Sports Betting In Alaska

Alaska may be cold and lack their own professional sports teams, but that doesn’t mean that residents are any less inclined to enjoy betting on sports. Due to their proximity to legal US bookmakers, this presents a bit of a problem for Alaskans seeking options for betting on their favorite sports events, teams and athletes.

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• Sports Betting Online

The state is not opposed to all gambling entertainment, with several regulated forms of betting allowed in the state. However sports betting is a different kind of animal in the legal landscape of US gambling laws. Sports gambling is the one form of betting that is governed by federal laws that reach across the country.

Here we will guide you through the legalities surrounding sports betting in Alaska. We will provide insight into what is and is not legal to participate in, how US federal laws affect your options, and how to legally access industry leading US online sportsbooks that are licensed, regulated and located offshore.

Best Online Sports Betting Site
For Alaska Residents

• The Current Online Sports Betting Situation in Alaska Alaska has a reputation for taking a hard line on gambling and that includes sports betting. Residents of America’s largest state won’t currently find.
• Sports betting is illegal in Alaska. This includes live and online versions. There appears to be little interest among lawmakers to make legalize sports betting in Alaska. Since the Supreme Court decision, no.
• Currently, betting in Alaska is limited to traditional Alaskan sports such as dog sled races and fishing competitions. Daily fantasy sports services are also allowed because these are considered games of.

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So while it's nowhere near the market of a state like California or New York, sports betting does exist in Alaska and actually makes up a hefty percentage of the state's gamblers. Sports betting in Alaska.

Holds legal licensing and compliance certifications through Panama City, Panama

Offers multiple gambling platforms, including sports, poker, skills games, casino and racebook

Long time presence in the industry as one of the pioneers of online sports betting

Top Rated Online Sportsbooks Accepting Alaska Players

Does Sports Betting Exist in Alaska?

Many Alaskans are avid sports betters, which means they visit different sportsbooks to put down money on point spreads, over-under scores, proposition bets, and more. So while it's nowhere near the market of a state like California or New York, sports betting does exist in Alaska and actually makes up a hefty percentage of the state's gamblers. Sports betting in Alaska takes place via licensed betting sites, as the state has not passed any legislation allowing domestic sportsbooks to operate.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Alaska?

There are no forms of state regulated sports betting available in Alaska either online or offline. The repeal of PASPA in May of 2018 has given each individual US state the authority to legalize or prohibit sports betting within their territories, however, Alaska has made no moves either way.

Sports fans in the Frontier State are free to place sports wagers by traveling to one of the states that have already launched legal domestic sports betting, which is not necessarily easy or affordable due to their proximity to the mainland. Another option is to visit legally sanctioned, US-friendly online sportsbooks, such as the ones listed in this guide.

PASPA is now irrelevant, the Federal Wire Act only prevents states from accepting interstate wagers, and the UIGEA regulates the financial institutions that process gambling related transactions. There are not any state laws in Alaska prohibiting offshore betting at legally licensed and regulated destinations. Therefore there are not any state or federal laws that make it illegal to place bets at online sportsbooks operated offshore.

Types of Sports Teams in Alaska

There aren’t any professional sports franchises in the state due to the cold weather and their day-night cycle being hard to adjust to if accustomed to it. By and large, however, there's a lack of sports teams there because there's a lack of people. New York City has roughly ten times the population of the whole of Alaska.

Alaska does have a hockey team from East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), and while it does have a decent following, particularly with the Alaskan Aces, the league itself is small. There's also a summer league baseball league in Anchorage, which has teams like the Anchorage Glacier Pilots and the Anchorage Bucs.

Alaska's State Sport - Dog Mushing

Dog mushing is considered the state sport of Alaska, and it consists of dogs, usually huskies, pulling people on a sled through a long course. These international dogsled competitions don't have the sponsorship of NASCAR or the commercial media buzz of the Super Bowl, but in Alaska, these big events are equivalent to the Tour de France.

Many Alaskans bet on dog mushing, and most of them will do it in person. Dog mushing is a niche sport that's confined almost entirely to a state like Alaska, so you won't find many sportsbooks offering mushing odds.

However, some sportsbooks do have entire dog racing sections, and when a big event comes up in Alaska, you can find odds on a sportsbook. It's not something that's happening with every sportsbook, but the largest ones typically do have something for the largest events in Alaska. This page lists the industry leaders and those sportsbooks most likely to offer lines on dog mushing.

Relevant Links For Alaskan Gamblers

What types of gambling are legal in Alaska?

Alaska has little in the way of legalized gambling. Charities may offer bingo and other numbers games. This permits Alaska Natives to offer the same. Daily fantasy sports sites accept players in the state under the skill gaming exception. This has never been challenged in court and allowed to exist by state government without regulation. There are some odd wildlife betting opportunities, mostly within state fairs or offered by charities.

There are no other forms of legalized gambling in the state. There is a push to bring in a state lottery in recent years. However, it has failed to gain enough support to become reality.

This list shows the types of gambling found in Alaska and where to find it:

• Charitable and Native Alaskan gaming (bingo, raffles, pull-tabs and lotteries)
• Daily fantasy sports (online only)
• Social gaming
• Dog sled races
• Fishing competitions
• Weather events
• Salmon migration

Online Gambling in Alaska

All forms of online gambling are illegal in Alaska. Daily fantasy sports companies like DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft and Yahoo accept players from the state. These sites operate under the premised of being a game of skill. The contests are no regulated in Alaska.

Online Gambling Laws in Alaska

All forms of online gambling are illegal in Alaska under 11.66.200–11.66.280 of the state code. Gambling is defined as risking something of value on a contest of chance or future contingent event with a prize awarded. Players are likely guilty of a misdemeanor. Operators commit a class C felony.

Land-based Casinos in Alaska

The only land-based casinos in Alaska are on Native Alaskan land. However, these are more like high stakes bingo halls. Gaming devices are illegal in Alaska, even on native land. The closest casinos are in Canada, though some residents prefer to take a flight to Nevada.

Casino Laws in Alaska

Casinos are illegal in Alaska under 11.66.200–11.66.280 of the state code. The state definitions of gambling specifically include the banning of devices like slot and video poker machines, roulette wheels and craps tables.

Sports Betting in Alaska

Sports betting is illegal in Alaska. This includes live and online versions.

There appears to be little interest among lawmakers to make legalize sports betting in Alaska. Since the Supreme Court decision, no legislation has been introduced in Alaska to change our gaming laws to allow sports wagers.

Offhore operators that offer sports betting for residents of Alaska do so contrary to state law, but the safety and legality of betting at offshore betting sites is questionable at best and may be against the law.

The best bet, for now, is to stick with what’s legal: daily fantasy sports and games of skill played at reputable websites such as those listed on this page.

Hopefully, Alaskan lawmakers will see the need for change and move to legalize sports betting.

As one of the most anti-gambling states, the odds of legal sports betting coming to Alaska remain low. Perhaps one day we will see legal Alaska sportsbooks and betting sites. It seems that legal sports betting will spread across the contiguous United States before it comes to Alaska.

Sports Betting Laws in Alaska

Sports betting falls under the state’s ban on possession of gambling records. Someone commits this crime when accepting sports bets from five or more people and is in operation for more than 30 days or generates $2,000 in revenue on a single day. It is a class A misdemeanor or class C felony on the first offense, depending on the associations involved in the bookmaking.

Poker in Alaska

Live poker in a commercial setting is illegal in Alaska. There is an exception for home poker games.

Poker Laws in Alaska

Poker games in a commercial setting are illegal in Alaska. This is covered under code 11.66.280 in the state.

Home Poker Games

Home poker games are exempted from state gambling laws in Alaska. The game must be fair with no fees paid to the house. Most forms of gambling can fall under this social exception if it is not part of a commercial enterprise.

Fantasy Sports in Alaska

Fantasy sports are presumed to be legal in Alaska as a game of skill. The attorney general has never opined about it and there have been no court challenges. DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft and Yahoo all accept customers from Alaska.

Fantasy Sports Laws in Alaska

There are no laws covering fantasy sports contests in Alaska. It is presumed to be a game of skill and not of chance, so the activity has been permitted in the state.

Alaska Lottery

There is no Alaska state lottery. Municipalities are permitted to hold these drawings with state permission. However, none ever have. Charities and Native Alaskan groups may also hold lotteries.

Alaska Lottery Laws

Sports Betting In Oregon

Alaska’s state government is not permitted to hold lotteries. A bill in the 2020 legislature hopes to change that. The COVID-19 closures put the plans on hold until the legislature reconvenes. Lotteries, charities and Native Alaskan groups may hold lotteries.

Alaska Horse Racing

Alaska racing is unusual. Bets may be made on dog sled races, salmon migration and weather events. These are typically done at fairs and operated by organizers or charities. However, typical greyhound and horse racing are illegal in Alaska.

Horse Racing Laws in Alaska

Bookmakers that accept wagers in an organized way on greyhound and horse racing is guilty of possession of gambling records if the enterprise runs longer than 30 days or generates more than $2,000 in revenues in a single day. Dog sled racing and other exempted activities are not included in this crime.

Alaska Skill-based Gaming Laws

Games that are not determined by chance are legal in Alaska. This includes participants in a test of speed, strength or skill. Daily fantasy sports contests also fall under this exemption.

eSports

Alaska law does not address eSports. Participants making wagers is legal under the skill gaming exception. Audience members placing money on the outcome would likely be a part of an illegal bookmaking scheme.

Skill-based Gaming Machines

Skill-based gaming machines are legal in Alaska arcades. However, the only prizes permitted are free credits or redemptions for merchandise. Legal games include pinball and claw machines.

Alaska Charity Gambling Law

Alaska charities may offer several forms of gambling. This includes bingo, raffles, lotteries and pull-tabs. By default, this gives Native Alaskan groups the ability to spread the same games.

Alaska Gaming Regulatory Directory

• Alaska Department of Revenue (charitable gaming)

Wyoming Sports Betting

Alaska Gambling FAQ

No. However, municipalities, charities and Native Alaskan groups may offer lotteries.

Only home poker games are legal in Alaska. Online and live poker rooms are not.

Alaskan charities may have bingo, lotteries, pull-tabs and raffles.

Sports Betting Online

Yes. Ships that dock in Alaska may deal casino games after leaving port.