From May 3-5, the MSPT will partner with the historic Silverado-Franklin Hotel & Gaming Complex, which is located on Main Street in Deadwood, South Dakota, for the 2019 South Dakota State Poker Championship.

Since its inception in 2011, the South Dakota State Poker Championship had been a standalone event at Deadwood’s Silverado-Franklin Casino. In seven years, the fields fluctuated from 82 to 136 entries, but in 2018 the field jumped to 286 runners thanks in part to partnering with the MSPT for the first time.

It marked the first time in nearly a decade since a major poker tour has hosted an event in Deadwood, and it wound up setting the major tournament ($1K+ buy-in) record for both attendance and prize pool in state history by surpassing the 2009 HPT Lucky Nugget Gambling Hall (176 entries/$250,230 prize pool).

After a full weekend of play, local car salesman Rick Burleson walked away champion after defeating Minnesota’s Aaron Johnson in heads-up play to win $63,462 and keep the title on home turf. It marked Burleson’s first-ever documented tournament cash.

Satellites for the 2019 MSPT South Dakota State Poker Championship at Silverado-Franklin Hotel & Gaming Complex will kick off April 2, culminating with the $100,000 Guaranteed Main Event May 3-5. Day 1A will begin at 3pm on Friday, May 3 with Day 1B at the same time Saturday, May 4. The remaining players from Day 1A & 1B will combine Sunday at 11am for Day 2.

The Silverado-Franklin Hotel & Gaming Complex offers more than 360 different slot machines, Deadwood’s largest table games area (Caribbean Stud, 4-Card Poker, Let It Ride, and 3-Card Poker all with a $1,000 betting limit), and a poker room. In addition, there are great food and drink options at Legends Steakhouse, Silverado Grand Buffet, and the Veranda, which offers unique views of historic Mount Moriah Cemetery, White Rocks and the town of Deadwood.

Deadwood is known for many things, but for poker players its perhaps best known for aces and eights, otherwise known as the Deadman’s Hand. In 1876, Wild Bill Hickok held that hand in a game of poker at a saloon just a few blocks from the present-day Silverado when he was shot by Jack McCall.

Mark your calendars for this can’t-miss event. To view the complete schedule and great lodging rates, check out msptpoker.com.

Travel Information

The Black Hills are serviced from Rapid City Regional Airport by three major airlines: Northwest, United and Delta, which provide direct flights from Denver, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis/Saint Paul and Chicago. Interstate 90, which runs along the eastern and northern boundaries of the Black Hills, is the region's major thoroughfare.

About Silverado-Franklin

The Silverado-Franklin Historic Hotel & Gaming Complex is nestled between the pine-covered peaks of the Black Hills, at the top of Deadwood's Historic Main Street. When Deadwood legalized gaming in 1989, the Franklin didn't get a major retrofit until the owners of the neighboring Silverado Gaming Establishment purchased the hotel and embarked on an ambitious remodeling project in 2005 that opened up the main ballroom, added a premiere casino and enhanced the overall experience for guests.

The renovated first floor reopened in June 2007, sporting a refinished tin ceiling, restored woodwork and fluted columns that match early photographs of the hotel lobby. Elaborate chandeliers, colored glass and gilded fixtures accent the entire level.

For more information, visit SilveradoFranklin.com.