The Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza is another gambling venue owned by the Yankton Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. The other, the Fort Randall Casino and Hotel, is just across the road and is known as the bigger sister of the two. The Travel Plaza is a small, unpretentious venue with a handful of slot machines and gas services, making it a convenient place to stop, refuel, and have a quick spin on the reels! Read our Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza review for the full report.
The following review will act as your perfect guide to the Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza. If you’re planning a visit to the area and you’re thinking about stopping by, we cover the casino games facilities, licensing details, accommodation arrangements, and more. By the end, you’ll know exactly what the venue has to offer! For fast answers to common question and queries skip ahead to the FAQ section at the bottom.
Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza: What to Expect
Contents
The Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza is primarily a refueling station for visitors passing through the Yankton Reservation. While you get gas and perhaps stock up on supplies, take advantage of the gaming area, complete with Vegas-style slots and $1 beers for players! If you get carried away, the Fort Randall is just across the road and offers overnight accommodation. To skip ahead to different chapters in the review, make use of the content navigation tool above.
Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza Casino Games
The Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza games selection is limited to about 8 or so slot machines. The number of games is of course small but the range is ok; there are traditional Vegas-style slots and some video slots also. However, there are no progressive jackpot slots or slots that recreate live table games. Nevertheless, all games are regularly tested for fairness by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming.
As you may have already guessed, the Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza catalog does not include live table games. This means that you won’t find classics such as poker, roulette, blackjack or craps. Unfortunately, the same applies to bingo. To all the card sharks, dice chancers, and keen gamblers among our readers: you’ll probably find yourselves wanting for more after a fairly brief visit here.
- Traditional Slots
- Video Slots
As can be seen from the list element above, the Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza games collection doesn’t have a huge amount on offer. If we’re honest, other than providing brief entertainment while you refuel and stock up on supplies, it hasn’t really got much else going for it. Most of the visitors here tend to be travelers who have just finished staying at the Yankton Sioux across the road and are continuing a road trip through the region.
No Online Games at Present
The strict rulings in operation in S.D at the moment severely restricts any form of online gambling in exchange for real money. There are a small number of venues that allow online gaming; this normally involves players going head to head in niche, adventure-style games in online forums, but again, no real money transactions will be taking place. Be sure to keep a close eye on news updates and check back here regularly. It’s possible the law will be amended in the coming months, so online gambling may be introduced here sooner than you think.
No Promotions
Due to the limited casino facilities here, there are no Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza promotions for games. Furthermore, there are no restaurant or dining facilities, so you won’t find any meal deals or coupons here either. The only real incentive on offer is $1 beers for players using the slot machines; however, this is restricted to 12oz cans of Bud and Bud Light.
If you’re on the hunt for cool promotions, we’d advise you to look elsewhere. Fortunately, there are a couple of venues in the region that are well stacked. The Golden Buffalo is about 120miles away — around two hours by car — and features lots of free slot plays, points multiplier deals, and lots more to get stuck into. If you’re in the area, it’s well worth the visit — there’s a great loyalty scheme here also.
No Loyalty Rewards
Similar to promotions, the limited casino and dining facilities here means that having a loyalty scheme would be difficult. As a result, there are no perks or rewards for regular visitors. However, much the same as with promotions, there are plenty of other casinos in the region that can fill in the gaps. For instance, the Quality Inn Rosebud Casino is within touching distance and has a great loyalty program. Collect points by playing slots and live table games and receive free slot plays, birthday rewards, access to exclusive prize draws, and more!
No Sports Betting
Much the same as with online betting, strict laws currently enforced in S.D means that you won’t find any comprehensive sports betting services here. There are just a handful of venues that accept bets on horse races held inside the state, and even then the offering is very thin. If you’re a sports nut, there’s good news: it’s possible the state will approve an amendment which would make sports betting legal by the end of the year! For all the latest news, updates, and information, be sure to check back here regularly.
Alternative Attractions
Even the most avid gamers will admit that it’s nice when you visit a gaming complex and there are things to explore outside of the games room. The Yankton Plaza itself doesn’t have any major attractions, but there are some unique things to explore around the region. Plus, the Fort Randall is just across the road! To learn more about cool attractions and activities, keep scrolling down to the following sections.
Stay at the Fort Randall
As we’ve already mentioned, the Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza is owned and operated by the same tribe as the Fort Randall Casino and Hotel, which is right across the street. There are over 50 rooms and a few suites, so whether you’re traveling on a budget or looking to splash out, there’s a room for you. In addition, the rooms and lounge areas are wonderfully decorated with Native American artwork and furnishings, which makes for a nice touch.
The Yankton is in a very remote area in Southeastern South Dakota, so it can be a bit tricky to find. If you’re flying in, the nearest public airport is Sioux Falls Regional. It’s just over 141 miles away, so we’d recommend you to rent a car for when you arrive. If you’re traveling by road, you can use either the Interstate 90 or 29. The closest semi built up area is Pickstown, which is right next to Missouri River.
Natural Attractions
While there are no Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza events or on-site attractions to speak of, it’s a great place to visit if you’re a lover of the great outdoors. Just five minutes away by car is Fort Randall Dam. Here, you’ll find great lake and river fishing, camping, and plenty more outdoor activities. The Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge is also close by, which offers a unique opportunity to spot a wide variety of birdlife, including the American bald eagle. An estimated 100-300 eagle set up camp here during the winter months, making it one of the most important natural habitats in the nation.
General Company Info
| Owner: | Yankton Sioux Tribe |
|---|---|
| Phone Number: | +1 605-487-9561 |
| Gaming License Class: | Class II |
| Number of Games: | 8 |
| Hours: | 6am – 12am |
| Opened: | 1991 |
| Website: | Not available |
| Social Media: |
The Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza is a small, modest refueling station on the Yankton Reservation. Proudly owned and operated by the local indigenous community, it’s mostly used as a stop off where passersby can get gas, cheap beer, and have a spin on a couple of slot machines to pass the time. Its sister venue, the Fort Randall Casino and Hotel, is a much larger complex with a more comprehensive collection of games and overnight digs.
In comparison to the Fort Randall, the Yankton Plaza is a very basic casino with just a few slot machines. Its license means that it’s not permitted to host live table games or bingo and it’s only open from 6am-12am. While it is limited, together with its sister venue, it has done a great job of providing employment opportunities for the local tribe since it opened in the early 90s. On occasion, there are cultural events and workshops held at the Fort Randall.
Good for a Brief Stopover
We’ll round this review up by saying the Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza is only really suitable for visitors stopping over for a quick refuel. There are just 8 slot machines on the games floor, which inevitably means the variety of games is limited. If you’re looking for a complete gambling and entertainment experience, and perhaps an overnight stay, it’s well worth going to the sister venue, the Fort Randall, which is a stone’s throw away. If you enjoyed reading our Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza review, be sure to head back to the homepage and check out more like it!
Frequently Asked Questions
That’s it: we’ve made it down to the final section of our Yankton Sioux Travel Plaza review! If we’ve missed anything, or you’ve simply skipped ahead for fast answers, feel free to scan the following FAQS. If you still have queries at the end, reach out to us directly using the contact tab.
Are there any promotions here?
Just one. Due to the limited facilities in the games room and the lack of dining options, there aren’t any real promotions as such. However, players using the slot machines are entitled to $1 12oz cans of Bud or Bud light. Skip back up to the promotions section for more info.
Are there any events?
No. However, the sister venue, Fort Randall, does host some cultural workshops and events on occasion. If you’re looking for natural attractions, there’s plenty to explore in the nearby area. Skip back up to the section on non-gambling related activities for more info.
Is there a hotel here?
No. However, affordable overnight digs, as well as a few luxury suites, are available across the road at the Fort Randall Casino and Hotel. More in-depth info can be found in the hotel paragraph in the main review.
Where is the Yankton Plaza?
The Yankton is in a very remote location in Southeastern South Dakota. It’s a few miles away from the Missouri River on the border with Nebraska. If you’re coming in by car, look for a place called Pickstown. See more details in the main review.
Are there loyalty perks?
No. Similar to promotions, the limited casino and dining facilities here means that a loyalty program isn’t really feasible. If you’d like recommendations on where to find some of the best loyalty perks and benefits in the region, take a look at the loyalty section in the main review.