Complete Guide to Gambling in Montana

Montana is known for a few different things, including agriculture, ranching
and its national parks (i.e. Yellowstone, Glacier Park). Gambling, however, is
not one of the notable aspects about Big Sky Country.

Though gambling is not a notable point in Montana, they do seem to have a
thriving charity gambling industry, with over 290 gaming venues spread
throughout the state.

Unfortunately, this same acceptance does not extend to online gaming. In
fact, Montana has harsh laws against internet gaming, which we’ll discuss below.

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Online Gambling and Montana Law

As we’ll cover below, Montana is one of the few American states that
explicitly bans offshore gaming companies.

Technically, this means that potential operators should steer clear of
Montana. But do they?

You’d be surprised at how many offshore casinos, sportsbooks and poker sites
ignore the state’s legislation. Below, you can see exactly what Montana’s
criminal code says about internet gaming along with the safety of playing there.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Montana?

No, online gaming operators aren’t supposed to offer their services in
Montana.

Here’s an excerpt from section 23-5-112 (21)(a) of their criminal code that
explains the matter:

“Internet gambling, by whatever name known, includes but is not limited to
the conduct of any legal or illegal gambling enterprise through the use of
communications technology that allows a person using money, paper checks,
electronic checks, electronic transfers of money, credit cards, debit cards, or
any other instrumentality to transmit to a computer information to assist in the
placing of a bet or wager and corresponding information related to the display
of the game, game outcomes, or other similar information.”

Montana makes exceptions for state lottery retailers and licensed simulcast
facilities to offer online wagering.

But it’s pretty clear from the definition above that offshore operators (i.e.
those outside the US) aren’t supposed to offer gambling in the state.

Interestingly enough, most major gaming sites ignore section 23-5-112
(21)(a), and continue offering their services in Montana.

Are Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Montana?

No, the Treasure State also bans daily fantasy sports (DFS) through
section23-5-802.

While this penal code allows for pari-mutuel and season-long fantasy sports,
it closes the door on for-profit leagues over the internet:

“Fantasy sports leagues authorized. It is lawful to conduct or participate in
a fantasy sports league, including a fantasy sports league that is operated
under a pari-mutuel system of wagering regulated under Title 23, chapter 4. It
is unlawful to wager on a fantasy sports league by telephone or by the
internet.”

State Rep. Forest Mandeville attempted to legalize DFS in 2005. But House
bill 181 never garnered any serious attention, and was grounded in a committee
hearing.

Unlike offshore gaming sites, leading DFS companies DraftKings and FanDuel
stay out of Montana and other taboo markets to keep from jeopardizing their
standings in legal markets.

Can I Get Arrested for Gambling Online in Montana?

This is a complex subject. Let’s preface it by saying that Montana has never
arrested anybody for gambling online.

Theoretically, they could pursue an online gambler under certain statues.

One is Article III, Section 9, which covers Montana’s definition of illegal
gambling:

“All forms of gambling, lotteries and gift enterprises are prohibited unless
authorized by acts of the legislature or by the people through initiative or
referendum.”

Another is found in section23-5-112 (14), which discusses an illegal gambling
device:

“[A] mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic device, machine, slot
machine, instrument, apparatus, contrivance, scheme, or system used or intended
for use in any gambling activity.”

Based on these laws, Montana could create a case against an internet gambler.
But we’ve yet to see any state use vague legal language to harass online gamers.

We can’t 100% guarantee that you won’t be arrested, but the odds of this
happening to you or anybody else are extremely slim.

Should I Trust Offshore Gaming Sites?

This is another subject that doesn’t have a concrete answer.

But in most cases, yes, you can trust offshore casinos and sports betting
sites.

The majority of gaming sites are reputable businesses – otherwise, they
wouldn’t draw repeat business. Any site that doesn’t fit into this category will
quickly find themselves without a customer base.

Of course, you’ll find a few bad apples that process withdrawals slowly
and/or have terrible customer service. Also remember that you can’t be totally
confident in offshore sites since they don’t have any government oversight.

The key is that you do proper research before depositing, which we’ll cover
next.

How do I Find the Best Offshore Casinos?

Here are a few important things you want to do before signing up and
depositing at an offshore gaming site:

• Read Reviews

The more reviews you read on an offshore casino, the better you can compile a good
opinion on them.

• Look for Customer Complaints

Are customers complaining about a certain issue over and over
again?

• Check Deposit Options

Does a particular site have a deposit option you can use? Most Montana-friendly
offshore sites at least have Bitcoin, which any player can access.

• Number of Games

Everybody enjoys good game variety, and your casino should offer this.

• Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses, promotions and loyalty rewards can improve your chances of winning.
This is another aspect that any good offshore casino should offer you.

• Restricted States

Many Montana-friendly casinos restrict specific states over laws and/or legal
incidents. The Treasure State is normally accepted at most casinos, but keep in
mind that it can also be on the restricted list due to its strict laws.

ALso On This Page

More Gambling Laws in Montana

• Casino Games (Illegal)
• Sports Betting (Legal)
• Poker (Legal)
• Racing Betting (Legal)
• Lottery (Legal)
• Bingo (Legal)
• Charitable Gaming (Legal)
• Social Gambling (Legal)

Sports Betting Legal

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Montana is unique in that it’s only one of four states that can legally offer
sports betting.

Along with Delaware, Nevada, and Oregon, they’re exempt from the Professional
and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992, which bans sports wagering on
a federal level.

If you’re expecting to find Nevada-style sportsbooks in Montana – don’t. The
only sports betting products they offer include fantasy football and racing.
Going further, you choose individual players and racecar drivers, much like a
DFS game.

Pro sports leagues have fought vehemently trying to prevent sports wagering
in fear of point-shaving scandals. Rather than risking lawsuits by trying to
expand their betting activities (like Delaware and Oregon) Montana has kept
their sports betting limited.

Charity Gaming & Poker Legal

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As mentioned earlier, Big Sky Country has a massive charity gambling
industry. And they have a separate set of laws that govern these games.

Countless bars and restaurants around the state offer approved charity
gaming, including bingo, casino nights, keno and raffles.

The charity gaming laws have been amended to include a number of card games.
These include bridge, cribbage, hearts, pinochle, poker, rummy and whist.

Any organization that runs these games must give 100% of the proceeds to
their state charity.

Commercial & Tribal Casinos Legal

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Montana doesn’t allow commercial casinos, but they do have a few tribal
casinos around the state.

The tribal casinos are approved to offer electronic games like blackjack,
roulette and slot machines. The slots are under the Class II category, meaning
their results are determined by virtual bingo drawings rather than a random
number generator.

One reason to gamble at the tribal casinos over charity establishments is
that they have higher limits. Smokers will also appreciate that these venues are
exempt from the state’s smoking ban.

Horse Racing Legal

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The Treasure State features a very limited pari-mutuel industry with one
active racetrack in Yellowstone Downs. This establishment only offers races in
the summer.

Racing enthusiasts can also visit the simulcast facilities located around the
state.

Lottery Legal

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While Montana is one of 45 states with a lottery, they also have the lowest
lottery revenue in the U.S. They make $60 million per year selling scratch-offs,
Mega Millions, Powerball and state lottery tickets.

Social Gambling Legal

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The Montana constitution excludes social gambling from other forms of illegal
gaming. Section 23-5-112 (13)(c) explains this as follows:

“The term does not include social card games of bridge, cribbage, hearts,
pinochle, pitch, rummy, solo and whist played solely for prizes of minimal
value.”

This is similar to charity gaming, where nobody from a social gambling
function can take a cut of the action.

Gambling Venues in Montana

If you’re looking for major casino resorts, then Montana isn’t the place.
But, like I said earlier, the Treasure State is full of smaller charity
establishments and a few tribal casinos.

We counted over 290 bar, lounges and restaurants that offer Class II charity
gaming. Many businesses take advantage of legal charity gambling because it’s a
great way to attract patrons.

Considering that Montana spans 147,040 square miles, it’s a good thing that
residents have so many different gaming options.

For the sake of time, we won’t list everyplace that you can gamble in
Montana. But you can see a few venues below.

Because they have the most options and offer higher limits, the best places
to gamble in Montana are the tribal casinos. Here’s a list of 6 tribal casinos
in the Treasure State.

History of Gambling in Montana

Montana, like many other states, has been slow to embrace gaming.

In the late 1800s, they banned every type of gaming. It wasn’t until 1939
that their legislature finally made some headway by allowing counties to offer
some forms of gambling.

Things really heated up in the 1990s, when the state government negotiated
casino pacts with three different tribes. This paved the way for casino gaming
in the state.

Unfortunately, Montana became one of the few places to ban online gaming in
2005. But as we discussed before, the language only covers operators.

Montana Gambling FAQ

The gambling section of Montana’s gaming laws is pretty straightforward. The
main questions that players have revolves around online gaming, because you’ll
still find offshore sites operating here.

That said, let’s clear up the confusion by discussing some FAQs about
Montana’s gaming market.

Additional Resources

Montana has two main sources that you can reference for additional
information on their gaming laws:

• Montana Gambling Control Division

The Gambling Control Division site is located at the Department of Justice,
and they regulate most forms of gaming in the state. The only gaming that the
Control Division doesn’t regulate includes horse racing and the Montana Lottery.
Here, you can find FAQs and other info on the state’s land-based forms of
gaming.

• Montana State Constitution

This site covers the gambling section in Montana’s constitution.
Specifically, you’ll find info on the bingo & raffles, Card Games Act, casino
nights, fantasy sports leagues, state lottery and the Video Gaming Machine
Control Law.

The Future & Your Views

When it comes to tolerating online gaming, Montana is in the bottom half of
American states. They specifically mention that “illegal gambling enterprises”
can’t offer internet gaming to their residents.

Montana closes any loopholes by discussing how it’s illegal for companies to
accept any manner of payment for online gaming services.

We’re not sure why Montana was so quick to ban iGaming operators in 2005. The
unfortunate part is that they aren’t even close to offering regulated online
gaming in the future.

At the time of this writing, the state senate approved a season-long DFS bill
for contest entries under $35, but this is hardly what anybody envisions when
they think of regulated iGaming.

The reality is that Montana isn’t a very big state, and they don’t stand to
gain much from legal online gaming. Moreover, the status quo will likely remain
for years.

The good news is that numerous offshore sites are still serving Montanans. As
long as you do proper research, you should be able to find good offshore casinos
and sports betting sites.