Nevada to the south remains the epicenter of sports betting, though a major Mecca like Las Vegas is definitely a plane ride away from the major cities in Idaho. Utah is a state that is just about a lock to never introduce sports betting. Sports betting is not legal in Idaho, regardless of whether you want to do it online or at a land-based casino. While many US states are either introducing or at least considering legalized sports gambling. Best Sports Betting in Idaho. This state does offer online sports betting, but restrictions do not allow WagerTalk to offer links to available operators. Please check your state's guidelines for available online sports.

• Is Sports Betting Legal In Idaho
• Online Sports Betting In Idaho
• Nj Sports Betting New News
• Sports Betting Near Me

While Idaho does have many forms of gambling, legal sports wagering has yet to be approved in the Gem State despite the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) being overturned on May 14, 2018.

Currently, Idaho residents are free to wager on horse and dog races, the state lottery, charitable gaming, parimutuel wagering, slot machines, blackjack, video poker, and bingo.

These types of wagering are permitted at one of the seven tribal casinos that are run in the state.

Should Idaho sports bettors wish to gamble on sports legally, they do have the advantage of bordering states like Montana, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada which all offer legal sports betting.

1. Certain forms of gambling are legal in Idaho. The legal forms of gambling in Idaho are casinos, poker, the state lottery, and horse racing. Idaho residents can also legally use online betting sites.
2. Sports Betting In Idaho Surprisingly, Idaho has a decent amount of legal gambling entertainment available. The state allows tribal casinos, a state lottery, charitable gaming and pari-mutuel wagering.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Idaho

When Will Online Sports Betting Be Legal in Idaho?

Many forms of gambling are allowed at one of the seven tribal casinos located in Idaho. But when it comes to sports betting, Idaho residents will have to wait a little longer.

There are currently no active bills in regards to legalizing sports betting in Idaho. Considering the law explicitly forbids sports betting and the fact the state is not exactly a hot-bed for sports, Idaho sports bettors may be waiting a long time for legal sports betting in the Gem State.

For now, tribal casinos and the state lottery are the main sources of gambling.

Idaho Sports Betting FAQs

Is sports betting legal in Idaho?

Neither online nor in-person sports betting is legal in Idaho.

Does Idaho have any casinos?

Idaho has seven tribal casinos that are owned and operated by four Native American tribes in the state.

Does Idaho have any professional sports teams?

The Boise State Broncos NCAA college football team is the most popular sports team in the Boise area. Other Idaho-based sports teams include the Idaho Steelheads hockey team, Boise Hawks baseball team, and Idaho Stampede basketball team.

Online sports betting has become increasingly popular over time. With dozens of U.S. states legalizing or moving to legalize sports betting, the industry has undergone booming expansion.

However, not all states in the Union pursue the same goals. Idaho sports betting remains a distant dream.

Overall, Idaho is unfriendly toward betting in general. Gambling was banned altogether in 1899, with the state’s first constitution. As of 2020, only three exceptions exist: charitable bingos or raffles, pari-mutuel wagering, and tribal casinos.

Betting in Idaho is, therefore, technically possible but rather difficult. You can head on over to state fairs and racetracks for pari-mutuel horse-race betting. Seven tribal casinos offer slots, table, and card games, but no options for Idaho sports betting fans.

When it comes to Idaho online sports betting, the future is unclear. After the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), many U.S. states sought to legalize sports betting.

With no online pari-mutuel betting or casino gambling, Idaho remains behind the curve. That said, nothing stops legislators from regulating ID sports betting going forward.

Daily Fantasy Sports in Idaho

DFS is the only type of Idaho sports betting app that has ever been actually available. In the 2010s, FanDuel and DraftKings, among other operators, pioneered a huge expansion of monetized fantasy sports leagues the results of which are evident in 2020.

While sports betting was illegal in many states at the time, the companies argued that fantasy sports don’t constitute betting.

Many states concurred, while others dissented. In 2016, Idaho joined the latter. Officials ruled that DFS constitutes Idaho sports betting, as defined in the state constitution. The companies were asked to exclude state residents from their platforms, which they did voluntarily.

Since then, no other Idaho sports betting apps in the DFS sector have attempted to enter the market. DFS betting in Idaho seemed a lost cause until the Supreme Court struck down PASPA. Now, while DFS remains illegal, a bill could easily regulate the industry.

If the state decides to regulate Idaho online sports betting, it’s unclear whether DFS would fall under that legislation. Some states regulate DFS under separate rules. However, with officials finding DFS identical to ID sports betting in 2016, the chances of that seem slim.

Idaho Online Sports Betting: Events and Betting Markets

Just because there are no legal ID sports betting markets yet doesn’t mean that there aren’t any interesting local events. If Idaho betting sites do open up in the future, the state has a few existing events to bet on.

• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: This NCAA-sanctioned post-season bowl game dates back to the 1997 season. As of 2020, the game has tie-ins with the Mid-American and Mountain West conferences. It’s a natural fit for a potential ID sports betting market.
• Front Street Fights: Since 2014, Front Street Fights has hosted multiple successful MMA events. If Idaho sports betting apps were to enter the market, combat sports would be a likely betting market.

Most Likely Idaho Sportsbooks

As of 2020, there are no Idaho sportsbooks. However, with no federal roadblocks remaining, all it would take is one bill for Idaho sports betting to become a reality. If betting in Idaho is ever legalized, the following are the likeliest potential Idaho sportsbooks.

DraftKings

DraftKings started in 2012 as a daily fantasy sports (DFS) platform. After the repeal of PASPA, though, it quickly grew to become one of the country’s biggest sportsbooks. The company exited the Idaho DFS market in 2016 after the state ruled its operations to constitute gambling.

The company still enjoys considerable name recognition. Should Idaho sportsbooks be legalized, DraftKings is quite likely to try to enter the ID sports betting market.

FanDuel

Founded in 2009, FanDuel was the operator that started the online DFS craze in the U.S. In 2020, the company boasts over six million members and massive brand recognition. Surely, it’s a natural candidate to join the ranks of potential Idaho sportsbooks.

Much like DraftKings, FanDuel exited the ID sports betting market in 2016. It’s likely that FanDuel sportsbook would seek to offer Idaho sports betting once more if given the opportunity.

BetMGM

BetMGM is the online sports betting arm of MGM Resorts International. With decades of experience in the gambling industry, MGM enjoys tremendous brand recognition across the U.S. and the world.

Through BetMGM, the company has aggressively expanded in the online arena since 2018. As of 2020, MGM has a presence in over 15 states. Indeed, it would be a win for the company to add Idaho sportsbooks to the roster.

Idaho Lottery

Last but not least, another possible operator for Idaho sportsbooks would be the Idaho Lottery. The state has had a lottery since 1989. Half the proceeds go toward public schooling, while the rest helps to fund state universities.

Neighbors like Oregon and Montana recently legalized sports betting through their respective state lotteries. Therefore, if Idaho sportsbooks are legalized, they could foreseeably follow a similar model.

Idaho Betting Laws

As mentioned above, Idaho sports betting has been banned since 1889, along with all forms of gambling. After WWII, Idaho saw a spike in illegal gambling, which tied to increased demand from soldiers back home from the war. Slots were briefly legalized in response in 1947. By 1954, the state backtracked, banning slot machines once more.

Idaho sports betting would remain dormant until 1963’s Horse Racing Act. The legislation enabled pari-mutuel betting on horse and dog-racing events across the state. In 1989, Idaho joined a wave of states introducing lottery systems to fund public education.

Three years later, the Idaho Lottery became the administrator of charitable gambling, such as bingo and raffles. That same year, Native American tribes started negotiating with the state, resulting in the first tribal casinos opening in 1993.

Since then, slot-like machines have become commonplace, both within tribal casinos and elsewhere. The Idaho Lottery has even approved instant horse-racing machines in commercial establishments like bars and stores.

Online Sports Betting In Idaho

Idaho sports betting fans remain out of luck, though. The year the tribes started casino negotiations, PASPA was passed. This effectively prevented the state from even considering legalizing ID sports betting.

In 2016, DFS were spreading like wildfire across the U.S. Officials found that DFS operators like FanDuel and DraftKings were, in fact, offering Idaho online sports betting services. Rather than seek to regulate this market, legislators asked both companies to exclude Idaho residents.

After PASPA was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2018, many states rushed to regulate sports betting. Idaho was a notable exception. In fact, not a single legislator has introduced any bills to regulate Idaho online sports betting since then.

States where you can already place an online sports bet today :

Updated on :

Colorado Illinois Indiana Iowa Michigan Nevada New Jersey Pennsylvania Tennessee Virginia West Virginia

Future of Idaho Online Sports Betting

As of December 2020, there are no Idaho betting sites or sportsbooks. However, the future might hold surprising developments. No legislation to legalize Idaho sports betting has been introduced so far, but it could happen any day.

For years, the notion of Idaho online sports betting was implausible. PASPA froze sports gambling in its pre-1992 form for nearly two decades. However, the overturning of PASPA opens the doors for all kinds of Idaho sports betting bills.

While there are no plans to legalize sports gambling yet, the pressure is mounting. With more and more states legalizing sportsbooks, Idaho faces considerable competition. Sports betting is already legal in Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

If the state sees many locals crossing borders to bet elsewhere, legislators may reconsider things due to the loss of potential revenues. That’s particularly true if Idaho sports betting fans are gambling their money in another jurisdiction.

A bill funneling Idaho sports betting revenues toward public education or infrastructure could get some traction. That said, barring new legislation, there isn’t much in the ID sports betting market to look forward to until that happens.

Furthermore, it’s unclear if any potential legislation would actually legalize Idaho betting sites. There’s no way of knowing if legislators and local voters would prefer a retail-based system. In that case, Idaho sports betting apps and Idaho betting sites would still be off the table.

Betting on Pro Sports Teams in Idaho

New legislation could regulate Idaho sportsbooks any day. However, locals looking to wager on professional leagues through Idaho sports betting apps face major hurdles.

Idaho doesn’t have any professional sports teams to bet on as of this writing. Also, as a relatively small state, it’s unlikely that pro teams will move to Idaho soon.

NFL Betting in Idaho

Seattle Seahawks Betting

The Seattle Seahawks are a popular team to back for many NFL fans in western Idaho. The team also gets considerable airtime with local TV stations.

Denver Broncos Betting

The Denver Broncos is one of the oldest franchises in the league and has many fans throughout the state. Colorado doesn’t exactly border Idaho, but it’s reasonably close. The team gets plenty of coverage with the local news.

NBA Betting in Idaho

Utah Jazz Betting

The Utah Jazz are a popular NBA team to back for local basketball fans, especially in southern ID.

Washington Wizards Betting

Many residents in the state back the Washington Wizards in the NBA, particularly in areas near WA.

Portland Trail Blazers Betting

The Portland Trail Blazers are popular with many Idaho fans, particularly those closer to Oregon.

NHL Betting in Idaho

San Jose Sharks Betting

Many Idaho fans back California’s San Jose Sharks in the NHL. California doesn’t border Idaho, but it is right across Nevada.

Colorado Avalanche Betting

NHL fans in Idaho often default to backing the Colorado Avalanche. The Denver-based team has many fans throughout the state, particularly along the CO border.

MLB Betting in Idaho

San Francisco Giants Betting

While Idaho baseball fans back a significantly diverse group of teams, many of them support major teams like the San Francisco Giants.

Other Idaho Teams to Bet On

Beyond professional sports, Idaho sports betting apps would likely focus on college-level leagues. Collegiate sports enjoy considerable support throughout the state.

Betting on College Football in Idaho

College football is fairly popular across the state. It’s guaranteed to be a staple of any potential Idaho betting sites.

Boise State Broncos Betting

The Boise State Broncos are an NCAA Football Division I FBS team, part of the Mountain West Conference. They play out of Albertsons Stadium in Boise. The franchise has the highest all-time winning percentage in collegiate football.

College of Idaho Coyotes Betting

The College of Idaho Coyotes are an NAIA football team, competing in the Frontier Conference. While less popular than the Broncos or Bengals, the Coyotes have plenty of backers across the state.

Idaho State Bengals Betting

The Idaho State Bengals represent Idaho State University in the NCAA Division I FCS league. They’re part of the Big Sky Conference, playing out of Holt Arena, in Pocatello.

Idaho Vandals Betting

The University of Idaho Vandals are an NCAA Division I FCS team, part of the Big Sky Conference. They’re long-time rivals of the Bengals, playing out of Kibbie Dome in Moscow.

Betting on College Basketball in Idaho

College basketball is fairly popular in ID. The state boasts three NCAA Division I teams.

Idaho State Bengals Basketball Betting

The Idaho State Bengals are an NCAA Men’s Basketball Division I team, playing in the Big Sky Conference. The team plays out of Reed Gym, in Pocatello.

University of Idaho Vandals Basketball Betting

The Idaho Vandals represent the University of Idaho in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball tournament. They play out of Kibbie Dome, in Moscow.

Boise State Broncos Basketball Betting

The Boise Broncos represent Boise State University in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. Playing out of Extra Mile Arena, in Boise, the team is part of the Mountain West Conference.

Idaho Online Sports Betting FAQ

The following are some of the most frequent questions from players regarding Idaho sports betting apps and sites.

Where can I bet on sports in Idaho?

Nowhere, as of 2020. There are no legal Idaho betting sites or retail sportsbooks. However, you can participate in pari-mutuel horse betting at any of the state’s racetracks, like Sandy Downs or Idaho Falls.

Is sports betting legal in Idaho?

No, it’s not. Idaho sports betting apps and sites are strictly illegal.

When will Idaho legalize sports betting?

It’s impossible to tell. There are no federal roadblocks since PASPA was struck down. However, the state has no sports betting bills on the docket.

Can I bet online on my phone in Idaho?

Nj Sports Betting New News

No. As there are no Idaho betting sites or apps, betting through your phone is currently impossible. The state does have a few tribal casinos, but none of them have mobile apps.

Is gambling legal in Idaho?

Only under very specific circumstances. Charitable raffles and bingo, the state lottery, and tribal casinos are all currently legal. Idaho betting sites are off the table until the law changes, though.

Sports Betting Near Me

Final Thoughts on Betting in Idaho

Idaho remains the final frontier for U.S. sports betting operators. With a potentially sizable market but no legal recourse, the state remains out of reach for major sportsbooks.

It’s unclear when or if the state will pass legislation that legalizes and regulates Idaho sports betting. Until then, residents will have to settle for pari-mutuel wagering and tribal casino gambling.