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Editor: Philip Conneller
As a journalist, Philip Conneller has covered the gaming industry for the past two decades. As an editor, he was part of the team that launched Bluff Magazine at the height of the poker boom. Now, as a writer and reporter, he focuses on gaming law, tribal gaming, politics, crime, and regulation.

Throughout the 1800s, gambling in Idaho was popular and regulated by individual towns. Everything changed in 1953 when the legislature passed a statewide prohibition law.

Over the years, exceptions were made for pari-mutuel horse race betting (1963), state lottery games (1989), tribal gaming (1992), charitable bingo and raffles (1993), off-track betting (2011), and historical horse racing (HHR) games (2013). These activities are tightly regulated, and the authorities are adamant about enforcing the law.

Even DFS companies, which are allowed to operate in most US states, were forced out of the Idaho market upon reaching an agreement with the state attorney general.

Gambling in Idaho is defined as “risking any money, credit, deposit or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, the operation of casino gambling including, but not limited to, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, baccarat, or keno.”

This definition is broad enough to cover internet games, even though it doesn’t directly address the matter of online gambling. Participating in unlawful gambling is a misdemeanor and is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Many gambling-related matters are covered by Idaho Statutes 18-3801 et seq. and 54-2501 et seq. The minimum gambling age in Idaho is 18, but it's 21 for casinos.

AllowedNotes
Land-Based GamblingYesPari-mutuel wagering, tribal casinos, and bingo
Online GamblingNo -
LotteryYes -
Charitable GamingYesBingo and raffles
Minimum Gambling Age18 for pari-mutuel, bingo, and lotteries; 21 for casinos-

Online Gambling in Idaho

Idaho has not regulated any form of online gambling, which leaves Idaho online gambling enthusiasts in a kind of legal limbo, since there are no state laws that specifically refer to offshore gambling sites. It's difficult to determine whether state gambling laws apply to online gaming, as they have not been updated for the digital age. Ultimately, participating in illegal gambling is a misdemeanor offense, but online players have never been prosecuted despite the popularity of online gaming in the state.

Idaho Casinos

There are seven tribal casinos in Idaho: Coeur D’Alene (Worley), Fort Hall Casino (Fort Hall), Clearwater River Casino and Lodge (Lewiston), Kootenai River Inn Casino & Spa (Bonners Ferry), It’ Se Ye-Ye Casino (Kamiah), Bannock Peak (Pocatello), and Sage Hill Travel Center & Casino (Blackfoot).

These gambling establishments must stick to class II games, which include bingo-style video lottery machines that are functionally similar to slots, as well as bingo itself. Under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (1988) tribes are permitted to offer class II games on their sovereign land without the permission of the surrounding state -- that's provided the games are themselves legal in the state. Live poker is a class II game, but since it is illegal in Idaho, you will not find it at any of the casinos.

To offer class III gaming, such as slots and blackjack, the tribes would have to negotiate special gaming compacts with the state and set out a revenue-sharing deal, but the state has shown no inclination to do this.

Residents don’t have access to any state-sanctioned online casino options and there has been no attempt by any Idaho lawmaker to change that.

Idaho Poker

Playing poker in Idaho is illegal, and none of the local land-based venues offer competitive poker. Participating in social games is also against the law, as evidenced by the fact that local law enforcement officers raided a small-stakes poker game organized by pensioners in 2010. The bust caused a significant public outcry, and as a result, all such raids now require the approval of the public prosecutor’s office.

However, the legal status of social poker games hasn’t changed. The rules of enforcement were altered, but the law was not. Idaho doesn’t house any licensed poker sites, and playing on offshore platforms is nominally illegal.

Idaho Sports Betting

Pari-mutuel betting on horse and dog races, including simulcast betting, is legal in Idaho, but engaging in traditional sports betting and operating a sportsbook is prohibited. Even though the US Supreme Court struck down the federal PASPA ban on sports betting in May 2018, Idaho lawmakers made no effort to introduce this form of gambling. Because there’s been no activity on this front so far, we don’t expect legal sports betting to make its way to Idaho anytime soon.

Engaging in online sports betting via offshore sites is currently illegal and constitutes a nominal misdemeanor. However, no one has ever been prosecuted for wagering at these sites, so you can access the best Idaho sportsbooks while waiting for a regulated industry.

Idaho Daily Fantasy Sports

DFS companies used to operate in Idaho based on the assumption that paid DFS contests are 100% skill-based and, therefore, legal. In early 2016, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden took notice of the industry and concluded that paid DFS contests violate Idaho gambling regulations.

After three months of negotiations, both FanDuel and DraftKings agreed to leave the Idaho market, and smaller DFS operators followed suit. According to the agreement reached between the operators and the Attorney General’s Office, withdrawing from the state was not an admission of liability or evidence of wrongdoing by DraftKings or FanDuel. So both operators will be free to return to Idaho if the legal situation changes following a court ruling or a new DFS bill.

Unfortunately, lawmakers aren’t currently considering such a bill and are unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future.

Idaho Lotteries

Lottery games are by far the most popular form of gambling in the Gem State. Even though it was established as late as 1989, the Idaho Lottery was the first North American lottery to introduce VIP club promotions, allowing customers to earn reward points for making purchases and to spend those points on lottery merchandise, including iPods, bicycles, and watches.

Idaho Lottery products range from local and multi-state draw games to scratchers, instant-win games, and pull-tabs. The lottery website is modern and mobile-friendly, but all tickets and cards must be purchased at land-based retail outlets.

Idaho Bingo

Bingo is available in Idaho both as a charity game and as a class II casino game in tribal gaming establishments. Idaho residents don’t have access to any state-sanctioned bingo sites, and playing on offshore platforms is a nominal misdemeanor.

Idaho Gambling FAQ

How many casinos are there in Idaho?

There are seven casinos in Idaho, offering class II gaming, such as bingo and "slots-like" electronic bingo machines. All are tribal venues.

Why can't I play roulette in Idaho?

The state's tribal casinos are only permitted to offer class II games. Class III games, like roulette, slots, and blackjack, are prohibited in the state.

Can I play poker legally in Idaho?

No, poker is illegal in Idaho and that includes private social games. Many offshore sites accept Idaho players, although it is nominally illegal to play on these sites.

Does Idaho have a lottery?

Yes, the Idaho Lottery was established in 1989 and is the most popular form of gambling in the state.

Constitution of Idaho

SECTION 20.  GAMBLING PROHIBITED.

(1) Gambling is contrary to public policy and is strictly prohibited except for the following:

a.  A state lottery which is authorized by the state if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation;  and

b.  Pari-mutuel betting if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation; and

c.  Bingo and raffle games that are operated by qualified charitable organizations in the pursuit of charitable purposes if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation.

(2)  No activities permitted by subsection (1) shall employ any form of casino gambling including, but not limited to, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, bacarrat, keno and slot machines, or employ any electronic or electromechanical imitation or simulation of any form of casino gambling.

(3)  The legislature shall provide by law penalties for violations of this section.

(4)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following are not gambling and are not prohibited by this section:

a.  Merchant promotional contests and drawings conducted incidentally to bona fide nongaming business operations, if prizes are awarded without consideration being charged to participants; and b.  Games that award only additional play.

Idaho Statutes

Last Visited 2003-9-1

18-3801.  GAMBLING DEFINED.

"Gambling" means risking any money, credit, deposit or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, the operation of casino gambling including, but not limited to, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, bacarrat [baccarat] or keno, but does not include:

 (1)  Bona fide contests of skill, speed, strength or endurance in which awards are made only to entrants or the owners of entrants; or

(2)  Bona fide business transactions which are valid under the law of contracts; or

(3)  Games that award only additional play; or

(4)  Merchant promotional contests and drawings conducted incidentally to bona fide nongaming business operations, if prizes are awarded without consideration being charged to participants; or

(5)  Other acts or transactions now or hereafter expressly authorized by law.

18-3802.  GAMBLING PROHIBITED.

(1) A person is guilty of gambling if he:

(a)  Participates in gambling; or

(b)  Knowingly permits any gambling to be played, conducted or dealt upon or in any real or personal property owned, rented, or under the control of the actor, whether in whole or in part.

(2)  Gambling is a misdemeanor.

[In the statutory scheme sections 13-3803 through 13-3807 are omitted.]

18-3808. OFFICERS TO ENFORCE LAW.

Every prosecuting or county attorney, sheriff, constable or police officer, must inform against and diligently prosecute persons whom they have reasonable cause to believe offenders against the provisions of this chapter, and every such officer refusing or neglecting so to do is guilty of a misdemeanor.

18-3809. BOOKMAKING AND POOL SELLING.

Any person who for gain, hire or profit engages in pool selling or bookmaking at any time or place within this state; or any person who keeps or occupies any room, shed, tenement, tent, booth or building, float or vessel, or any part thereof, or who occupies any place or stand of any kind, upon any public or private grounds within this state, with books, papers, paraphernalia, or mechanical device, for the purpose of engaging in pool selling or bookmaking, or recording or registering bets or wagers; or who sells pools or makes books upon the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed or power of endurance of man or beast for gain, hire or reward; or any person who, for gain, hire or reward, receives, registers, records and forwards to any other place, within or without this state, any money, consideration or thing of value for the purpose of having it there bet or wagered by or for any person, who at such place sells pools or makes books upon any such event, or any person who, being the owner, lessee or occupant of any such room, shed, tenement, tent, booth or building, float or vessel, or part thereof, or any grounds within this state, knowingly and willfully permits the same to be occupied and used for any of the purposes aforesaid, unless unable to legally prevent the same; or any person who aids, assists or abets in any manner in any of said acts which are hereby forbidden, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than six (6) months or by both such fine and imprisonment.

18-3810. SLOT MACHINES -- POSSESSION UNLAWFUL -- EXCEPTION.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to use, possess, operate, keep, sell, or maintain for use or operation or otherwise, anywhere within the state of Idaho, any slot machine of any sort or kind whatsoever.

(2) The provisions of section 18-3804, Idaho Code, shall not apply to antique slot machines. For the purpose of this section, an antique slot machine is a slot machine manufactured prior to 1950, the operation of which is exclusively mechanical in nature and is not aided in whole or in part by any electronic means.

(3) Antique slot machines may be sold, possessed or located for purposes of display only and not for operation.

(4) An antique slot machine may not be operated for any purpose.