Legal Idaho Betting Sites
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.
“To me, it’s so uphill that I haven’t even heard a whisper of a proponent,” he said. “The Constitution is very clear.”
He went on to explain that other states have an easier path to sports betting legalization compared to Idaho:
“You’re actually seeing the states that are doing it, I don’t want to say they were predisposed to gambling, but they had a much more favorable regulatory regime to amend.”
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
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 § 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 AG’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 AG’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.
Responsible Gambling in Idaho
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
Wes Burns has more than a decade's worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.