North Dakota Sports Betting

Legal North Dakota sports betting options consist of retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos. Lawmakers have not yet legalized online sports betting in North Dakota, and it’s unclear if there’s enough support in the legislature to pass a bill.

Currently, legal online betting options in North Dakota include horse racing betting sites and daily fantasy sports apps. Prediction market platforms are also available in North Dakota, allowing fans to trade yes/no contracts on game winners, player stat totals, and more.

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North Dakota Sports Betting Overview

North Dakota is home to several retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos:

Although North Dakota has never formally legalized sports betting, tribal gaming operators offer retail sportsbooks under gaming compacts they reached with the state in 2013. Each compact authorizes a sportsbook as long as it doesn't violate the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA):

G. Sports Book except as prohibited by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act

When the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018, that condition became moot, clearing the way for tribal casinos to open sportsbooks in North Dakota.

North Dakota Online Sports Betting

Online sports betting is illegal in North Dakota, and legalization faces a steep path.

The North Dakota Constitution prohibits all gambling except the lottery, charity gaming, and tribal casinos. That means the only way to legalize online sports betting in North Dakota is through a constitutional amendment, which would require legislative action and voter approval in a statewide referendum.

Lawmakers have declined to take that step every time it has come up. Most recently, the House rejected a 2025 resolution (HCR 3002) that would have put sports betting on the 2026 general election ballot.

The North Dakota legislature meets only in odd-numbered years, so the next opportunity to advance a similar measure is the 2027 session. If a resolution passes then, the question would go to voters in November 2028 at the earliest.

North Dakota’s earliest sports betting legalization efforts began after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn PASPA. Lawmakers introduced two ND sports betting bills in 2019.

HB 1295 would have legalized sports betting as a game of chance and permitted licensed charitable organizations to offer wagers on professional sports only. Meanwhile, HB 1254 sought to establish a similar set of rules but also authorized betting on college bets. HB 1295 died in committee while HB 1254 made it through a full House vote before dying in the Senate.

Lawmakers introduced additional legislation in 2021 that would have put a sports betting referendum on the 2022 election ballot. The bill easily passed a House vote but suffered a narrow defeat in the Senate.

The legislature considered two more bills in 2023. HCR 3002 proposed a constitutional amendment that would have granted to legislature the authority to legalize and regulate sports betting. A companion bill, SB 2358, would have created a task force to develop a statewide implementation plan for online sports betting. Both failed to advance in the Senate

North Dakota Daily Fantasy Sports

Fantasy pick'em sports apps are the closest alternative to online sports betting in North Dakota. North Dakota does not license or regulate daily fantasy sports sites, but all major DFS brands accept residents. See our complete guide for more information and recommended DFS apps:

North Dakota Prediction Markets

Prediction markets are legal in North Dakota and serve as another viable alternative to online sports betting. Residents can access CFTC-regulated prediction market apps from anywhere in North Dakota to trade yes/no contracts on topics like sports, politics, financial markets, and even the weather for real money.

North Dakota Horse Racing Betting

Parimutuel horse wagering is legal in North Dakota at live tracks, simulcasting facilities, and via online horse racing betting apps.

North Dakota Online Gambling

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Online casinos and poker sites are prohibited in North Dakota.

However, sweepstakes casinos offer a nearly identical experience by leveraging a "no purchase necessary" loophole to avoid meeting the state's legal definition of illegal gambling. Regulators in some states have cracked down on sweepstakes casinos, but that has not happened in North Dakota. Currently, all major sweepstakes casino sites remain available in North Dakota.

Read more about sweepstakes gambling and online casinos in North Dakota here:

North Dakota Online Lottery

The North Dakota Lottery was established in 2004 after voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the sale of tickets to multistate drawings.

Residents 18 and older can buy North Dakota lottery tickets online.

Responsible Gambling in North Dakota

Responsible gambling starts with clear limits: treat gambling as entertainment, set a budget/time cap in advance, and avoid chasing losses. If it’s no longer fun or it’s affecting your finances, relationships, or sense of well-being, now is a good time to talk to someone.

North Dakota has state-level responsible gambling resources, and the state lottery also provides tools and information for problem gambling prevention and treatment.

  • GamblerND: Call 1-877-702-7848 for help and information or visit online for additional resources, local treatment options, provider referrals, and meetings.
  • Gamblers Anonymous ND: Find a local Gamblers Anonymous chapter to meet current and former problem gamblers who aim to support one another in their recovery effort.
  • ND Racing Commission (Responsible Gambling): The Racing Commission responsible gambling page offers general guidance and safer-play principles.
  • ND Lottery (Responsible Gaming): responsible gaming tools and self-exclusion information for lottery-related play.
  • NCPG North Dakota: call 1-800-522-4700, text 800GAM, or chat online for 24/7 support, information, and treatment referrals.

North Dakota Sports Betting Self-Exclusion

North Dakota does not maintain a statewide self-exclusion database for all forms of gambling, but players do have some options:

  • Tribal Casino Self-Exclusion: Under current tribal-state compacts, each tribe manages its own internal exclusion programs. As a result, players must self-exclude from each property individually.
  • ND Sports Betting: Legal sports betting in North Dakota is limited to retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos. Self-excluding from tribal casinos covers sports betting by extension.
  • Charitable Gaming Machines: Unfortunately, there is no mechanism to self-exclude from all pull-tab machines statewide.
  • Online Blocking: The most effective way to block access to unregulated or illegal gambling sites and online sportsbooks is through tools like Gamban and BetBlocker.

North Dakota Sports Betting FAQ

North Dakota sportsbooks only accept customers 21 or older.

Yes, college sports betting is legal in North Dakota.

Tribal sportsbooks in North Dakota accept wagers on college games. Gaming compacts between the tribes and state do not enforce any special restrictions on college sports wagering, so sportsbooks may accept bet on in-state and out-of-state universities.

No. Lawmakers have considered several bills that would legalize online sports betting in North Dakota, but none of their efforts have mustered enough support to pass both chambers.

Yes. Fans can bet on the Kentucky Derby and other Triple Crown events through licensed advance deposit wagering apps or in person at off-track betting facilities.

Tribal casinos offer sports betting in North Dakota under gaming compacts with the state, and North Dakota sportsbooks could presumably offer esports betting if they wanted, but none do currently.