The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) be damned, sports gambling is going to continue to spread across the country. There are already eight states that have legalized the activity and several more are in line to give their approval this year. As much as Shelly and the DOJ try to prevent progress, states aren’t going to stand for the conspiracies.

The South Dakota Senate State Affairs Committee approved a sports gambling bill yesterday by a vote of 5-4. It now has to go to the Senate floor for its approval and, if given, would be put on the ballot for voters next year. If all goes well, the gambling hub of Deadwood will also become the state’s sports betting hub.

In a statement to the Argus Leader news outlet, Deadwood Gaming Association Executive Director Mike Rodman stated, “We compete both with surrounding states and nationally, and need to provide our customers with those gaming products they ask for that other states are providing.”

Iowa is considering a trio of bills that look to regulate the sports gambling industry. One would allow the Iowa Lottery to oversee the industry, while another hopes to have control given to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The third, similar in most aspects to the others but more popular with professional sports leagues, seeks to introduce the controversial integrity fee and would force wagers to be graded based on official league data. Given that most of that data is based on team reports, those grades may be skewed.