Unarmed Security Officer
- New SD Unarmed Security Guard: No state requirements for new unarmed security guards, except for persons working at a racetrack.
- Rookie SD Unarmed Security Guard: No requirements for your 1st year.
- Pro SD Unarmed Security Guard: No renewal requirements.
Even though South Dakota doesn’t have any mandated security guard training or registration for most employees, you should still seek training from your employer. Training helps you be professional and excel at your job as a security officer. Training helps prevent you from violating the civil rights and liberties of other people. Training also helps prevent you from violating laws will on duty. You don’t want your actions while on duty as a security guard to results in criminal or civil lawsuits against you or your employer.
The Gaming Commission requires persons working as guards in the racing industry to register and pay a license fee. Your employer will help you complete the registration form and know where to send the application form and fee.
Greyhound Racing Security Guard
- Initial Registration: $12.
Grounds for Refusal of Greyhound Racing Security Guard License
The Gaming Commission may refuse to issue a license to the following persons:
- One who owns, operates, or has an interest in a bookmaking, pool selling, or other illegal enterprise or who is connected with or associated with an illegal enterprise;
- One who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
- One who is unqualified, by experience or otherwise, to perform the duties required;
- One who fails to disclose the true ownership of interest in all greyhounds as required by the application;
- One who is or has been engaged in an activity, conduct, or practice that is undesirable or detrimental to the best interests of the public and the sport of greyhound racing; and
- One who has been refused a license by or is not eligible for a license in any other racing jurisdiction or racing association.
Horse Racing Security Guard
- Initial Registration = $10
- Renewal Registration = $5. The renewal fee applies if a licensee presents the licensee’s previous year’s license for validation for the current year’s racing season. If the license from the previous year’s racing season is not presented, the Gaming Commission shall consider the request to be for a new license and the new license fee must be charged.
All licensees must carry their card with them at all times and are responsible for its safekeeping. The license must be prominently displayed at all times licensees are in a restricted area, such as the paddock, barn or stable areas, on the track, or in the starting gate area. A license is not transferable. A lost card must be reported to the commission immediately.
No license may be granted to anyone under 16 years of age.
Grounds for Refusal of Horse Racing Security Guard License
The South Dakota Gaming Commission may refuse, revoke, or suspend a license for the following reasons:
- Ownership, operation, or having an interest in bookmaking, pool selling, or any other illegal enterprise or having a connection with or association with a person engaged in illegal bookmaking, pool selling, or any other illegal enterprise;
- Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
- Being unqualified, by experience or otherwise, to perform the duties required of the applicant;
- Failure to disclose the true ownership interest in all horses as required;
- Engaging in activity, conduct, or practices that are undesirable or detrimental to the best interests of the public and the sport of horse racing;
- Suspension, revocation, or refusal to be licensed by any other racing jurisdiction;
- Failure or inability to maintain a race track properly or to meet obligations of the licensee’s racing business on the track grounds;
- Violation of rules adopted by the commission or taking action or attempted action that is contrary to law;
- Hiring or employing a person who does not have a license required by this article;
- Permitting any person who is visibly intoxicated to participate in pari-mutuel wagering;
- Conducting false or misleading advertising;
- Catering to, assisting, employing, or associating with, either socially or in business affairs, any person of notorious or unsavory reputation or who has a police record, has defied congressional investigative committees or other officially constituted bodies acting on behalf of the United States or any state, or is associated with or supports known criminal organizations;
- Employing directly, including by a contract or by any other means, a firm or individual in any capacity that may damage the reputation of the state of South Dakota, or the pari-mutuel racing industry because of the unsuitability of the firm or individual or because of the unethical or criminal methods of operation of the firm or individual;
- Employing a person who has been denied a gaming or racing license on the grounds of unsuitability by a jurisdiction or who has failed or refused to apply for licensing;
- Failure to comply with or make provision for compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances, including payment of license fees, sales taxes, use taxes, federal, state, and local income taxes, withholding and payroll taxes, liquor and license fees, and antitrust and monopoly statutes;
- Denying any commission member or agent, on lawful demand, access to, inspection of, or disclosure of part of a pari-mutuel wagering establishment;
- Failure by a licensed employee to wear in plain view identification issued by the commission;
- Alteration of a license;
- Allowing a license to be used by a person other than the licensee;
- Willfully or persistently employing unlawful methods of operation or toleration of unlawful methods of operation; or
- Participating in fraudulent or dishonest conduct.
A violation of this section is grounds for disciplinary action.
Armed Security Officer
Even though South Dakota doesn’t have any mandated armed security guard training or registration for most employees, you still need to follow the state regulations and laws regarding possession of a hand gun, pistol or other weapon. Your employer can help you get the proper firearm training, registration and licensing. You should get training in how not to escalate the use of force in situations that you encounter while on duty.
If you work as an armed security officer at a horse or greyhound racing facility, you need to register and pay a license fee just as an unarmed security guard does to the state Gaming Commission. Your employer will help you complete the registration form and know where to send the application form and fee.
- New SD Armed Security Officer: No state requirements for new armed security guards.
- Rookie SD Armed Security Officer: No requirements for your 1st year.
- Pro / Renewal SD Armed Security Officer: No renewal requirements.