Sports Gambling North Dakota

• North Dakota Sports Gambling
• Online Sports Betting North Dakota
• Sports Gambling North Dakota Casinos
• Sports Gambling North Dakota Cities

North Dakota may have a small population, but that hasn’t stopped the Peace Garden State from creating a relatively exciting gambling industry. And while there is currently no legal North Dakota sports betting, lawmakers in the state have been pushing to change this since even before the PASPA ruling in 2018.

Sports Betting Bill is Part of Gambling Expansion With changes in the sports betting landscape nationwide, North Dakota seems to heading in the direction of change. At the beginning of the month, lawmakers agreed to expand gambling options and voted to include historic horse racing machines in the mix. North Dakota has no authorized sports gambling market and thus there is no state-mandated minimum sports gambling age. Offshore sportsbooks accept ND players as young as 18. State laws may contradict this if the state were to pass its own sports gambling legislation. North Dakota Legislative Resources. Online sports betting is not addressed in the North Dakota Century Code nor the North Dakota Constitution. With the absence of laws at a state level, it is reasonable to say that online sports betting is legal in North Dakota as long as you use a site that accepts state residents. North Dakota is a relatively large state, though its population ranks amongst the smallest. There aren’t any professional sports franchises in the state, but sports gambling (and other forms of gambling) are still widely popular amongst residents. Part of the reason that gambling is popular in North Dakota is that gambling is tolerated there. North Dakota sports betting fanatics go crazy for SportsBetting.ag! It’s one of the best and longest running online sportsbooks in the world. All North Dakota residents who are at least 21 years old are free to sign up. Since 1991, SportsBetting.ag has been providing its customers with top-of-the-line, quality sports betting action.

As we only ever recommend players use trustworthy licensed bookmakers on this website, we are unable to recommend a North Dakota legal online sportsbook. Instead, we’ve focused on discussing other available gambling options, the current gaming laws, and the future outlook of the industry.

What Betting Options are Legal for North Dakota Residents

Contents

• What Betting Options are Legal for North Dakota Residents
• Frequently Asked Questions

There may be no legal online sports betting in North Dakota for the time being, but ND gamblers shouldn’t be completely disappointed. The state is home to a growing number of tribal casinos that offer both slots and table games, horse race betting, daily fantasy sports, and the lottery.

Is Daily Fantasy Legal in North Dakota?

Since it’s rise to prominence in the United States, many states have moved to either legalize daily fantasy sports (DFS) or outlaw it completely on the grounds of being illegal gambling. Although lawmakers in North Dakota have considered legalizing DFS, they have instead chosen to simply tolerate DFS without legislation.

This means that players can wager on their draft fantasy sports teams with DraftKings and FanDuel for cash prizes without fear of breaking the law. This is due to the element of skill and research needed to be successful in the games, as opposed to sports betting and other forms of gambling that mostly rely on luck.

Are there Legal Offshore Sites for North Dakota Players

Some offshore betting sites such as Bovada and MyBookie may advertise in North Dakota as legal websites but be warned: this is not true. As there is can be no licensed North Dakota legal online sportsbook until sports betting is legalized, these are not reputable sports betting sites and are acting illegally.

Any website that accepts players from an illegal jurisdiction is can not be trusted. Without being licensed, there is no way to ensure that bets are fair and that your money is safe. We suggest you wait until legal North Dakota online gambling is sanctioned before you gambling anywhere online.

Casinos

Whether you’re a fan of table games or slot machines, you’ll find it all at North Dakota’s casinos. There are more than 20 gaming facilities spread across the state, with Fargo being home to 10 of them. All casinos are operated by the state’s tribal gaming groups, with six offering Class II gaming.

With 1,200 slot machines, blackjack, and craps available, the Dakota Magic Casino Hotel in Hankinson is about the closest you can get to Vegas-style gaming in ND. Online casino gambling is strictly prohibited in the state, so we recommend you stick to these establishments until legal online sports betting in North Dakota is authorized.

Racetrack Betting

Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing is legal in North Dakota. There are two racetracks in the state, including Chippewa Downs in Belcourt and North Dakota Horse Park in Fargo. Fortunately, there are also four licensed off-track betting parlors available and four licensed horse race betting websites.

This is therefore the closest thing to legal online sports betting in North Dakota. Bets can be made on races at both tracks as well as at domestic and international horse racing events. Both in-state races and betting are regulated by the North Dakota Racing Commission.

Card Rooms

A number of North Dakota’s casinos also host poker card rooms. There are four card rooms in the state including the 4 Bears Casino and Lodge, the Dakota Magic, the Sky Dancer, and the King Pin Casino. There are strict laws on poker in North Dakota which prohibits online poker and limits all live poker to tribal casinos.

Pots can not exceed $300, though mostly caps hover around the $100 mark. Games are therefore fixed-limit or spread-limit varieties of Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud Poker. The World Series of Poker often runs small tournaments at the Dakota Magic Casino and the Sky Dancer Casino.

Nearby States with Legal Sports Betting

As we mentioned, there is no legal online sports betting in North Dakota. However, it is not against the law to travel to legal sports betting states to wager on sports. To be sure that you’re betting with safe, licensed sportsbooks, this is the betting option we recommend the most.

Below, we’ve listed a number of nearby states that bettors can wager at until North Dakota sports betting is legalized. Montana is the closest state, though players can only place bets on-site at licensed retailers.

• Montana
• Iowa
• Colorado

What would Legal Sports Betting in North Dakota Look Like

With no sports betting bills currently introduced in the North Dakota Lower House or Senate, it’s difficult to say what North Dakota sports betting would look like. The last attempt to legalize sports betting in the state was in 2019, and both bills were voted down quickly.

Regardless, with more and more states turning to sports betting legalization, it’s unlikely that North Dakota will turn their back on the market completely. It’s likely that legislators will need to meet with tribal gaming groups and in-state sports officials to decide on the best way to progress.

Once this is done, gaming will need to be regulated by the North Dakota State Gaming Commission. This will ensure that only the safest websites can offer licensed sportsbooks. The regulators will also be in charge of everything from licensing and fees to enforcing player protection measures. Odds are, the state’s sportsbooks will feature a large amount of betting options. Players can bet on college sports, as well as major American leagues such as the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MMA and much much more. Keep your eye on the news for any new developments regarding the state’s regualtion of sports betting.

In a legal North Dakota sports betting market, gamblers can expect to bet on major professional sports such as the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLS as well as international sports leagues. However, with previous bills being shot down for allowing college sports betting, these bets will likely be blocked.

What are the North Dakota Gambling Laws

According to the North Dakota gambling laws, gambling is defined as risking money or any other thing of value upon the chance happening of an event that the person has no control of. Unlike most states, the law specifically mentions that wagering on sporting events constituted illegal gambling.

For a while, North Dakota adopted a blanket ban on all such games of chance. This was altered in the 1970s when gambling was legalized only for charitable games. In 1992, tribal casinos were allowed to operate in the state though most were restricted to only offering Class I gambling.

In time, North Dakota has gradually progressed towards expanded gambling. Horse racing is also legal now, and 2002 saw the creation of a state lottery. With many states having lottery’s since the 1970s, North Dakota has proven that it is rarely an early adopter of expanded gambling measures.

North Dakota adopts two minimum gambling ages that vary depending on what is bet on. Players must be over 18 years old to participate in the state lottery, bet on charity games, create a DFS account, or to bet on horse races. To bet at casinos, players must be over 21 years old.

What is the Future of Sports Betting in North Dakota?

Unfortunately, we’re not very confident that North Dakota will have a legal sports betting market for a number of years. The two recent sports betting bills were shot down in no time due to the strong opposition from the government, Veterans Affairs Committee, and university campuses.

The bill would have permitted only tribal casinos to host sports books, which may have been appealing to those wanting to collect taxes from the games. Therefore, until North Dakota becomes a legal sport betting state, bettors will need to travel out of state to legal betting markets to place fair and safe bets on sporting events.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have questions about gambling in North Dakota and whether there are legal sports betting options available, keep reading. You can find out the answers to some commonly asked questions about North Dakota sports betting below.

Is online gambling and sports betting legal in North Dakota?

Most forms of sports betting and online gambling are illegal in North Dakota. However, the state allows bettors to wager on horse races online, making it the only form of legal online gambling in the state and the closest thing to legal online sports betting in North Dakota.

What is the North Dakota legal gambling age?

There are two minimum gambling ages in North Dakota. As the law states, players must be over the age of 18 to play the lottery, bet on charity games, create a DFS account and wager on horse races. If players want to gamble at a casino, they must be over the age of 21.

Are offshore bookmaker sites legal and safe?

No, offshore bookmakers are not legal in North Dakota. For this reason, they aren’t safe. We believe you can only trust licensed betting sites, as it ensures that bookmakers are operating under strict regulations that guarantee fair payouts and responsible gambling.

Can I play at a North Dakota online sportsbook if I am not in the state?

If there was a North Dakota online sportsbook, you would probably not be able to play from outside of the state. This is the case for most sports betting markets, including neighbor state Montana. Any attempt to bet out of state will be blocked with the use of geo-blocking technology.

Can I use the FanDuel or DraftKings app in North Dakota?

You are able to use FanDuel or DraftKings on mobile devices in North Dakota. Until sports betting is legalized, you are not able to access their sportsbooks but are instead limited to their daily fantasy sports competitions. We believe that both would make for a great legal North Dakota sports betting app.

While the Dakotas may not be major sports hubs of any kind, there is no lack of fans throughout the two states. You will not find much by way of prominent collegiate sports programs, and there are not any professional sports teams either. Fans who want to attend pro sports games or matches usually travel to neighboring states such as Minnesota, enjoying teams such as the Minnesota Vikings, Twins and the Timberwolves. Not having much sports action locally does not mean that residents of the Dakotas can't enjoy legal online sportsbook gambling that is based on their favorite teams and sports events. This guide will provide information about how to legally participate in North Dakota football betting, as well as a guide on how to engage in legal South Dakota football betting. We will be expanding this website to include all of the most popular sports venues over time.

Top Sports Betting Sites For Residents of the Dakota States

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In North And South Dakota?

There are a number of legitimately licensed and regulated US friendly sportsbooks that can offer their service to players around the world, including those in the Dakotas. They are able to do this legally because they are located outside of the USA within a region that has already legalized online sports gambling for their residents. This also renders them exempt from state and federal laws in the United States. These federal laws all address the operation of gambling businesses within the US, and do not address gamblers themselves or those gambling destinations that are located outside of US borders. This is why residents in North and South Dakota can engage in sports betting online without breaking the law.

How Can I Be Sure That a North or South Dakota Sportsbook is Legal?

North Dakota Sports Gambling

The best way to ensure you only access legal and licensed gambling options is to rely on the input of professionals. This guide, and others like it include results from extensive analysis and testing performed by industry professionals. The very first step in our intense review process is to verify the credentials and licensing of any particular brand to confirm that they are operating legally within the industry. If this cannot be verified for any reason, then the site is eliminated from consideration for inclusion in this guide. If we do verify their legitimacy, then they move on to the next phase of our examination, which includes their security profile. It is our prime directive to rule out questionable operations and reveal the safe and legitimate ones. We go much further in our process to evaluate every component in their operation. This takes a great deal of time and effort, but is worth it if it enables us to provide the most helpful information for sports bettors in these two states.

What Types of Bets Can I Make When Betting on Sports in North Dakota and South Dakota?

Every sportsbook brand recommended in our guide was chosen partially due to their extensive offerings. This means they have a strong selection of betting lines and odds that cover a wide variety of sports events, teams and wagering options. They provide impressive menus and features that include futures, parlays, moneyline, totals, pleasers, teasers, proposition bets, if bets, and others. Some of their best features include live in play betting and mobile sportsbook applications for betting on your smartphone or tablet. You will find the most popular sports covered, including football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR, Boxing, golf, hockey, tennis, Olympic sports, and others. Some brands also offer betting on reality competition shows, celebrity gossip, politics and current events.

Trends for Betting in North Dakota

When we set out to do research on states for these sports sites, we really dig in and check out all sports. With North Dakota, for instance, we looked to see if they had any pro sports teams. The answer came back a fat goose egg. Then we looked for D1 competitive collegiate teams. Unfortunately, North Dakota doesn't have any of these either. So, rather than speaking about teams that don't exist here, let's instead give some of you NFL gamblers some insight on betting.

Knowing what to watch out for when betting can help you stretch your dollars and to minimize your risks while maximizing rewards.

The Key Stats to Watch in Football

1: How a Team Does Against the Spread (ATS)

Online Sports Betting North Dakota

The first stat to see is how a team does ATS. Do they cover if they're favored by points? Do they close if they're underdogs? This trend will help you pick correctly when picking the point spread in either direction. For example, you will be able to determine if you should bet on the Patriots to cover all 14 against the Bills, or if you should take the Bills to cover. ATS trends can help you figure out the right way to bet.

2: How a Team Does in Its Division

Sports Gambling North Dakota Casinos

Using the Patriots-Bills example again, look to see how a team does in its division. For instance, NFL teams play six division games a year. If a team is 0-6, 1-5, 2-4 in their division, then you know they have a tough time playing and the safer bet is going with the team that actually beats its division opponents more regularly. This isn't a guarantee, but it is a way to go with the numbers and minimize risk.

3: Who's Starting

Let's say you have a game like the Packers and the Cowboys. This is going to be a high-scoring game, but viewing the starters can help you determine who to pick. Imagine that the Packers don't have Nelson and the Cowboys don't have Bryant, so you have a stalemate with #1 receivers. However, Romo is out with a back injury. That's the pebble that shattered the dam there. You're looking at a key injury that will help the Packers not only win but likely cover any spread. Extrapolate this logic to any team(s).

4: Where They're Playing

Another trend to look at is how a team does on the road, for straight wins and ATS. If you see that a team does very poorly on the road, then you might want to ride that trend and bet against them. Likewise with teams that do very well. When we say to look at the stats, these are the types of stats about which we're speaking. Road teams, or teams that play in cold weather, in the rain, etc, are rarely a push; they're almost always above or below average. Use these numbers to your betting advantage.

5: How They Historically Match a System or Team or Trend

If the Redskins haven't beaten the Broncos in the past 15 times, what makes #16 different? Especially when you use the rest of the stats for your bet, such as who's playing and where they're playing, you should be able to see that Denver will win. Now the only question is the point spread, the over-under, or a straight win. Decide which betting option is the least risky for your bet.

With a little research on these teams, you can greatly reduce your risk by playing the side of the numbers. It's never a 100% lock, but playing with the numbers will simply equate to more wins than losses over time.

South Dakota Betting Info for Trends

Sorry, South Dakotans, but we can't find any legit sports in your state. You don't have any pro teams, and your collegiate teams aren't very competitive. So instead of writing about high-school sports or casinos, let's instead cover some point spread information that some of you South Dakotan gamblers might be able to use the next time you bet.

Important Point Spread Info to Take Heed Of

1: The Math Done

There are all sorts of math equations that oddsmakers use to calculate spreads, but the most famous is one that's simply a median of all the team's activities to date. For example, if the Cowboys have played 5 games and have scored 150 points, then the average is 30 points per game. So oddsmakers predict that in their 6th game, they will score 30. Now, let's say the Redskins have played 5 and have only scored 100. That's only 20 points per game. So when they make the lines for the Giants vs. Redskins, they have a good gauge to use to say that the Giants are favored by 10 points over the 'Skins. That's not the only factor, but that is one that's commonly used.

2: + and - = favorites and dogs

We will assume that most of you reading this are already fully aware how to read favorites and underdogs on a betting line. However, if you don't, here's a quick way to remember. The – (minus) sign always means that a team is favored, while the + (plus) sign always means a team is an underdog. So if you read the Eagles -14, this means that the Eagles are favored to win with two touchdowns to spare, and their opponent, +14, is given a two touchdown cushion to cover. If the opponent comes within two TDs, they have covered the spread.

3: The Push

Let's say that you're betting the Packers vs. the Lions, and the Packers are seven-point favorites, which would read: Packers -7. So, the Pack end up winning 35-28, but you didn't get paid. This is because the bet was a push. You see, when they're favored -7, that actually means they must win by 8 for you to cover, and winning by 6 means the Lions covered. So don't be misled by the actual number. You will always need to get one higher than the number given.

Sports Gambling North Dakota Cities

4: The Home +3 Advantage

If you ever see a game where the point spread is only -3/+3, then you're looking at an instance where oddsmakers have determined that the game is too close to call, so they give the edge to the home team. Believe it or not, this is the best spread on which to bet. Now, which team you choose depends on the research you do, but it's much safer to bet. Why? Because any team that wins is likely to win by more than 3, and any upset you predict only needs to get within 3, not necessarily win. So it can work out on two fronts for you here.

5: The Trap of Action-Inducing Lines

Quite often is the case that oddsmakers create false narratives with spreads so that they'll get action on both sides. For instance, let's say that the New England Patriots start out the year 12-0 and average 40 points per game. In week 14, which will be the Pats' 13th game after factoring in their bye week, they play the Eagles in Foxboro. You see that the Pats are favored by 21. Now, this doesn't mean that oddsmakers believe the Pats will win by 21+. What they're trying to do is lure people into betting both sides. They want split action to cover their bases, so they want people betting on the Eagles to cover. Don't fall into the trap here. If you can, bet elsewhere, where lines are more realistic. Such a game and such a spread is just too much of a risk. Unless you're leveraging and betting small, bet elsewhere. Or bet straight-up or on the over-under.

If you know how to read point spreads and understand what goes into making them, you will understand that they're not always in your best interest. You may want to find other forms of betting, or you may see a spread and recognize that it's a bit too tricky to bet on.

Helpful Resources for Players in South Dakota and North Dakota