Idaho Sports Betting

Sports betting is not yet legal in Idaho.

Idaho is home to a number of land-based gambling options considering the state’s size and population, but online betting options are limited.

Sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and online gambling sites are all prohibited by state law. The only form of online gambling permitted in the state of Idaho is online horse racing betting and prediction markets.

The prospects of legalizing Idaho online sports betting sites in the near future appear dim. There are no plans in place to legalize sports betting in Idaho, and state lawmakers have not pursued the matter.

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

Idaho Sports Betting Outlook

Sports betting in Idaho is illegal, and no efforts are underway to change that.

Idaho is one of just a few states in the Union that have expressed almost no interest in exploring the possibility of legalization.

Idaho lawmakers have not introduced a single bill to legalize sports betting in the years since the Supreme Court struck down PASPA.

Shortly after the decision, Idaho Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane said in an interview that the odds of legalized Idaho sports betting were long.

โ€œTo me, itโ€™s so uphill that I havenโ€™t even heard a whisper of a proponent,โ€ he said. โ€œThe Constitution is very clear.โ€

He went on to explain that other states have an easier path to sports betting legalization compared to Idaho:

โ€œYouโ€™re actually seeing the states that are doing it, I donโ€™t want to say they were predisposed to gambling, but they had a much more favorable regulatory regime to amend.โ€

However, as neighboring states legalize sports betting, Idaho lawmakers may be convinced to look at the opportunity as gambling dollars flow across state lines.

If that happens, lawmakers will have to overcome the challenge of amending the state constitution and receiving the approval of a majority of voters before legal sports betting in Idaho can become a reality.

Idaho Horse Racing Betting

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Horse racing betting is legal in Idaho.

Horse racing fans may place wagers in person at race tracks and off-track betting facilities (OTBs) or online through licensed advance deposit wagering operators (ADWs).

The Idaho Racing Commission is responsible for overseeing horse racing, parimutuel wagering, and ensuring licensees comply with state law and Racing Commission rules.

ID Code ยง 54-2501-2517 establishes the legal framework for horse racing and wagering in Idaho.

Idaho Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports sites in Idaho were permitted to operate before 2016 despite a lack of legal clarity.

That changed in 2016 when the Attorney General issued a press release announcing its opinion that daily fantasy sports contests constitute illegal gambling under Idaho law.

Then-Attorney General Lawrence Wasden explained:

The concern I have is that the paid daily sports offerings provided by these companies constitute gambling under Idaho law. I have a duty to enforce and uphold that law.  I commend the companies for negotiating in good faith and agreeing not to make these contests available in Idaho.

The press release also announced that the Office of the Attorney General had reached an agreement with FanDuel and DraftKings that would see both DFS companies cease all operations in Idaho.

In return, the Attorney General chose not to pursue charges against either company for violating state law.

The upside is that the AGโ€™s press release noted that the agreement included a legal path to resume daily fantasy sports contests in Idaho if the state legislature changes the law to legalize daily fantasy sports sites.

In the years since the AGโ€™s notice, no serious efforts have been made to legalize Idaho daily fantasy sports sites apps.

Idaho Online Gambling

Online casinos and poker sites are not legal in Idaho. Idaho’s broad gambling prohibition is written into the state’s constitution, making Idaho one of the most restrictive states in the country for online gambling. Additionally, the constitutional prohibition will complicate any efforts to authorize online gambling in Idaho.

The Idaho Constitution prohibits “any form of casino gambling including, but not limited to, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, bacarrat, keno and slot machines” as well as “any electronic or electromechanical imitation or simulation of any form of casino gambling.”

Idaho Code ยง 18-3802 makes it a misdemeanor to participate in any form of gambling not expressly permitted by the state. The only exceptions carved out in the constitution are the state lottery, pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, and charitable bingo and raffles.

Because the Idaho Constitution (not state statute) prohibits gambling, legalizing online casinos in Idaho would require a constitutional amendment. Lawmakers would need to pass a bill by a two-thirds majority, and voters would then need to approve the amendment. Idaho has amended its constitution on gambling before (a 2002 proposition redefined certain tribal gaming devices), but there have been no proposals to authorize online casinos in recent years.

Idaho is one of the most restrictive states for sweepstakes casinos. The constitutional ban on electronic “simulation[s]” of casino games creates a legal barrier that most operators respect by either blocking Idaho entirely or disabling prize redemptions for Idaho residents.

All major sweepstakes casino brands, including prominent operators like WOW Vegas and Stake.us Casino, prohibit customers from Idaho.

Online poker sites are not legal in Idaho.

The Idaho Lottery does not sell lottery tickets online, but it does allow third-party lottery courier services to purchase tickets on behalf of customers located anywhere within state lines.

Customers 18 or older can download online lottery apps to order tickets for all major Idaho lottery draw games.

Idaho does not allocate state funds specifically for problem gambling services, but residents do have numerous options to get help and treatment referrals, speak to qualified counselors, ask questions, and self-exclude from specific operators.

  • 211 Idaho CareLine: Dial 2-1-1, call 800-926-2588, or text 898-211 for referrals and information about local problem gambling resources.
  • NCPG Idaho: Call the National Council on Problem Gambling helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or text 800GAM for information, treatment options, and referrals.
  • Kindbridge Behavioral Health: Offers specialized, online counseling for Idaho residents struggling with gambling or gaming disorders.
  • Birches Health Idaho: Birches Health offers problem gambling treatment throughout Idaho through a network of licensed clinicians and virtual resources.

Idaho Gambling Self-Exclusion

Idaho does not maintain a central self-exclusion program, so players must contact each operator individually to self-exclude. However, third-party software tools provide methods to self-exclude from all forms of online gambling, including unregulated gambling sites and offshore sportsbooks.

  • Online Betting Self-Exclusion: Consider third-party tools such as Gamban and BetBlocker to block access to a long (and continuously updated) list of online sportsbooks, casinos, and fantasy sports apps, including illegal offshore platforms.
  • Tribal Casino Exclusion: Each tribal gaming facility manages its own voluntary exclusion list, meaning players must contact each casino individually to self-exclude.

Idaho Sports Betting FAQ

No. Idaho lawmakers have not passed legislation to legalize online sports betting or retail sportsbooks.

Legal Idaho online sports betting is likely a long way out. Not one lawmaker has introduced an Idaho sports betting bill since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA, indicating there is little appetite for change.

Although Idaho lacks legal sportsbooks and betting sites, most of its neighboring states have already legalized sports betting.

Fans can visit Washington for sportsbooks at tribal casinos, Oregon to bet online with DraftKings, Nevada for online wagering and retail sportsbooks, Wyoming for online sports betting, or Montana for self-serve betting kiosks.

Yes. Idaho online betting options are limited, but TwinSpires and AmWager offer legal online horse racing wagering.

Yes. Popular horse racing betting apps TVG, TwinSpires, and AmWager accept Idaho residents and offer online wagering on this yearโ€™s Kentucky Derby.