The Golden Buffalo Casino Resort is a real haven for visiting gamblers in the quiet area of Lower Brule. While there’s not a huge amount on offer when it comes to major tourist attractions, the venue itself has a very solid selection of slot machines, weekly bingo, and affordable, motel-style accommodation on-site. Get the full lowdown on the venue here in our unabridged Golden Buffalo Casino Resort review.
Our review is dedicated to providing all the true gamblers among our readers with a full and honest overview of The Golden Buffalo. We’ll take a close look at the gaming facilities, licensing info, promotions and loyalty benefits, and lots more. By the time we’re done, you’ll know exactly what to expect when you visit! For, quick answers to common questions asked by our readers, jump ahead to our FAQ section.
Golden Buffalo Casino Resort: What to Expect
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Proudly owned and operated by The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, The Golden Buffalo is the only place in the area where you’ll find fully licensed bingo games. With weekly meetings offering large jackpot payouts, it offers a great opportunity to meet locals and gamble in a relaxed, friendly environment. To learn more, skip ahead to our games section — or any other section — using the content navigation tool above.
Golden Buffalo Casino Resort Casino Games
The Golden Buffalo Casino Resort games selection boasts a large selection of varied, up-to-date slot machines. With over 200 titles, you’ll find Vegas-style slots, video slots, and electronic simulations of live table games such as video poker. To add to this, machine bet limits range from 1p to $100, so players of all budgets are catered for. Moreover, to ensure gamblers can play with full peace of mind, all games are tested for fairness by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming.
In addition to the slot machines in the games room, the Golden Buffalo Casino Resort games selection also includes bingo. Meetings take place every week and feature some attractive promotions that rotate every month. There are normally around 100 seats and it’s completely free to take part. You’ll also find some cool promotions for bingo games, but we’ll address this in more detail a little later in the review.
- Vegas Slots
- Video Slots
- Video Poker
- Bingo
The list element above is there to provide a quick overview of the Golden Buffalo Casino Resort games selection. You’ll notice that live table games are absent, which is a shame if you’re a card shark or a fan of the numbers game. However, there are slot machines that recreate the live table experience which, in part, makes up for it. Also, the addition of bingo provides a great opportunity to make new friends and play for a big jackpot!
No Online Games at Present
The strict laws currently in place in South Dakota (S.D) mean that online games are currently prohibited throughout the state. As a result, you won’t find any services of this kind at The Golden Buffalo Casino Resort. However, according to our sources, there’s a more than fair chance we may see a change to the law later in the year. If this happens, the Golden Buffalo Casino Resort could introduce online betting services in the future. Keep checking back here for updates; if there is a breakthrough, we’ll be your first port of call.
Plenty of Promotions
Overall, were very pleased with the selection of Golden Buffalo Casino Resort promotions. You’ll find a handful of deals at the restaurant in the form of free drinks and food specials (you have to be actively playing on the slots in order to be eligible). In addition, there are lots of hot seat cash draws where winners are chosen at random, and lots of opportunities to win free slot plays.
Another nice edition at the Golden Buffalo are the seasonal promotions. Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, S.T Patrick’s Day, Labor Day, or otherwise, you’ll find some great cash prize giveaways and restaurant specials. You’ll also find special packages that offer great discounts on hotel rooms and at the restaurant. To learn more about the kinds of deals on offer, head over to the official promotions page.
Lots of Loyalty Perks
You’ll also be pleased to learn that the Golden Buffalo has some benefits for loyal visitors. It’s a pretty straightforward points-based system: the more you play, the more points you accumulate, and the more rewards you ultimately enjoy. Once you’re a member, there are lots of opportunities to acquire more points. For instance, x5 points promotions are common throughout the week, and you can easily turn these points into free slot plays. To become a member, download the application form from the website send it back electronically, or enquire directly on your next visit.
No Sports Betting
Much like online betting, the state of S.D enforces some very strict rules and regulations on sports betting, so you won’t find any sports book offering here. Don’t lose faith though! There has been a lot of deliberation in the state legislature recently, so we have good reason to believe the law may be loosening in the not too distant future. Keep a close eye on the local news and check back here for updates! If there is a change to the law, there’s every chance we may see sports betting here in the future.
Limited Non-Gambling Attractions
As mentioned briefly earlier, the Golden Buffalo Casino Resort is in a very remote location, so there are no major tourist attractions nearby. While the venue itself has a full calendar when it comes to gambling events, there’s not a huge amount going on outside the games room. However, if you like the great outdoors, there’s lots to explore close by — the on-site restaurant also has a great reputation for serving some of the best prime rib cuts in the area.
Motel-Style Accommodation
| Hotel Rooms | 38 rooms |
|---|---|
| Price per Night: | $55 – $80 |
| Pool: | Not Available |
| Room Service: | Not Available |
| Gym/Fitness Studio: | Not Available |
| Address: | 321 Sitting Bull St, Lower Brule, SD 57548 |
The on-site hotel here at the Golden Buffalo offers very affordable, motel-style accommodation. It’s a small complex with only 38 rooms; but based on customer feedback, they are clean, comfortable, and come with a few added amenities such as Wi-Fi, refrigerators and microwaves. However, there are no leisure facilities such as a pool, sauna, or fitness suite. The closest gambling venue with a pool is the Royal River Casino & Hotel, but it’s a fair trek away.
While it is in a very remote location, the Golden Buffalo is fairly easy to reach if you’re travelling by car. It’s just 16 miles from the Interstate 90, which is the largest interstate highway in the nation, so it’s quite easy to find. If you’re travelling by air, even better. The nearest airport is Pierre Regional, which is between 65 – 80 miles away (just over an hour’s drive), depending on the route you take.
No On-Site Events
As we alluded to briefly earlier, there are no Golden Buffalo casino resort events which don’t involve gambling, which is a bit of a bummer if you’re looking for family-friendly attractions. However, if you’re a lover of the great outdoors, you’ll be right in your element! The venue is located right on the Missouri River next to a wildlife reserve, so there are lots of fishing opportunities and nature trails to explore. Hunters will also find plenty of game to go after, although you’ll need to obtain a valid permit beforehand. If this isn’t your thing, you can always relax and enjoy a meal at the restaurant.
General Company Info
| Owner: | The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe |
|---|---|
| Phone Number: | +1 605-473-5577 |
| Gaming License Class: | Class II |
| Number of Games: | Over 200 |
| Hours: | 8am – 2am |
| Opened: | 1992 |
| Website: | Golden Buffalo Casino Resort |
| Social Media: |
Since opening back in 1992, the Golden Buffalo Casino Resort has been proudly owned and operated by The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. It has a Class II license, so visitors can enjoy a wide variety of slot machines and weekly bingo meets. Open from 8am – 1am (2am on the weekends), the venue ensures players can enjoy round-the-clock fun when everything else in town has already closed.
A great way to keep up to date with all that’s going on at the Golden Buffalo is via the official site and Facebook page. The social media page is regularly updated with new food specials, gaming events and promotions, jackpot prizes on the slots, and random hot seat giveaways! The official website also does a good job of notifying visitors of big jackpot payouts and upcoming promotions. Both pages can be accessed via the links in the table above.
The Final Score
Now that we’ve come to the end of our Golden Buffalo Casino Resort review, we bet you’re all dying to hear the final verdict! Overall, we were fairly pleased with how the venue performed. The motel is nice and affordable, the solid selection of slots and weekly bingo meetings means there’s enough here to keep keen gamers entertained, and the motel is nice and affordable. Our main criticisms are the lack of live table games and on-site events. But all things considered, it’s a decent gaming destination. Head back to the homepage and learn about more top gambling destinations in S.D.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thanks for making it to the final part of our Golden Buffalo Casino Resort review. While we’ve done our best to cover all the bases, we accept there’s bound to be a few things we’ve missed. Check the following FAQ section if you still have a few queries, or send us an email directly using the contact tab!
Is there a poker room at the casino?
Unfortunately, not. Due to its Class II license, the Golden Buffalo is not permitted to offer live table games, although it does carry a great selection of slots and hold regular bingo meets. Check out our gaming section for more info.
Is there a hotel at the Golden Buffalo?
Yes. Motel-style accommodation is available. There are a total of 38 rooms available which cater for visitors travelling on a low to medium budget. Skip back up to the hotel section for more in-depth details.
What are the opening hours?
The venue is open from 8am – 12:30am from Sunday to Tuesday, until 1am Wednesday to Thursday, and until 2am on Friday and Saturday. Learn more about the venue in our general company info section.
Is online betting permitted?
Not at the moment. Although we may be due a law change in the not too distant future, online betting is currently prohibited in the state of S.D. Learn more about this in the paragraph on online betting.
Are there any casino promotions?
Yes! The venue currently has a good amount of promotions; not just in the casino, but also in the restaurant and bar. We have a section that looks at the full range of promotions on offer in our review: skip back up and read all about it!