North Dakota Online Sports Betting

North Dakota is one of those midwestern states where you might not expect much of a gambling presence, with less than 800,000 residents, a frigid climate, few visitors and a decentralized population.

However, the Roughrider State has defied expectations to become a gambling hub with almost 30 legal gaming establishments. Without sports betting, online poker or online casinos, the state does however, permits other forms of online gaming including a superb online state lottery.

Most of North Dakota’s gaming action centers on the 6 tribal casinos and more than 20 charitable gaming establishments. Bars and restaurants can also offer the state’s residents video lottery games.

At the current time, North Dakota has no other legal sports betting options beyond the options of DFS, and horse and greyhound racing.

To this point in time, you are unable to place a bet in North Dakota on your favorite teams like the Detroit Tigers, the Green Bay Packers or the Minnesota Timberwolves.

To date, here is no legal North Dakota sports betting and that’s not going to change until at least 2021. The state’s lawmakers didn’t submit any bills to legalize sports wagering in 2020 after a failed effort in 2019 with bill HD 1254.

The Criminal Code of North Dakota on Gambling doesn’t look kindly upon those indulging themselves in illegal sports betting, however, the official definition of gambling in North Dakota is wide enough to include betting on sports.

As no bills on sports betting legislation have made it to the State Legislature, North Dakota is unlikely to introduce legislation to legalize sports betting within the next few months, but times are changing rapidly.

Given the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the national ban on sports betting, things could change quickly in North Dakota given its relatively easy-going laws on other forms of gambling. We will let you know if the situation begins to change.

Online sports betting currently sits outside online gambling laws in North Dakota, (i.e. North Dakota does not currently specify nor authorize, regulate, or even prohibit sports betting online), and anything along the lines of a NJ online sportsbook is still the stuff of fantasy for the residents of the Roughrider State.

However, there are historic precedents to North Dakota attempting to become one of the states in which gambling online is not only accepted but legislated as 100% legal.

Back in 2005, State House Representative James Kasper introduced HCR 3035 in an attempt to have North Dakota become the first state in the US to legalize online poker and internet gambling in general. Eventually, the bill was defeated in North Dakota’s State House, however, given that the bill progressed as far as it did offers good signs that North Dakota lawmakers whilst not yet embracing the change at least are open-minded enough to consider transformations in the state’s codes.

Online players looking for online betting options in North Dakota can legally play real money DFS competitions in the state, the state’s online lottery, and gamble online on horse and greyhound racing without running afoul of the state gambling statutes.

Federal lawmakers in the United States are of the opinion that Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) competitions are not considered to be gambling, as under Federal Law they are deemed to be skills-based games, not games of chance. Accordingly, each state has been encouraged by Federal lawmakers to declare their own position on the legality of DFS competitions.

The North Dakota State Attorney General and legislature have not been in any rush to address the issue. For now, residents of North Dakota can continue to play DFS contests without any form of legal impediments.

Soon, when North Dakota’s residents enter the fray of legal sports betting, betting on eSports in the state will transform the available gambling options. As one of a new generation of ‘family-friendly’ forms of sports betting, eSports betting will grow quickly as a ‘clean’ type of gambling unscathed by a murky legal history.

What are eSports?

eSports (otherwise known as ‘competitive gaming’ in popular multi-player online video games like Call of Duty, Street Fighter, Rocket League, Mortal Kombat and others) are the biggest growth area in sports betting worldwide.

A huge gambling scene has grown up around eSports. From its early history in the underground-LAN-gaming-community, mainstream sports respectability has evolved. Professional teams and players compete in a worldwide series of tournaments that offer enormous prize pools worth millions of dollars, and attract huge live crowds and millions of online viewers.

International sportsbooks now offer competitive betting markets and attractive odds on the major network of global eSports tournaments.

Expect eSports betting markets to be among the first legal betting markets framed by the bookies and available soon in your favorite legal North Dakota sportsbook.

The Horse Racing Industry in North Dakota is administered by the North Dakota Racing Commission and the body is responsible for approving racing events, animal welfare, simulcasting and management and licensing of the state racetracks.

Trackside Betting

North Dakota is home to a sole racetrack, which is odd considering the openness of the Tribal Casino and Charity Casinos.
An unsuccessful bill (SB 2221) to extend horse racing and ‘racinos’ with slot machines was defeated as recently as April 2017. However, the vote was close (only one vote the difference) and shows that the North Dakota State House has an appetite for gambling change.

Off Track Betting (OTB) in North Dakota

OTB betting is offered at a wide and well-established network of multiple OTB locations through the state of North Dakota.

Online Horse Racing in North Dakota

Horse Racing Betting online is available to residents of North Dakota. All of the racebooks are user-friendly, offering online betting direct from your phone, tablet, other mobile device or home computer. Available to North Dakotans over the age of 18, online horse racing betting sites offer attractive odds on thoroughbred racing in the U.S. and major horse racing meetings worldwide.

For Information about North Dakota’s Online Casino and Gambling Laws Click Here