real estate started to sell for far more than anyone had imagined.
The entertainment industry noticed. Actor Kevin Costner bought a casino after making his hit movie, "Dances with Wolves," in South Dakota. HBO created an acclaimed series, "Deadwood," that ran for three seasons and capitalized on the town's notorious past. Characters in the show included Hickok, a real gunfighter who was killed in Deadwood during a poker game in 1876.
Today, Deadwood has about three dozen casinos, 3,500 slots machines and about 100 card tables, according to the state Gaming Commission. Over the years, the casino industry brought 2,000 jobs, millions of dollars in profits, and money for extensive renovations to Deadwood's buildings and infrastructure.
The town, nestled in a canyon between pine-covered mountains, is close enough for visitors to Mount Rushmore, the Badlands and Sturgis to include on their itinerary, so it's benefitted from regional tourism too. Forbes Traveler magazine recently put Deadwood on its list of "America's Prettiest Towns" in a feature posted on its Web site, citing the historic architecture and picturesque Black Hills setting.
The latest new local attraction is a new US$47 million resort, The Lodge at Deadwood. It includes a four-storey hotel, convention centre, water park, restaurant, bar and casino. The hotel, water park and bar opened Nov. 6, and the casino and restaurant will be ready in early December.
Still, Deadwood has to keep an eye on the competition for gamblers. Deadwood was just the third place in the nation to legalize gambling back in 1989. Nevada did so in 1931 and Atlantic City casinos opened in 1978. But now most states have casinos, including Colorado, where casinos were allowed to add ...[next page]
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