Idaho Betting Sites: Legalities and Future Plans
Unfortunately for gamblers, legal online sports betting is not possible in Idaho. On this page we’ll look at the current legal situation, the future outlook for Idaho betting sites and the gambling options that are available for residents of Idaho.
Idahoans can play the lottery and gamble on horse racing but if they want to bet on sports then they must visit a neighboring state. On this page we recommend trustworthy and reliable options for Idaho bettors and provide info about the types of gambling allowed in the Gem State.
What are the Best Betting Sites Idaho Residents Can Gamble At?
Idahoans have limited gambling opportunities. There are several tribal casinos in the state. Betting on horse racing is possible for Idaho residents, as is playing the Idaho State Lottery and bingo. In Idaho, online sports betting is not permitted, and Idaho betting sites are not allowed to operate.
Is Daily Fantasy Legal in Idaho?
Gambling on daily fantasy sports is not legal in ID. In 2016 Attorney General Lawrence Wasden declared that DFS constitutes gambling under Idaho law. As a result, DraftKings and FanDuel do not operate in Idaho.
Residents are not allowed to gamble using an Idaho sports betting app. All forms of DFS are not permitted in ID, nor is any other type of sports betting. It could be a while before any form or daily fantasy sports, or any sort of Idaho sportsbook is allowed.
Are there Legal Offshore Sites for Idaho Bettors?
The only option for Idaho sports bettors is using offshore betting sites such as MyBookie, BetOnline, or Bovada. Offshore bookmakers aren’t regulated by any authority and are risky places to gamble.
It may be tempting for Idahoans to use offshore sites to place a bet – but be careful. If you bet at unlicensed bookies, then your funds are not safe and there are no guarantees that your winning bets will be honored.
Land-based Casinos in Idaho
There are several tribal casinos in the state of Idaho. Casinos aren’t allowed to spread table games but can offer electronic gambling. Sports betting is not allowed in Idaho’s tribal casinos and gamblers have to cross the border into a neighboring state if they want to place a wager.
The legal gaming age in most of Idaho’s casinos is eighteen years old. The biggest casino in Idaho is the Coeur D’Alene Casino Resort Hotel. Despite there being no options for gambling on Idaho betting sites, residents of the Gem State still have some gambling possibilities at least.
Racetrack Betting in Idaho
The Horseracing Act of 1963 allows pari-mutuel betting at racetracks in Idaho. The Idaho State Racing Commission oversees and regulates horse racing in the state. Somewhat unusually, the commission is a division of the Idaho State Police.
There are several tracks around Idaho offering regular race meets. While you won’t be able to bet at an Idaho sportsbook, you can at least bet on horse racing that takes place in the Gem State.
Closest State to Idaho with Legal Sports Betting
Idaho online sports betting still seems some way off. In the meantime, Idahoans can sign up to sports betting websites in other states and bet when they are within those state lines. The closest states with legal online sports betting are NV, MN, OR, and CO.
The best betting sites Idaho gamblers can bet at are in Nevada. NV is the capital of gambling in the US and bettors in Nevada are spoilt for choice. ID residents can gamble online in Nevada if they first visit one of the state’s brick-and-mortar casinos to sign up.
To the south-east, Colorado has a fast-growing legal online sports betting sector. Online betting has been legal in CO since 2020 and Idaho residents can gamble online in Colorado if they are within CO state lines.
In MT, sports betting is operated as a monopoly under the Montana Lottery. Likewise, in OR, the only way to bet online is through the Scoreboard app operated by the Oregon Lottery. There are also a number of tribal casinos throughout Oregon that have sportsbooks.
What Would Legal Idaho Online Sports Betting Look Like?
It is difficult to say what form legal sports betting in Idaho might take as there is currently no pending legislation to introduce it. There are presently no legal sports betting sites in Idaho and sports betting in ID has no official regulator.
Idaho does not currently have a state gaming commission, but there are two gambling regulatory organizations in operation. The Idaho State Racing Commission and the Idaho Lottery may be involved with regulating legal online sports betting in ID. Legal betting would also collect money for the state through taxation.
On legal sports betting sites Idaho gamblers will be able to wager on the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Idaho doesn’t have any professional sports teams, but betting on Idaho’s minor league franchises and college teams should hopefully be possible too.
What are the Idaho Gambling Laws?
| Betting Type | Law |
|---|---|
| Sports Betting | Not Legal |
| Online Sports Betting | Not Legal |
| Land-based Casino | Tribal Casinos Legal |
| Online Casino | Not Legal |
| Poker | Not Legal |
| Racetrack Betting | Legal |
| Idaho Gambling Age | 18+ in Most Places |
Idaho gambling laws are quite restrictive compared to many other states. Idahoans are relatively limited in their gambling options. The legal gambling age at Idaho casinos is 18, except for Clearwater Casino where the legal age is 21. The minimum age to play the Idaho Lottery is also 18.
Betting on horse racing is allowed in Idaho but online sports betting is not permitted in the Gem State. Though Idaho betting sites are illegal, Idahoans will still find options to place an online wager. However, unregulated offshore bookmakers are not legal and should be treated with caution.
The table above shows what types of gambling are available in the state of Idaho. As you can see, many forms of gambling are not available in ID.
Tribal casinos, racetrack betting and the lottery are the three main forms of gambling possible in Idaho. An interesting situation is that even though gambling is limited, what does exist is open to an increased amount of people as Idahoans can gamble from the age of 18.
History of Gambling in Idaho
Idaho is not a state that is friendly to gamblers. In fact, much of the legislation in Idaho has been based around banning various forms of gambling rather than legalizing it.
Slot machines had existed in Idaho since in the 1930s and in 1947 they were officially legalized in the Gem State. This was a short-lived gambling boom as in 1953 the Idaho Supreme Court declared slot machines unconstitutional and banned them.
Throughout the next decades there were several pieces of positive gambling legislation in Idaho. In 1963 betting on horse racing was allowed. In 1988 the Idaho State Lottery was approved. In 2002 slot machines were introduced at Idaho’s tribal casinos – increasing the gambling options for Idahoans.
2016 saw a blow for gamblers in Idaho as daily fantasy sports were declared illegal. Idahoans were cut off from the thriving DFS industry as DraftKings and FanDuel closed their doors to ID players.
In 2018 PASPA was revoked, paving the way for online sports betting to be legalized throughout the US. However, there are still no legal gambling websites in Idaho. With online sports betting still illegal in ID, the best betting sites Idaho residents can bet on are located out of state.
What is the Future of Sports Betting in Idaho
It could be a long time before sports betting is legalized in Idaho. ID is lagging behind other states when it comes to potential legislation and there seems little appetite from state lawmakers to get legal sports betting on to the agenda.
With no pro sports team and a historically anti-gambling stance from politicians, the future looks bleak for Idaho online sports betting. Until a bill is passed, only players from legal sports betting states will be able to place sports bets.
Frequently Asked Questions
We hope that that you found our ID online sports betting guide as informative as possible. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions from our readers about betting online in Idaho. This covers some common topics that our readers ask about Idaho betting sites.
⚖️ Is online gambling and sports betting legal in Idaho?
No. Online gambling and sports betting are not permitted in Idaho. The Gem State has some of the most restrictive gambling laws in the nation. You can get a summary of the latest online betting situation in Idaho in our section above.
🛡️ What is the Idaho legal gambling age?
You can gamble in Idaho from the age of 18. This is the legal gambling age at Idaho casinos and for the lottery. If sports betting is legalized, then the legal betting age would likely be 21. You can read more about Idaho gambling laws in our dedicated section.
🚨 Is it legal and safe to gamble on MyBookie and Bovada?
MyBookie and Bovada are illegal offshore gambling sites and are not safe to bet at. At offshore sites you don't know if your funds are safe or winning bets will be paid. We look at what a potential legal Idaho gambling market might look like in our legal section.
🔎 Can I play at an Idaho online sportsbook if I am not in the state?
There aren't any legal Idaho online sportsbooks yet. If you live in Idaho and want to gamble online, then you will have to visit a neighboring state. Nevada is the closest state with legal online gambling. Idahoans can visit Nevada and gamble legally and safely online.