When Will Sports Betting Be Legal in North Dakota?
Of all the states that have yet to legalize sports betting in the US, North Dakota may be one of the states furthest away from doing so.
Two bills, HB 1295 and HB 1254, were introduced in 2019 to designate sports betting as a game of chance and to allow sports wagering to be done at any charitable gaming establishment. Sports betting would’ve been overseen by the state’s Attorney General. Those bills were both defeated. One didn’t make it past the House and the other made it to the Senate but it was not discussed.
No new bills were introduced in 2020, meaning there’s little conversation even being had to legalize sports betting in North Dakota. Not to mention, as one of the smallest states in the US and home to no major professional sports teams, there isn’t a rush to regulate sports betting in North Dakota.
Although, should sports betting be legalized in North Dakota, the state would likely have the infrastructure to get it up and running quickly. There are five tribal casinos in North Dakota as well as two horse racing tracks. Given bars and restaurants already have a relationship with charitable gaming, it may not be too far of a stretch for them to offer sports wagering as well. However, the state does not have any commercially-operated casinos.
Online lottery subscriptions are legal, as is betting on horse races, but otherwise playing online slots and poker are still both illegal. Even the failed bills from 2019 did not mention the introduction of online sports betting, meaning legal mobile sports wagering may be even farther away.
North Dakota Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports betting legal in North Dakota?
No, North Dakota has yet to legalize sports betting. Two bills were introduced in 2019 in favor of legalization, yet neither was approved and no further bills were introduced in 2020.
How many charitable casinos are there in North Dakota?
North Dakota has approximately 800 charitable casinos that offer activities like poker, pull-tabs, raffles, bingo, and sports pools.
What is North Dakota known for?
North Dakota is the largest producer of honey in the United States.
