North Dakota Sports Betting

North Dakota finally managed to get its sports betting underway at the end of 2021. However, sports betting did not get legalized in the way you would expect.

The state is hardly the most populous, with some 720,000 residents, and as is often the case in smaller places, sports betting doesn’t seem to command the same pull. That doesn’t mean lawmakers should completely overlook the issue.

Rhode Island was one of the first sports betting states in the United States following PASPA, even though the state has a small population. Without any form of commercial gambling, though, pushing for a regulated industry seems tough in North Dakota. 

Presently, ND runs several gambling operations, including charitable gaming, tribal casinos, and lottery. Tribal gaming-run sports betting is among them as well – but it is only allowed in a personal capacity. The most recent attempt to legalize sports betting turned out to be “unsuccessful in the sense that we do not have legal sports betting that involves commercial and mobile betting, but at least North Dakotans can go to a tribal casino and place a wager in person!

North Dakota Sports Betting: What Happened in 2021?

Essentially, the legislative session in 2021 proved to be the metaphorical nail in the state’s sports betting coffin. North Dakota is falling behind significantly compared to other states in the US, bar a few holdouts that are all gung-ho on gambling.

Regardless, some state lawmakers and sports fans hoped that they would be able to push the matter through the state legislature, enabling residents to be the ones who ultimately decide in a 2022 referendum whether sports betting should be allowed in the state.

The ballot measure was struck down in a very narrow vote that came down to 24-22, followed by another nerve-racking 24-23 vote during the reconsideration. Opponents against the bill simply did not budge on the matter and ruled it against the public’s best interest.

All of this took place in the Senate. The House was far more open to a sports betting legislative bill, having passed the bill with a 70-24 majority beforehand. 2021 also saw lawmakers strike down a historical racing bill proposal that didn’t seem to sit well with senators.

The result is that North Dakota will be missing out on sports betting legalization in the foreseeable future, and some say probably until 2025 at the very least. One way to try and circumnavigate current events is to start a referendum with the backing of citizens, which would require at least 26,000 people of legal age.

As of 2025, though, no such attempts have been made, with the state focusing on nurturing the tribal operations instead.

Latest Gambling News in North Dakota

Legal July 7, 2023

Settlement Reached in North Dakota Gambling Case The distributors involved are Western Distributing Company, Plains Gaming Distributing Inc., and Midwest Gaming Distributing Inc. However, their licenses now face potential jeopardy due to an email that the companies sent to their customers regarding the settlement. North Dakota Settles Gambling Violations with $125,000 Fine The settlement, which includes a $125,000 fine and an acknowledgment […]

Sports January 31, 2023

North Dakota Senate Stalls Sports Betting Bill The state is currently on its way toward legalizing sports betting outside tribal lands, allowing mobile sportsbooks entry into a relatively untapped market. Senate Bill 2358 outlines a new sports betting task force charged with developing an implementation and regulatory framework for online sports betting. However, the Senate’s decision to postpone their judgment may dampen […]

Legal January 16, 2023

North Dakota Passes HCR 3002 to the Senate North Dakota is proceeding with its efforts to make commercial sports betting legal. Currently, only tribal companies are allowed to offer sports wagering products in the state. North Dakota Seeks to Legalize Commercial Sports Betting A few days ago, Fargo representative Greg Stemen submitted House Concurrent Resolution 3002 to the House Judiciary Committee for a […]

Sports January 10, 2023

North Dakota May Legalize Sports Betting Outside of Tribal Lands The Bismarck Tribune reported that House Concurrent Resolution 3002 was submitted for hearing to the House Judiciary Committee by Fargo representative Greg Stemen. The resolution proposes an amendment to the North Dakota constitution allowing for sports betting to be offered across the state and to be regulated and licensed by it. A Change in Constitution […]

Daily Fantasy Sports in North Dakota

While lawmakers are still a shade unclear on how to treat sports betting as a whole, daily fantasy sports have enjoyed a state of legal limbo. DFS is not technically legal, but then again, they are not illegal either. What this means is that people in North Dakota have a chance to familiarize themselves with how remote sports betting works.

Apps such as the ones offered by DraftKings and FanDuel, while presently restricted to DFS, make it possible for you to explore viable betting markets. The only drawback is that you cannot bet on an individual event but rather have to outrank others by putting together the best NFL or NBA team or whatever other contest is currently available and supported.

Fantasy sports are a great way to get your teeth cut on various betting markets, and while regular wagers are still some time off, that is a good opportunity for you to find out more about how betting works in the first place. 

Can You Expect Mobile Betting Apps in ND?

The question of whether mobile apps will be available in North Dakota is important. After all, DraftKings and FanDuel already do offer apps, so why wouldn’t regular sportsbooks? Well, there are some actual hurdles to clear here.

While fantasy platforms are in the blind spot of many stakeholders, who don’t see them as a direct challenger, mainstream sports are actually what usually excites businesses and puts them on the defensive. 

With this in mind, allowing residents to bet from anywhere in the state through an app could mean that nobody ends up turning up at retail businesses anymore, which would be undesirable and unsustainable. 

At least, this is the logic that stakeholders subscribe to. Over 90% of all sports bets are indeed placed on mobile in states that allow this to happen, but this doesn’t mean that people don’t still turn up at sportsbooks. Just think about Washington, DC. Sports are about a shared experience and not just passively watching the game at home.

What a mobile app does is allow consumers to be far more flexible with their wagers, enabling them to check in on odds, place a quick wager, cash out their in-play bets, and so much more.

Often, the retail experience comes just a bit short of those, and that is why any regulated market should seek to give sports fans full control over sports betting markets.

What Sports Can We Expect to Bet on in North Dakota?

There are many viable sports that we will be able to place a wager on once North Dakota finally legalizes the industry, whenever this may be. For starters, all major leagues should be covered, and they will be. This means that you will get plenty of opportunities to bet on the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, and even MLS. 

Interest in sports in America is incessant, and North Dakota is a state where love for sporting events is prominent. Outside of the big leagues, there are many other awesome events to choose from, including NASCAR, combat sports, golf, tennis, and other competitions.

Soccer is very popular as well, and we are sure North Dakota will feature a proper selection of markets for some of the world’s best soccer leagues, including the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and others.

College Sports Betting in ND

A big IF remains the question of whether ND sports betting will feature wagers on college sports. Opting for a blanket ban is not a good strategy as billions are wagered on this activity throughout the United States. North Dakota may choose to only restrict NCAAB and NCAAF wagers that are taking place in-state, for example.

A far more liberal approach is to allow all sports betting activities to take place in the state, including collegiate-level events, which should give residents plenty of opportunities to explore the industry in full and without any delays. 

College betting will surely be an important addition to the future sports betting makeup in North Dakota, but the only ones who can decide on that are lawmakers who are still split right across the middle when it comes to giving sports gambling in the state a green light.

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