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Montana is one of the very few states in the US where online gambling is explicitly illegal, to the disappointment of players from Montana. It’s unfortunate because Montana is also one of the states where gambling had existed in many shapes and forms even before the modern United States was born.
Montana Legal Online Gambling 2021. The state has recently legalized a Montana legal online gambling platform via sports gambling expansion legislation. Licensed and regulated offshore online gambling sites are perfectly lawful to engage in as well. Montana also supports various domestic gaming forms for residents and state visitors to engage in. On the whole, Montana is fairly relaxed about land-based gambling, but online gambling is strictly prohibited. There are both commercial casinos and tribal casinos on offer to residents and visitors, located all across the state. Many of these are able to accept sports bets from players who are on the premises. Montana is one of the few states that have recently updated their gambling laws, which means that the current regulations address the issue of online casino gaming. Nevertheless, the state does not have a regulated online casino market – and if that wasn’t bad enough, Montana regulations prohibit the residents from playing on offshore sites.
Today, many forms of gambling are legal. Still, online gambling is not even though no Montanan was ever punished for playing in offshore online casinos, which is undoubtedly confusing for Montanans. It’s precisely this weird dichotomy we are here to explain.
In this piece, you’ll learn everything there is to know about gambling in Montana, with a particular emphasis on online gambling and online casinos. Let’s take a look.
Here is a list of our top 5 recommended online casino sites to play at for real money from Montana.
Montana is one of the early adopters of gambling. Way back in 1889, the first law on gambling was made even though many forms of the practice existed for more than a century before that. After that, many new laws were made, legalizing all kinds of gambling practices and games.
However, online gambling hasn’t been made legal to this very day. What’s more, the state of Montana banned online gambling altogether in 2005. That’s why Section 9 of the Constitution of the state explicitly prohibits online gambling now. Still, it allows for the rule to be made void “by acts of the legislature or by the people through initiative or referendum.”
As if that weren’t enough, the state’s constitution also describes online gambling as a crime if it includes the use of paper money, checks, e-checks, and similar payment methods. In essence, online gambling where real money is involved is explicitly illegal.
Naturally, even though online gambling with real money is illegal, online social gambling is not. This means that Montanans can find dozens of social casinos on the web and play all sorts of casino games like blackjack, poker, slots, and many more. However, they won’t be able to cash in their wins.
Even though online gambling with real money is banned, that doesn’t mean that you can’t play in offshore online casinos. As is the case with almost all states in the US where online gambling is illegal, players will never be punished for playing in offshore online casinos. This is a common practice throughout the country and the state of Montana. To this day, no player from Montana was ever punished or penalized for playing in an offshore online casino.
When the authorities want to punish someone for online gambling, they will go for the casino making the practice possible, not the players. That’s why if you decide to play in an offshore online casino, you won’t have to fear of breaking the law. You only have to make sure that the casino you’ve chosen is legitimate, safe, and that it allows players from Montana to join.
Many states haven’t made online gambling legal, and almost all simply ignore it. However, Montana’s unfortunate case is such that its law strictly prohibits online gambling and leaves no room for compromises. This speaks volumes about the state’s firm resolution to keep online gambling illegal.
What’s more, the state’s position is also clear from the fact that the prohibition of online gambling was brought forward in 2005, and hasn’t changed at all since then. The only possibility for a change appeared in 2015 when a bill to legalize fantasy sports was brought forward, but it was ultimately voted down.
The law hasn’t discouraged offshore online casinos from offering their services to Montanans, and the casinos are unlikely to stop doing so in the future. The state rarely enforces the law and it never punishes players from Montana for participating in these casinos.
As for the future of online gambling laws, it’s unlikely that we will see any real changes soon. However, we can still hope that the state’s government will change its mind because of the ever-increasing number of online gamblers in Montana. Just as the state made sports betting legal in 2018, we can also hope that they will do the same for online casinos. But for now, there are no indications that this will happen any time soon.
As we’ve already said, gambling is not illegal like online gambling is. What’s more, gambling is extremely widespread in the state of Montana. Charities can offer almost all forms of gambling, and pari-mutuel horse race betting is also popular.
As for casino games, video poker is allowed on machines in hundreds of bars across the state, but the only places where you can play several kinds of casino games are the tribal land-based casinos.
Back in 1994, the state made an agreement with four tribes: the Cheyenne, Rocky Boy, Crow, and Fort Peck. After that, the first tribal casinos were born. More than two decades later, there are seven tribes with permission to operate land-based casinos in Montana. They own ten casinos in the state and four additional smaller gaming businesses that operate on tribal lands.
Anyone can play in these casinos as long as they are 18 or older. Furthermore, you can only bet a maximum of $5 at once and the maximum payout is $1,500.
Here is a list of these casinos:
Apsaalooke Nights Casino | 71 Heritage Road Crow Agency, Montana 59022 | 200 slot machines, keno, poker, bingo |
Charging Horse Casino | P. O. Box 1259 1/2 Mile East On US Hwy 212 Lame Deer, Montana 59043 | 127 slot machines, keno, bingo |
Fort Belknap Casino | 104 Assiniboine Avenue Harlem, Montana 59526 | 100 slot machines |
Glacier Peaks Casino | 46 Museum Loop Browning, Montana 59417 | 300 slot machines, poker room, bingo |
Gray Wolf Peak Casino | 20750 Hwy 93 North Evaro, Montana 59808 | 300 slot machines |
KwaTaqNuk Casino Resort | 49708 US Highway 93 East Polson, Montana 59860 | 250 slot machines |
Little Big Horn Casino | closed | |
Northern Winz Hotel & Casino | 11275 US Highway 87 Box Elder, Montana 59521 | 100 slot machines, poker room with 4 tables |
Northern Winz II | 426 Laredo Rd Box Elder, Montana 59521 | Slot machines |
Silver Wolf Casino | 300 Montana 25 Wolf Point, Montana 59201 | 60 slot machines, bingo, pull tabs, video keno |
No, the law explicitly forbids online gambling. However, offshore online casinos offer their services to Montana-based players who have never had any trouble with the law for spending and winning money in these casinos.
The legal gambling age in the state of Montana is 18. However, in raffles conducted by schools, churches, and charitable or nonprofit organizations, children under 18 can participate.
Unfortunately, there are no current plans for the legalization of online gambling. Sports betting was legalized in 2018, but everything else is likely to remain illegal for the next few years.
Technically no, but the state doesn’t punish Montanans for playing in these casinos. As long as you comply with the site’s rules, you can play their casino games without worrying that the authorities will punish you for it.
Online poker is illegal in the state of Montana, just like all other online casino games.
There is no need to search for legal Montana gambling anymore because we have everything you need!!! The modern age of the internet has made long drives to remote casinos unnecessary as Montana residents may bring all the excitement and potential profits of a regular gambling hobby right into their very homes, but there are still several hang-ups. Namely, many Montana residents are afraid to take part in the hobby out of fear that they will face legal prosecution, and even if they feel willing to take the plunge, with all the scam websites and illegitimate gambling businesses out there, getting started can be a scary prospect.
This website will help to narrow down and filter some of the information. We will provide legal background and answer some key questions as they relate to legal gambling sites for Montana residents. In addition, we will point readers towards some of our very favorite websites. We’re not professionals by any means, just enthusiastic gamblers that want a chance to share all the knowledge we’ve acquired.
Legal Gambling Age In Montana | Usually 21 At Most Sites / Some Sites Only 18+ |
Types of Legal Online Gambling In Montana | Casino Games, Sports Gambling, Online Poker |
Recommended Deposit Method For Montana: | Credit or Debit or Gift/Prepaid Visa Cards |
Best Legal Online Casino For Montana Residents | Lucky Red - $1K Bonus For Games, $4K Slots |
#1 Sports Betting Site Legal For Montana Players | Bovada - Bet On Grizzlies, Rockies Broncos, etc... |
Top Poker Website Accepting Montana Residents | BetOnline Poker - $5,000 New Player Freeroll |
Word on the street is that the fuzz is about Montana rounding up everyone who so much as places a single wager online and sentencing them to debilitating jail terms and crippling debt. Luckily, as it is in so many cases, word on the street is dead wrong.
While it’s true that both federal and Montana state laws contain strongly worded language in relation to gambling, it’s also true that it has nothing to do with players. The only victims of policy in the state of Montana are the facilitators of gambling. This means that while no one may operate a gambling website, there are no laws against using them.
Just so long as Montana residents stick to using websites established offshore and outside of both federal and US jurisdiction, they will be safe from any legal penalties.
Find Out More: Is Online Gambling Legal In Montana?
When it comes to the immense popularity of major sports leagues around the country, it’s no surprise that sports betting is more popular than ever around the country and in the state of Montana in particular. Still, may residents feel that they want a preferable alternative to visiting their local bookie and of course, risking a good old fashioned leg breaking. These legal sports betting sites that accept Montana players provide an excellent outlet for Montana residents to bet on sports, and they provide more financial security than any other site on the web.
The true titans of the sports betting industry are members of the Bovada family. This legal sports betting site that accepts Montana players has been in business for almost two decades, practically dating back to the advent of the internet itself. In this time, Bovada has not only mastered the art of providing an elite sportsbook, but of providing elite security to players and their money.
The best thing that Bovada offers is the ability to carry your sportsbook around in your front pocket. Thanks to their top of the line mobile site, Bovada members can place a bet from anywhere in the world where they have a reasonable phone signal. When you’re a member of Bovada, you’ll never have to worry about missing a betting opportunity again. With this legal online sportsbook, you have your bookie in your back pocket – literally.
It’s hard to believe that SportsBetting has been around for more than a decade, because to us, they still feel like one of the new guys. We don’t mean that in a bad way, it’s just that with this site’s fresh design and complete set of betting odds that usually release well ahead of other sportsbooks; a visit to this site always feels fresh.
If you don’t believe us, SportsBetting makes it incredibly easy to see for yourself with no financial risk whatsoever. Just for signing up, you’ll be eligible to collect a bonus that matches 50% of your initial deposit. With this promotion, you can earn up to $500 in bonus money. This is an excellent opportunity to explore the sportsbook without putting any of your own money at risk, and to learn the ins and outs of placing bets on sports before you play for real.
Sportsbook | Bonus | Montana Welcome? | Visit |
---|---|---|---|
Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Up To $250 First Deposit | Yes | Visit |
BetOnline Sportsbook | $1,000 On All Deposits - 25% | Yes | Visit |
SportsBetting | 50% Match On First Deposit | Yes | Visit |
5Dimes Sportsbook | 50% To $200 Then 20% To $500 | Yes | Visit |
Go To: Legal Online Sportsbooks For Montana Residents
Even once you figure out that most online casinos are legal, evaluating them beyond that is still more of an art than a science. Most of all, you want to be sure that any website you are gambling with is safe. This means two things: are they capable of protecting your identity, and more importantly, are they capable of protecting your money? All the Montana online casinos listed on this page have proven more than capable of those very things and have been in operation for well over a decade. We are confident any of these sites will be an adequate home for any Montana players.
Last time we checked, everyone in the world has to be at least 18 before they may gamble. So, why do so many online casinos look like a Saturday morning cartoon aimed at children? Perhaps that’s what we like most about Lucky Red – they know their audience, and they know that they’re adults. This page houses no corny flash animations or menu music, just a sleek design that houses one of the best legal online casinos that accept Montana residents.
What you’ll love even more than the layout are the deals. Just for signing up, all new payers are eligible to receive 400% of their deposit back in the form of bonus chips. Using this promotion, Montana players can qualify for up to $4000. This unthinkable amount of money will be up for grabs as soon as you complete your first deposit and get to playing, so if you’ve made up your mind, don’t let us hold you up!
One of the world’s premiere online casinos is available at Slots.lv. In addition to thousands of variations on slot machines just as the name promises, this legal online casino carries a great variety of traditional “table” games, as well as an excellent video poker lineup. Thanks to their legal operation in the UK, the games are all players need to worry about. Security is a vague concern that you can push to the back of your mind when you’re playing with Slots.lv.
What separates this casino from the competition? Aside from a sleek, professional layout, they have proven to be the most reliable online casinos when it comes time to collect a payout. Thanks to their lightning fast financial system, Montana residents can expect a check in their mailbox no more than two weeks from the time they request a payout. This keeps the money flowing freely, which frees more time to play top of the line casino games!
Casino | Bonus | Software | Visit |
---|---|---|---|
Lucky Red Casino | 400% up to $4,000 | RTG | Visit |
Slots.lv Casino | $5,000 Welcome Bonus | RTG | Visit |
Club World Casino | 100% up to $777 | RTG | Visit |
Aladdin's Gold Casino | 200% Unlimited | RTG | Visit |
Manhattan Slots Casino | 100% up to $747 | RTG | Visit |
High Noon Casino | 200% up to $2,000 | RTG | Visit |
Bovada Casino | 8 Match Bonuses Worth $3,000 | RTG | Visit |
BetOnline Casino | 100% up to $1,000 | RTG | Visit |
All Star Slots Casino | 65% FREE Deposit Bonus x4 | RTG | Visit |
SportsBetting Casino | 25% Casino Re-up Bonus | RTG | Visit |
Go To: Legal Online Casinos For Montana Residents
Rather than driving far, remote state sanctioned poker rooms, Montana residents are finding that they much prefer the convenience of playing poker from the comfort of home. The problem is that the landscape is littered with swindle poker sites looking to take new players for a ride, and little else. Luckily, we’ve found the following legal online poker rooms for Montana players that value their members and have been operating for well over a decade that pass our rigorous standards with flying colors.
Poker pros and newcomers alike are welcome at this legal online poker room for Montana residents, and it’s a good thing that they are. Any poker enthusiasts who pass up a membership at BetOnline are passing up on one of the top poker rooms in the world. With over $100,000 handed out in prize money every week, BetOnline has cemented its status as the premiere destination for online poker in the world.
The proof of this is in the pudding, as they say. No poker site gives away more money. The games in this poker room always see heavy traffic. With stakes ranging from $.05 per big bling all the way up to $60, this site attracts all skill levels and all walks of life. BetOnline doesn’t simply offer you the best poker action on the net; it turns you into one of the net’s best poker players. If you’re going to do something, do it right. To do online poker, do BetOnline.
Poker Site | Bonus | Montana Welcome? | Visit |
---|---|---|---|
BetOnline Poker | 100% First Deposit Bonus | Yes | Visit |
SportsBetting Poker Room | 100% Bonus On Deposits | Yes | Visit |
Although it’s legal for Montana residents to take part in online gambling, there are a litany of other laws and policies to work around. Using this website in conjunction with your home state’s legislative website, you can garner a full and complete understanding of how the laws and what your exact rights and responsibilities concerning online gambling are.
Get More Information About Montana Gambling Laws - Click Here
Although the state of Montana has not sanctioned any land based casinos, there are several federally exempt tribal casinos players can find throughout the state. At these facilities, players may take part in video slots, bingo, and, at some “class III” gambling facilities, even table games like blackjack.
Oddly enough, even though it is one of only four states exempt from the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (see our “Gambling Laws” page for more information) there is no sanctioned sports betting found in the state. Despite the availability of land based gambling in the state, many Montana residents report a preference for online gambling out of convenience. Still, there’s no reason the two can’t coexist. In fact, it sounds downright good to us!