Online Casinos Idaho

Q: 🤔 Are online casinos legal in Idaho?

No, online casinos are not legal in Idaho. You are unable to gamble on games such as slots, blackjack, roulette, or online poker. We don’t expect this to change any time soon.

Q: 🃏 What forms of gambling are legal in Idaho?

There are limited types of legal gambling activities available for Idahoans locals. There are six land-based casinos that offer slots and video table games. Aside from this, you can enjoy the lottery and horse race betting.

Q: 🏈 Is online sports betting also illegal in Idaho?

Yes, online sports betting is illegal in Idaho. Unlike many other states, this is not expected to change in the future , as the state has not introduced any bills seeking to allow online or retail sports betting.

Q: 👮 What is the penalty for online gambling in Idaho?

According to Idaho gambling laws , gambling on unauthorized activities is a crime and will be punished as a misdemeanor offense. Offenders may need to pay up to $1,000 in fines and could even be jailed for up to six months. Although this represents the most extreme punishment, we would never risk signing up with an offshore or out-of-state online casino.

Idaho is one of the least gambling-friendly states in the USA, and therefore there are no legal online gambling options. As there are no Idaho online casinos to recommend, this guide will instead focus on discussing the current laws, other legal gambling options, and the future outlook of the industry.

Idaho gambling law checked by experts
Overview of current regulations on Idaho online casinos
Future of online casinos Idaho

0 Legal Online Casinos
0 Legal Land-Based Casinos
0 Legal Social Casinos
0 Legal Bingo / Lottery Games

Idaho gambling history Popular games in the USA

Responsible Gaming
Idaho Lottery

Laws Regarding Idaho Online Casinos

Idaho’ gambling laws are laid out in the Title 18, Chapter 38 of the Idaho Statutes. Here, gambling is defined as risking something of value for gain contingent on the outcome of a chance event. The statute goes on to prohibit all forms of gambling that have otherwise not been authorized by the state.

The statute acts as the only document regarding Idaho online gambling laws, as the language is broad enough to allude to the illegality of online casinos Idaho. There are currently no bills in consideration that seek to legalize online gambling Idaho, though you can track any changes in legislation.

Legal Gambling Options in Idaho

In many states that don’t offer legal online casinos, locals may still be able to bet on sports bets online, wager on horse races, play daily fantasy sports (DFS), or even buy lottery tickets. Unfortunately, there are not many legal options for online gambling in Idaho. DFS has even explicitly been declared illegal by the Attorney General’s Office.

Apart from horse race betting, gambling activities must be played in-person at the state’s several tribal land-based casinos, or through licensed lottery retailers. Sports betting is also illegal in Idaho, and there are no bills to create an online sports betting market under consideration at the moment.

The History of Gambling in Idaho

For a large part of Idaho’s history, gambling thrived across the state. It wasn’t until 1949 that the first signs of gambling intolerance first appeared when small cities started to ban table games. By 1954, slot machines and table games were outlawed state-wide. In 1963, the Horse Racing Act is established to legalize pari-mutuel wagering.

To this day, horse race betting is one of the few tolerated gambling activities, with off-track and online betting on events allowed. In 1989, the state held its first lottery, and to this day, more than $1 billion in revenues for state programs has been raised. In 2002, tribal casinos were permitted to offer slots and video table games. There have still been no Idaho online gambling laws introduced.

Important Events in US Gambling History

While gambling matters are generally left for state lawmakers and voters to decide on, the federal government has implemented several laws to restrict online gambling. It has only been in the last decade that states have created their own laws to create locally-regulated online gambling markets. The following are the only US states with licensed online casinos:

New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement
West Virginia Lottery
Michigan Gaming Control Board

The Wire Act of 1961

The Federal Wire Act of 1961 was enacted to prevent criminal organizations from profiting from inter-state sports betting. It outlawed gambling through phone lines, but this was later interpreted to mean internet connections too. Until Idaho online gambling laws are passed, this ban on online sports betting remains.

Black Friday: The Temporary End of Online Poker

Black Friday refers to an event in 2011 when the US Department of Justice shut down the largest online poker sites for accepting US players. It was found that these companies were violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which effectively banned all forms of online gambling.

Because of this federal law, all states now must create legislation that explicitly permits online casino gambling. Therefore, the rise in online casinos is a relatively new albeit slow development. It’s also another hurdle in the way of the legalization of Idaho online casinos and the chance of legal online poker coming to market.

Popular Online Casino Games in Other States

We are certain that online casinos Idaho would be popular if they were legalized. Already, the state’s Native American casinos generate millions of dollars of years for the state despite being limited to slot machines and video table games. A legal online casino market would essentially be offering a similar experience. In the five states that have permitted online casinos, players can enjoy video slots, blackjack, roulette, poker, live dealer games, and many more. There are endless variations for each game type, ensuring that there is always something new to try. The following are some of the most popular games in states where online casinos are legal:

Online Blackjack
Online Roulette
Online Slots
Online Poker

Blackjack

In Idaho, the state’s land-based tribal casinos are allowed to offer video blackjack. There are no live-dealer versions of the game. For this reason, local players should be more than ready to enjoy online variants of the game if online casinos Idaho were legalized.

We expect that the game would be popular with Idahoans as it offers a high return to player rate. There are also many different versions that offer different aesthetic styles, betting options, special features, and the ability to play multiple hands at once. They also facilitate low buy-ins so no large amounts of money are at stake.

Roulette

Video roulette is also permitted at Idaho’s land-based tribal casinos. This casino classic is one of the most social and thrilling of all casino games. It is also iconic for its myriad betting options that admittedly take some time to learn. As online roulette is offered at a much lower buy-in than land-based games, it’s the perfect opportunity to practice.

There is no limit to the variants that are available for this game. Some offer the French or European versions in addition to the American variant, while others may offer turbo-speed games or other unique betting options. We’re sure that online roulette would be embraced if online casinos Idaho were permitted.

Video Slots

Since being legalized in 2002, slot machines have become the most popular activity at Idaho’s land-based casinos. We have no doubt, then, that Idaho’s online casinos would include hundreds of unique slots to try. This is because, unlike land-based slots, new online variants drop almost every week.

Another perk to online slots is that there are thousands of themes and styles. While some try to replicate the classic slots of land-based casinos, others push digital technology to the very limits and they are closer to video games than slots. Some online slots in Idaho that would be popular include Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest.

Online Poker in Idaho

Poker between players is illegal in most casinos in Idaho. Aside from one casino, the other tribal casinos are only permitted to offer video versions of poker. These see players play against computers. While these computers are a fun way to improve your skills and can still offer big cash prizes, there’s nothing quite like playing against other players.

Online casinos offer both video poker and online poker. If online poker in Idaho were legalized, players would be able to play single cash games or tournaments for games such as Texas Hold’em, Stud, or Omaha. It’s not only a much more social way to play, but some major tournaments offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in real money prizes.

Idaho’s Land-Based Casinos

There are six land-based casinos in Idaho as per October 2021. These are quite limited in what they can offer, with the main attraction being slot machines. That said, video versions of table games such as blackjack, roulette, poker, and craps are also permitted. The Coeur d’Alene Casino is also allowed to host poker tournaments.

Several casinos in Idaho also offer hotel accommodations, live entertainment, and high-quality food and beverage services. Some also permit lottery games, bingo, and pari-mutuel wagering on horse races. All of these casinos are operated by Native American tribes and are self-regulated.

Idaho Land-Based Casinos Overview

Fred Williams Author and Casino Expert

Coeur d’Alene Casino	🍒 1,600 slot machines 🃏
Shoshane Bannock Casino Hotel	🍒 900 slot machines 🃏
Clearwater River Casino	🍒 600 slot machines 🃏

Comparison of Land-Based and Online Casinos

There are pros and cons to gambling at land-based and online casinos, and we’re sure that either experience will provide a good time. Some prefer land-based casinos as they offer a more immersive and social experience. That said, they can be more expensive, especially when playing table games.

Online casinos offer much lower buy-ins, with roulette being available for as little as 20c per spin at many casinos. Also, online casinos offer regular promotions and their slots catalogs are frequently updated with the latest new-release titles. Hopefully, you’ll be able to weigh up which is better for you soon when gambling in Idaho.

The Future of Idaho Online Casinos

While we would love to be able to recommend the best Idaho online casinos, we likely won’t be able to do this for a while. There are no laws seeking to introduce online casino gambling being considered by state legislators, and no lawmakers have announced any intention to introduce such a bill.

The Future of Gambling in Idaho

Idaho is one of only a few states without sports betting that has introduced legislation to legalize the activity. This means that it’s unlikely that Idaho’s gambling laws will change in the near future. In other states, we have pinned our hopes on a legal online casino market based on the success of its mobile sports betting industry.

Without any such industry in sight, online gambling Idaho is a longshot.

Conclusion: Online Gambling Idaho Remains Illegal

It is our expert opinion that online casinos in Idaho will stay illegal for some time. Along with Hawaii and Utah, Idaho is the only state that has failed to introduce any progressive gambling expansion laws since the repeal of PASPA in 2018. Even its land-based casinos are heavily limited and don’t appear to be on the brink of change. Unfortunately, Idahoans are extremely far away from a state with legal online casino gambling — the closest is Michigan. This means that it will be extremely difficult for locals to experience the thrills of online slots, live dealer games, and table games until it or other neighbors creates an online gambling market.

Idaho is one of the least progressive states when it comes to gambling expansion. We don’t expect this to change for a while.

Fred Williams Author and Casino Expert

Gambling in Idaho

FAQs About Online Casinos Idaho

If you are looking for fast answers to your questions about the legality of real money online casinos in Idaho, keep reading. In the upcoming section, we’ve addressed common queries about the outlook of the online casino industry in the state, legal gambling options, and other relevant topics.

🤔 Are online casinos legal in Idaho?

No, online casinos are not legal in Idaho. You are unable to gamble on games such as slots, blackjack, roulette, or online poker. We don’t expect this to change any time soon.

🃏 What forms of gambling are legal in Idaho?

There are limited types of legal gambling activities available for Idahoans locals. There are six land-based casinos that offer slots and video table games. Aside from this, you can enjoy the lottery and horse race betting.

🏈 Is online sports betting also illegal in Idaho?

Yes, online sports betting is illegal in Idaho. Unlike many other states, this is not expected to change in the future, as the state has not introduced any bills seeking to allow online or retail sports betting.

👮 What is the penalty for online gambling in Idaho?

According to Idaho gambling laws, gambling on unauthorized activities is a crime and will be punished as a misdemeanor offense. Offenders may need to pay up to $1,000 in fines and could even be jailed for up to six months. Although this represents the most extreme punishment, we would never risk signing up with an offshore or out-of-state online casino.