Alaska is a state that doesn’t have any dedicated iGaming laws or regulations, which means that the local businesses aren’t able to offer any gambling-related services online. However, the act of playing real money games over the internet isn’t listed as a punishable offense, so many experts agree that using offshore gambling sites is perfectly legal in Alaska.
The local law enforcement doesn’t even acknowledge the existence of iGaming sites and doesn’t try to apply the general gambling regulations to online play. As a result, all major offshore casino, poker, and sports betting operators have absolutely no qualms about accepting Alaska residents. The number of sites available to Alaska-based gambling enthusiasts is very high, but in the end, most seasoned gamblers stick to the few tried and tested sites that are guaranteed to be reliable.
You should be very careful about joining sites that haven’t made a name for themselves yet, as many dishonest people have been targeting US-based players by hosting scam sites pretending to be legitimate US-facing offshore iGaming services. If you’re an inexperienced gambler, you should definitely consider starting with one of the operators listed here. All of those casino sites have an excellent track record and receive plenty of traffic on a daily basis.
Gambling in Alaska
Alaska has some of the strictest anti-gambling laws in the United States and does not have any traditional casinos or casino games available. There are a large number of cruise ships that leave from its ports that are allowed to open their casinos when at sea, but beyond bingo, there are no land-based Alaskan casinos.
Are there any casinos in Alaska?
The lack of Indian casinos can be largely attributed to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. Casinos must be constructed on restricted land or land that is in trust, which is limited in Alaska. State law prevails, and the state has shown few signs of changing.
There are no laws that restrict residents from gambling at online casinos that accept Alaska players, but there aren’t any online companies operating inside its borders.
Alaska Sportsbooks & Sports Betting
Sports betting is not legal in Alaska. According to Austin Baird, a spokesperson for Governor Bill Walker’s office, “There has been no legislative activity on this issue in Alaska.”
While other states are rushing to make sports betting legal for their residents, Alaska is showing little desire to do the same.
Fantasy Sports Gambling and eSports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are considered to be games of skill, and not chance, and thus they are not illegal in Alaska. There are no laws specifically targeting the regulation of daily fantasy sites, but that also means there are no laws making them illegal. All major DFS companies can be accessed by customers in Alaska.
Gambling on eSports is prohibited by law.
Animal Racing/Betting
Considering the climate of Alaska, it isn’t surprising the state does not have any horse or greyhound racetracks. It also doesn’t allow any off-track betting (OTB) bureaus, and it is illegal to bet on horse or greyhound racing.
There are charitable exceptions made for dog sled races and fishing derbies, as well as other traditional Alaskan oddities like salmon canning and the arrival of Canadian geese.
Alaska Poker Games
Card games are illegal in Alaska, and the state has no legal live poker rooms. Home poker games are allowed, as long as the host of the game doesn’t make a profit.
Online poker rooms are not regulated by the state and can be accessed by customers from within state borders.
Lottery
Alaska is one of just six U.S. states that doesn’t have a statewide lottery. A 2015 study said Alaska could raise $8 million annually by operating a lottery, but so far lawmakers have shown no interest in creating one.
Pull-tabs, or scratch lottery cards, are legal, but heavily regulated and restricted. You must be at least 21 years old to purchase a pull tab.
Bingo
If you are going to gamble in Alaska, bingo is your best and most available option. All bingo halls are run by native groups or charitable organizations that have applied for and been granted a gaming license. The laws remain restrictive as to who can hold a license and how many monthly games can be held, so even though bingo is available, its scope is limited when compared to other states.
Bingo halls can be found in the following Alaskan cities:
- Anchorage
- Barrow
- Eagle River
- Fairbanks
- Kenai
- Ketchikan
- Kodiak
- Nome
- North Pole
- Palmer
- Sitka
- Wasillia
You must be at least 19 years old to play bingo in Alaska.
