Alaska Online Gambling & Sports Betting

Gambling in Alaska

Alaska traditionally has some of the most prohibitive gambling laws in the US. Some pari-mutuel betting is permitted at racetracks, while there is also a state lottery. But online casinos and sportsbooks have so far been banned. That could all change if proposed Alaska gambling legislation goes through in 2020.

There are already some tribal casinos and bingo halls in Alaska, run by tribes such as the Metlakatla Alaska Native Community. Bingo is available to players over 19, while slots can be played if you are 21 or over. Charitable games and pull tab cards are also permitted.

So, will Alaska legalize sports betting in 2019? It seems unlikely. There are only a handful of land-based horse racing venues in the state like TwinSpires and TVG but gambling is outlawed.

Alaska is one of the few states in the union to offer no gambling services, including online betting. Any type of gambling is completely illegal and always has been. Alaska does not even offer a state-run lottery as almost every other state does.

That said, there are a few ways to gamble in Alaska. There are often charity events allowing you to place a wager but these are for odd events such as dog-mushing. There is also a pull-tab cards lottery which is available in certain counties. Also, the Alaskan cruise ship industry in summer months is very popular and some will offer casino table games but only once in international waters.

With a history such as Alaska’s, it’s hard to imagine anything changing soon. Even with the recent push to legalize and regulate all forms of gambling in other states across the nation, Alaska is sure to remain gambling-free. Will the situation with online gambling in Alaska change in 2020?

Minimum legal gambling age in Alaska: 19+ (bingo) and 21+ (poker).

Online Sports Betting in Alaska

Online Sports betting in Alaska is illegal so you will not be able to find any land-based sportsbooks or mobile-friendly sites to bet in the state. That said, while it is illegal to operate a sportsbook in Alaska online or on land, it is not necessarily illegal to place a sports wager. Therefore, the only sportsbooks to utilize while in Alaska are of the off-shore variety. Betting available from Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Badger, College, Tanaina, Lakes, Wasilla, Sitka, Kalifornsky.

Online Casino Gambling in Alaska

The online gambling laws of Alaska are very strict and casinos are not allowed to operate in the state. However, there are several Class II Native American Bingo Halls which offer bingo and pull-tab games such as Klawock Bingo and Metlakatla Bingo Hall.

Online Poker in Alaska

Just like sportsbooks in Alaska, online poker is illegal in the state. However, while it is illegal to operate an online poker site in the state, it is not illegal to play poker online. Off-shore poker sites are the only option.

Online Lotteries in Alaska

Alaska’s size and lack of major population centers is a major reason we don’t see legal forms of gambling in Alaska and the instant online lottery may be the best example of this. With the population so small and spread out, no one is going to travel long distances to buy a lotto ticket. Therefore, Alaska is one of only six states which do not offer a lottery. 

Fantasy Sports in Alaska

Fantasy sports gambling in Alaska is illegal but there are several DFS websites in the state. Sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel do operate in Alaska. However, this is only because the Alaska justice department has done nothing to stop them from doing so. Can you wager on DFS in Alaska? Yes, although it is important to note this is a legal grey area.

Horse Racing Betting in Alaska

All forms of horse racing are illegal in Alaska and this has everything to do with the state’s location, size, and lack of major population centers. Plus, Alaska is cold and far away so it has long been ignored by the horse racing industry. You won’t even find greyhounds or OTB websites in the state.

Alaska Gambling Legislation Udates

Following 2018’s US Supreme Court ruling which freed up states to regulate sports betting online, Alaska has wasted no time in introducing its own laws. So far, however, only casinos and card games are being talked about.

Key is HB 103, which goes as far as establishing an Alaska Gaming Commission plus casinos with poker. But if it went to referendum, there’s no guarantee that Alaskans would favor a law change. In 2008, a state referendum was held on legalizing casino gambling. The ‘No’ vote won in a landslide.

Want to know more about Alaska online gambling laws, taxes and development? Follow updates at statelaws.findlaw.com/alaska-law/alaska-gambling-laws and read the local news at adn.com/section/alaska-news/