Legal Idaho Sports Betting Sites: Are There Safe ID Bookies?

Despite its early history as a gambling haven, Idaho now adopts a relatively unfriendly attitude toward gambling. For this reason, there is no legal Idaho sports betting, whether at brick-and-mortar casinos or online. However, this isn’t to say bettors in the Gem State are without all gambling options.

As we only recommend licensed bookmakers on this site, we are unable to provide any advice on what the best Idaho legal online sportsbook is. Instead, we’ve discussed the current laws surrounding sports betting, the future outlook of the industry, and what other betting options can be enjoyed by visitors and locals.

What Betting Options are Legal for Idaho Residents

While there is no legal online sports betting in Idaho, locals and visitors can enjoy a huge variety of gaming options at one of Idaho’s seven Native American casinos. Outside of these reservations, casino gambling is explicitly banned in the state. Additionally, pari-mutuel wagering on horse and greyhound racing is legal.

Is Daily Fantasy Legal in Idaho?

We would love to be able to recommend signing up for a Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) account in the absence of an Idaho legal online sportsbook, but unfortunately DFS is also banned. Many states distinguish DFS from gambling as there is an element of skill to winning, but Idaho’s lawmakers disagree.

Both FanDuel and DraftKings do not operate in Idaho, although they did up until 2016. They left the state after the Idaho Attorney General deemed them illegal under local law. As these are both reputable sports betting sites, we would recommend signing up to either if legal Idaho online gambling becomes a reality.

Are there Legal Offshore Sites for Idaho Players

There are a number of states without legal sports betting that tolerate their residents signing up to offshore betting sites to bet on sports, though Idaho is not one of them. Idaho’s laws are strict in defining the illegality of gambling, and using offshore sites does not exempt players from these laws.

Some popular offshore sites like Bovada and MyBookie may sound like a good option, but we highly recommend against using them. Not only are they illegal, but because they are not regulated by local gaming authorities, there are no guarantees of their safety and fairness. We only recommend legal websites for betting.

Idaho Land-Based Tribal Casinos

There are seven tribal casinos in Idaho operated by four different Native American tribes. Among these are the Coeur D’Alene Casino Resort Hotel and the Shoshone-Bannock Casino. In total, the state is home to hundreds of thousands of square feet of gaming space in state-of-the-art gambling facilities.

Players are free to play slot machines, bingo, KENO and place off-track racing bets at these establishments. The tribal sites, however, don’t yet contain vegas-style sportsbooks. Many of the gambling establishments casinos are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and also offer great dining and entertainment options as well. Without these casinos, Idaho’s gambling options would be dismally limited.

Racetrack Betting

Idaho has a rich history of racetrack betting that dates all the way back to 1963 when lawmakers introduced the Horse Racing Act that allows pari-mutuel wagering at racetracks. Later, the law was expanded to allow a number of licensed venues to offer off-track betting on live simulcasts of national races. These tracks, however are not sportsbook locations, they only accept wagers on racing.

Racetrack betting is perhaps the closest thing to legal Idaho sports betting, but the industry has been facing a decline over the years. Recently, an initiative to allow for racetracks to offer video gambling machines was put to a referendum, but voters shot this measure down. For this reason, we think legal online sports betting in Idaho may be a hard sell.

Nearby States with Legal Sports Betting

Until legal online sports betting in Idaho is a possibility, locals do not have to go without. That is because Idaho is conveniently bordered by four states with legal sports betting, with Nevada, the largest sports betting market in the country, being one of them.

It is not illegal for locals to travel out of state to place bets, so we highly recommend people visit one of the four states listed below to place your sports bets.

• Nevada
• Montana
• Washington
• Oregon

What would Legal Sports Betting in Idaho Look Like

Unfortunately, Idaho is one of only a few states that has not introduced any sports betting legislation. Many believe that a legal Idaho sports betting market in the state is a longshot, with voters recently proving that they are not as open to legal sportsbooks in the state.

However, in the case that sports betting is legalized in Idaho, it is likely that it would only be limited to physical sportsbooks at its seven Native American tribal casinos. Of course, legislators could also look to allow for sportsbooks at the state’s racetracks as well to give the industry a boost.

In order to regulate the sportsbook market appropriately, a government agency would need to be established to oversee regulations. This would ensure that licensed sportsbooks are acting in accordance with player protection measures to protect vulnerable players such as underage youths or problem gamblers.

There’s no reason to believe that all major sports leagues could be bet on in a legal Idaho sports betting market. In fact, there’s a possibility that collegiate division games could also be bet on, meaning Idahoans could place bets on the Boise State Broncos or Idaho Steelheads.

What are the Idaho Gambling Laws

Idaho’s official stance against gambling started in 1949 when the government banned all casino table games. As slot machines began to pop up over the state in convenience stores and bars, they were banned by legislators in 1954. Gambing options remained relatively scarce until the Horse Racing Act permitted racetrack betting in 1963.

In 1989, Idaho’s state lottery was launched. The lottery has since grown to be hugely popular in the state, with major national lotteries such as the Mega Millions and Powerball being offered, as well as a number of smaller inter-state games. Shortly after, charitable bingo and raffles were legalized.

In the early 90s, the Coeur d’Alene Casino Hotel was opened by the Coeur d’Alene Native American tribe, though it only offered a bingo hall. The casino was a hit with locals, so other tribes in the state began to open their own gaming establishments. In the early 2000s, a law was passed to allow for video gaming machines at tribal casinos.

Idaho gambling laws stipulate that players must be 18 years or older to legally participate in gambling games. This includes the state lottery, bingo, raffles, video slots at tribal casinos and pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing and dog racing. This is fairly standard for legal gambling states

What is the Future of Sports Betting in Idaho?

Unfortunately for Idahoans, the future outlook for sports betting doesn’t look positive. Whereas almost all states in the country, including anti-gambling states, have introduced sports betting bills, Idaho has yet to do this. Many familiar with Idaho’s attitude towards gambling admit that most Gem State locals just don’t want more gambling options.

This would be quite a dire situation if it weren’t for the fact that Idaho is bordered by four great sports betting markets. Until sports betting is legalized in the state, we suggest locals travel to legal sport betting states such as Montana or Nevada to place their bets, especially for the Super Bowl or the March Madness college basketball tournament.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have questions about the gambling options available in Idaho or if there are any options to bet on sports legally in the state? Below, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions about Idaho’s gambling market so that you can be sure to bet safely and legally.