Legal Alaska Betting Sites

Legal online betting options in Alaska consist of major DFS sites. Each of these is considered legal because what it offers is determined to be a contest of skill rather than gambling.

The following Alaska betting sites are legal under all state and federal laws:

21+ and present in AK. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.

Daily fantasy sports sites are the only online sports betting alternative available in Alaska, and not surprisingly, the most popular form of online gambling in Alaska, as it serves as the next best thing to legal sports betting.

In many ways, daily fantasy sports contests require the same skill as fixed-odds sports betting. An understanding of stats, finding value, and bankroll management are all useful in getting an edge over the competition.

Alaska Sports Betting Outlook

State law prohibits Alaska sports betting, but there are reasons to believe that will not be the case forever.

A pair of companion bills introduced in early 2020 sought to establish a state lottery and give it authority to offer sports betting in Alaska “through the use of any media, including electronic terminals, computers, and the Internet.”

With Governor Dunleavy’s full backing, who introduced the bill himself, the legislation entered the picture with momentum on its side. However, the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 prompted lawmakers to end the legislative session early, thereby derailing Alaska sports betting legislation.

Although the bill failed to gain traction, the prospects for legal Alaska sports betting are higher than ever before in a state with few gambling options. That said, state lawmakers do not appear to consider sports betting in Alaska a high priority item, so it could be a while before legislators build the momentum they need to pass something into law.

Lawmakers introduced similar legislation in 2022 that would have authorized online sports betting and regulated daily fantasy sports. HB 385 would have legalized sports betting, instituted a licensing process, taxed operators, and implemented consumer protection regulations. This bill also struggled to generate momentum and died before making it far along in the process.

Unless and until new legislation is passed, it’s a violation of state law to participate in illegal gambling.

AK Stat § 11.66.280 defines gambling as follows:

“…a person stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the person’s control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that that person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.”

This definition can be applied to online sports betting, making it a form of illegal gambling until state law changes.

In the meantime, daily fantasy sports sites are the only alternative form of online betting in Alaska.

Dog Sled and Iditarod Betting in Alaska

Alaska law permits charitable gambling related to outdoor sporting competitions in certain circumstances. State law allows municipalities and qualified charitable organizations to conduct bingo, raffles, lotteries, pull-tab games, Calcutta pools, and certain outdoor competitions played for money.

In addition, charitable organizations may accept dog mushing wagers if they adhere to specific regulations adopted by the Department of Revenue. Specifically, the Department of Revenue states, “dog mushers’ contests” must be organized in one of two formats:

1. Prizes are awarded for guessing the correct racing time of a dog team or of the team’s position in the races
2. Prizes are awarded to the closest guesses on “at least three elements of uncertainty about a dog sled race that cannot be determined” prior to the start of the race

The Iditarod took advantage of this rule for the first time in 2020 when it accepted $10 entries from fans to make a “trifecta” of guesses on the following results:

• The winning musher
• The winning musher’s time
• How many dogs the winning musher brings across the finish line

Each year, the winner gets 40% of the prize pool generated by Trifecta entries, the Iditarod organization gets 40%, and the top 20 mushers split the remaining 20%.

If two or more people correctly pick the winning musher, their winning time and number of dogs predictions serve as tiebreakers. In the unlikely event there is still a tie after all of that, the winners split the prize equally.

Alaska Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports sites are legal in Alaska and accept customers 18 or older. State law does not address daily fantasy sports sites, so all major operators offer their services in Alaska.

Pick ‘em fantasy sports sites like PrizePicks offer the closest alternative to full-fledged online sports betting in Alaska and are the best bets for fans seeking the next best thing.

For example, a typical pick ‘em fantasy contest asks users to select two or more athletes and predict “more” or “less” for a specific stats total, like points scored in an NBA game or passing yards in an NFL game.

Such contests feel remarkably similar to sports betting but qualify as daily fantasy sports in Alaska. It’s possible state authorities may revise their opinion and declare Alaska fantasy sports sites illegal, but there are no indications they have any intention to do so.

Alaska Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing betting in Alaska is prohibited all forms, falling under the state’s definition of unlawful gambling.

• Alaska has no horse racing tracks or off-track betting locations (OTBs).
• Horse racing betting sites are prohibited in Alaska.

So far, there seems to be a lack of desire among lawmakers to change the state’s stance on parimutuel wagering. No bills have been introduced to authorize Alaska horse racing betting in recent memory.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Alaska?

Alaska online gambling sites remain mostly illegal for the time being, with the exception of daily fantasy sports wagering. It is likely that legislative efforts will continue each legislative session until a gambling expansion bill in Alaska is passed.

Alaska Online Casinos

Alaska online casinos are not legal in the state and there are no plans in place to legalize or regulate the industry.

However, Sweepstakes casinos like WOW Vegas and Pulsz Casino are legal and accept players from Alaska

Social gambling is allowed, but great care must be taken to avoid running afoul of the law. The house must take no profit whatsoever. This includes entrance fees, odds that benefit the house, and any other method by which the house may earn money.

Land-based casinos on tribal land are permitted to a limited degree in Alaska. Two facilities offer bingo style games and pull tabs, while a handful of others operate charitable bingo games.

Online Poker in Alaska

The legality of online poker sites in Alaska is not specifically addressed by state law, but the definition of gambling easily applies to poker.

As a result, no licensed online poker sites operate in Alaska.

State laws would need to be changed via new legislation to introduce legal online poker to the state, and lawmakers have not made any recent attempts to introduce legislation that would legalize Alaska online poker.

In-person poker is similarly outlawed except in the case of home poker games that meet the following definition:

“…gambling in a home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where there is no house income from the operation of the game.”

Anyone considering running a home poker game in Alaska should speak with an attorney, but what the above passage indicates is players may participate in private games as long as the organizer does not charge a rake, entry fee, or otherwise seek to profit by running the game (such as selling food or drinks to participants).

Alaska State Lottery

Alaska is one of just a few states in the US without a lottery, but there is clearly interest among lawmakers in changing that.

In February 2020, Governor Mike Dunleavy introduced SB 188 and HB 246 to form the Alaska Lottery Corporation and authorize it to offer draw games, instant win games, keno, and sports betting. Had the bill passed, it would have also approved online lottery sales.

The Coronavirus pandemic sidelined the effort, but support from the governor and certain key lawmakers could very well push such a bill past the finish line should it be reintroduced.

In the meantime, there are no legal methods to purchase lottery tickets in Alaska.

Federal law prohibits the sale of tickets by mail or online to residents of other states. This means players cannot, for example, buy Powerball tickets online.

Websites that claim to sell tickets for out-of-state lotteries to Alaskans operate contrary to state law.

The Powerball website makes this very clear in its FAQ.

The only form of lottery legal in Alaska is one licensed by the state for the purpose of charitable fundraising. Qualified organizations are limited to awarding a maximum of $2,000,000 in prizes in any single year. Thus, the state does hold the occasional small lottery or raffle.

Alaska Betting FAQ