ONE of only five states without a lottery, it is perhaps unsurprising that Alaska has some of the toughest gambling laws in the US.
Sports betting appears at present to be a pipe dream for the gamblers of the Last Frontier, online or in-person, with limited betting opportunities and only a couple of venues offering class II gaming facilities on Native American land at Klawak and Metlakatla.
Bingo is played at several locations, with a handful of Native Alaskan communities running bingo halls, and Daily Fantasy Sports, DFS, events are available. There are currently no legal gambling venues offering sportsbooks in Alaska and online gambling is illegal, with the last effort to bring about a change in the state’s gambling laws failing to progress out of committee.
The chances of a fundamental change in the state’s betting laws – online or physical – are unlikely but this year legislators have tabled a bill to allow for mobile sports betting and officially recognise DFS contests. Residents do have the option of opening accounts with offshore sportsbooks but they do so without consumer protection, leaving them open to the risk of seeing winning bets not paid out.
Alaska betting
No legal sportsbooks are available at land-based venues in the state, with online betting also illegal.
Alaska casinos
No online casinos and no in-person traditional casino venues, but there are two class II gaming facilities offering bingo at Klawak and Metlakatla.
Alaska poker
No physical venues where you can legally play poker and like online casinos, online poker is illegal in the state. Online poker, however, may be available through offshore sportsbooks, but players use the sites at their own risk and without any consumer protection.
Alaska horse racing
There are no horse race tracks in the state and betting on horse racing is illegal.
Alaska lottery
One of the last states waiting to launch a lottery, a state-wide event was the basis of the state governor’s failed attempt in 2020 to open up a route to legalize sports betting, highlighting the increased revenue it would bring to Alaska.
Alaska daily fantasy sports, DFS
While the state has not officially legalized DFS events based around a number of sports, entries from Alaska residents are allowed in tournaments operated by the likes of DraftKings and FanDuel.
Is it legal to gamble in Alaska?
The likelihood of any changes in Alaska’s gambling laws in the near future appear unlikely, with the gambling lobby not overly strong in a state with less than 800,000 residents.
Where can I get help with problem gambling in Alaska?
While gambling is enjoyable for many, it can be problematic for some. If you are struggling, or a friend or relative has issues with their gambling, help is available. For details, see Alaska – National Council on Problem Gambling (ncpgambling.org).