Gambling Laws In North Dakota
While there are many far reaching federal laws which stretch all across the nation such as the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) which outlaw the business of gambling for profit, these laws do nothing to inhibit the average citizen's right to place a wager. These policies were enacted to stop organized crime and bring an end to corruption, not to punish a home poker game or a wager made among friends on the winner of the Super Bowl.
While these laws are strict in outlawing the facilitation of bets, they leave much room for each individual state to formulate their own gambling laws and regulations to either expand upon or narrow the policies across the country. One such state that has developed its own gambling legislation is North Dakota. This article about North Dakota gambling laws stands to be used by any of those living in the Roughrider State who wish to safely and legally pursue gambling and where they may do so.
"Gambling" in the state of North Dakota is defined under 12.1-28-01.1 in the North Dakota Century Code and is not permitted by the state constitution unless otherwise authorized. The list of exceptions in the North Dakota legislation is fairly generous however, as residents are allowed to gamble socially so long as bets do not exceed $25. The penalties for unlawful gambling are also relatively light when compared to other states and has a system in place which is relative to how much money may have been wagered. For instance, wagering less than $25 does not carry a penalty. Betting between $25 and $50 will be counted as an infraction. Betting over $500 will result in a Class A misdemeanor which could mean a fine up to $2000 or jail time up to a year. There are no instances of North Dakota residents being prosecuted for making simple wagers or bets that are not for profit other than personal winnings.
While North Dakota enjoys fairly relaxed enforcement on gambling in general and authorities tend to ignore any low stakes or private gambling, the business of gambling for profit is highly illegal. This is the case with federal laws and North Dakota has no problem with backing it up further. Those who operate illegal gambling activities, promote or take profit from such schemes will face a felony with steep fines a long stay in prison. It is safe to say that North Dakota will not go easy on anyone who goes beyond a harmless wager and into the realm of organized crime.
The Roughrider State plays host to a number of gambling facilities within its borders for residents to take advantage of when they feel like betting more than $25. The state allows licensed horse and dog racing in a pari-mutuel betting format and also allows sports pools, raffles, bingo and pull-tabs by a charitable organization. It should be noted however, that anyone who is caught cheating in these establishments will be punished swiftly with felony charges.
Land-Based Gambling In North Dakota
There are a number of gambling facilities in the state of North Dakota with over 32 locations across 12 different cities. There are two pari-mutuel horse racing tracks which North Dakota is unique in offering "Advanced Deposit Wagering" where locals can bet on off-track races from their home computers or mobile devices in order to generate money to help live racing continue in the state. Residents in North Dakota may also fine table games, slot machines and live poker in the state with minimum bets set at a penny and maximum bets limited to $250. Five of these gambling facilities in the Roughrider State are Native American tribal casinos which operate outside of state regulation and under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Of these tribal casinos lie the most popular land-based destinations in North Dakota with the Dakota Magic Casino & Resort being among the best. This casino offers big names in entertainment as well as a full luxury hotel complete with all the amenities along with classic table games such as blackjack, craps and even an immense poker room. The casino also boasts over a thousand slot machines.
Online Gambling In North Dakota
When it comes to gambling over the internet in North Dakota, residents will have to refer back to federal laws as the Roughrider State has passed no legislation which mentions wagering on the World Wide Web. As mentioned earlier on this page, it is only the business of facilitating bets for profit which is illegal in the United States and not the simple act of placing a bet. It is entirely legal for anyone in the state of North Dakota to make a wager online provided that they use a legal venue to provide the means to do so. There are many online gambling sites which meet the conditions necessary in order to facilitate a bet for U.S. citizens with the only parameter having to be met simply being that they are located outside of both state and federal jurisdictions.
A vast number of these sites have been in business for American users for decades and have been supplying exemplary service under their own host nation's stringent online gaming and banking laws. From places such as the United Kingdom, Europe and even neighboring Canada, sites are able to cater betting action on every major form of gambling from blackjack and casino games, to poker, to horse racing, and even sports betting. All of these can be enjoyed from the privacy and comfort of one's own home.
Popular Gambling Options In North Dakota:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
Out of the many online gambling site options spread across the internet, there are some which stand out above the rest. Bovada is our personal favorite and top recommendation for locals in the Roughrider State as they have the longest track-record for success and steady and reliable payouts which can be delivered in check form straight to a North Dakota home address without delay. Based in Canada, Bovada offers every classic casino game imaginable and sports betting covering every league along with one of the best poker networks in the world featuring top players from all across America wagering serious cash. The online poker software is downloadable within moments and sports some of the tightest gameplay in the industry with sit'n'play games for low stakes or massive ongoing tournaments worth tens of thousands of dollars for the lucky winner left standing.
Bovada also has a fantastic mobile interface which lets North Dakota residents take their game on the go so that they never have to fold a winning hand. New players are instantly rewarded for checking the online poker rooms out with free chips as well. Once a Roughrider resident becomes a member, they will find a 100% welcome bonus applied to their first deposit worth up to $1000. This is incredible betting power afforded to new players who like to join a table and immediately throw their weight around to dominate a game. Bovada stands easily as our top choice for online poker rooms in the state of North Dakota.
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
Per the gambling laws in North Dakota, the legal gambling age for charitable games and live pari-mutuel betting is 18 years of age or older although the age to gamble in land-based casinos is restricted to those who are 21 or older. For any locals in the Roughrider State who are looking to gamble online, they will find that our recommended sites are open to anyone aged 18 and up in North Dakota.
Best For All Gaming Types
