North Dakota Gambling Laws: What Can You Play?

Article by: Larry Grant - Casino Еxpert

Date Published: 16/12/22

On the scale of conservative to rigid, North Dakota falls somewhere in between with regard to the state’s general attitude towards gambling. While the state hasn’t fully legalized gambling like many others, there’s every reason to believe that North Dakota gambling laws will evolve with the times. Here’s everything you need to know about gambling in the state.

What Are The Gambling Laws in North Dakota?

North Dakota started, like many others, as a state with restrictive gambling laws. Over time, the state has proven that it is committed to progressive reforms even though they may take longer than many other states. With casino games and sports betting now legal in North Dakota, we cover to what extent you can enjoy these forms of gambling – and what the future could look like, if precedent is anything to go by. We’ve also included a table where you can jump immediately to the topic of your interest.

History of North Dakota Gambling Laws

North Dakota’s attitude towards gambling could best be described as consistently centrist, with the state largely having an open mind towards gambling while imposing restrictions only on certain forms. An observation that one could make from North Dakota’s history is that when one form of legalized gambling works out in the interest of the general public, the legislature is fairly inclined to take the next step toward legalization.

However, the process is still slow – especially since there have been numerous conflicts between the House and Senate on issues relating to gambling. In 2018, a landmark Supreme Court verdict gave states the power to legalize gambling within their borders. And while over half of the United States has legalized gambling in some form, things are a little unpredictable with the states that haven’t.

In the case of North Dakota gambling laws, the first form of legal gambling was charitable gaming on games of chance in 1976. In 1987, the state legalized betting on pari-mutuel horse racing. As is often the case, legalizing horse racing proved to be a vital stepping stone to legalizing other forms of gambling.

This is exactly what happened in the case of gambling laws in North Dakota. In 1992, the first contracts with tribal casinos were signed, which paved the way for the establishment of legal land-based casinos in North Dakota.

Great strides towards legalizing games of chance were made between 1992 and 2006, when even Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) was legalized in physical betting establishments. However, North Dakota still hasn’t legalized sports betting or any form of online gaming.

It was after the Supreme Court’s verdict that the state legislature unsuccessfully attempted to pass a landmark bill that would legalize sports betting across the state. This was seen as too radical of a change – even against the backdrop of the verdict -, and the bill was ultimately never written into North Dakota gambling laws.

The state eventually figured out an optimal solution that lay somewhere between banning sports betting and legalizing it en masse. In December 2021, three tribal casinos that were allowed to operate on tribal land were given a license to organize legal sports betting within their physical establishments. This was a huge step forward for gambling and sports betting in North Dakota and just goes to show how receptive and reasonable the state is towards gambling.

Overview of North Dakota Gambling Laws

North Dakota gambling laws give gamblers a spectrum of options to choose from when it comes to gambling. The state has compacts with tribal casinos based on tribal land, which are allowed to offer nearly the entire gamut of Class III games that one would find in Vegas. The games that are allowed in these casinos include poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, live poker, slots, and video poker.

Apart from these casinos, charitable gaming events are legal under North Dakota charitable gambling laws. They provide a fun, safe platform to test your gambling skills. Betting on simulcast horse racing is another interesting option available for residents and visitors of North Dakota. As of December 2021, it is legal to bet on sports in three tribal casinos that organize other casino games.

While online sports betting and online casino games remain a gray area, experts agree that there is no reason why you can’t play and bet at the best online casinos in the USA that accept players from North Dakota. This is only because the law doesn’t explicitly criminalize online gambling, along with the fact that no North Dakota resident has ever been prosecuted for online gambling.

The law is strict when it comes to betting on or organizing unlicensed games, and it isn’t likely that other leading sportsbooks or new casinos will be opening their doors in North Dakota anytime soon. That doesn’t stop you from betting on their websites anyway. Regardless of what and where you play, make sure to are at the legal North Dakota gambling age of 21. There is one exception – bingo – where players must be at least 18.

North Dakota Online Gambling Laws

Online gambling in North Dakota is a legal gray area, as is the case with many other states today. The law doesn’t allow online sportsbooks to set up operations in North Dakota. However, the same law doesn’t stop residents from using these websites if they’re available elsewhere in the United States.

While the giants of the online gaming world aren’t expected to set up operations in North Dakota anytime soon, there’s nothing in North Dakota gambling laws to hold you back from betting on some of the best online sportsbooks in the United States.

Casinos in North Dakota

No individual or business may open a casino in North Dakota, but there is one very notable exception which is why the state has a thriving casino scene. Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, five tribal casinos legally organize the full gamut of ND casino games. They offer the best of service and offers, while you enjoy a game of high-stakes poker or try to run hot at the blackjack tables. Here they are:

1. The Dakota Magic Casino
2. Sky Dancer Hotel & Casino
3. Prairie Nights Casino & Resort
4. Spirit Lake Casino & Resort
5. Bears Casino & Lodge

These casinos will make sure you don’t miss Vegas during your time in North Dakota, while also offering excellent accommodation and a spectacular casino experience. The same tribes who set up these casino resorts have also set up a number of smaller establishments on tribal land, thanks to compacts signed with the North Dakota government, which were updated in 2013.

Sports Betting Laws

Betting on your favorite sports team is legal under the recently updated gambling laws in North Dakota, which permit sports betting at three tribal casinos in the state. Offshore websites – while still a gray area – can still be used by players from North Dakota. Experts have said there is no legal precedence for getting into trouble over this – advice bolstered by the fact that no individual has ever been charged or prosecuted for gambling online.

Frequently Asked Questions

This is the end of our article about the gambling laws in North Dakota. The story behind the evolution of the regulations and the legislation in the state is fascinating, and we hope we did a fine job explaining it to you. Here are answers to the most common questions online.

1️⃣ What types of gambling are legal in North Dakota?

It is legal to play poker, blackjack, horse racing betting, roulette, slots, video poker, and more at the tribal casinos in the state. According to the North Dakota gambling laws, sports betting is legal in three of these casinos, after it was legalized in December 2021 through special compacts signed with these operators in particular.

2️⃣ What are the North Dakota online gambling laws?

Online gambling in North Dakota is a legal gray area since gambling corporations are not allowed to set up shop in the state. However, players can use offshore websites to bet on sports, poker, blackjack, and more. No individual has ever been prosecuted for online gambling from North Dakota at offshore gambling sites.

3️⃣ Is online sports betting legal in North Dakota?

If we take a look at the history of gambling laws in North Dakota, the state has always been open to legalizing gambling in phases, but it isn’t legal for corporations to set up online sportsbooks in North Dakota. Hence, the only option for residents of the state is to bet on online sportsbooks that are licensed elsewhere in the USA.

4️⃣ Can I play at casinos in North Dakota?

The only legal land-based casinos in North Dakota are those owned and operated by Native American tribes. They are regulated under federal law and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The tribal casinos in North Dakota provide access to a range of games, including slots, high-stakes poker, blackjack, roulette, and more.

5️⃣ What is the legal North Dakota gambling age?

To play at land-based casinos and poker rooms in the state, you must be 21 or older. As per our overview of the North Dakota gambling laws, the only exception is bingo games, where the legal age is 18. Underage gambling is a crime in the state and may lead to serious consequences for both the perpetrator and the operator.