Sports betting in Montana 2022

Sports betting is officially legal in Montana, although it can only be done at licensed locations. This means there are no MT sports betting sites or betting apps available. The only legal ways to bet on sports in Montana is via betting terminals in over 180 locations across the state. You can download an app in these gambling venues, but it can only place bets when you are on the premises. BettingPlanet.com will keep you informed when online betting sites launch in Montana, with some hope that 2021 will be the year.

MT online betting & gambling introduction

Montana is one of the more progressive states when it comes to USA gambling laws, with several legal and legislated forms available.

Written into Montana legislation are exemptions for poker, keno, bingo and video gambling machines, while sports betting was officially legalised in 2019.

Other legal forms of live gambling include raffles, bingo, keno, panguingue, poker and shake-a-day. Sports pools, fantasy sports leagues and sports TAB games are also legal.

Note: You must be at least 18 years old to gamble in Montana

Sports betting in Montana

Montana was one of four US states that had existing sports betting laws grandfathered in when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act 1992 (PASPA) came into effect. Even so, it would be several decades before the state exercised its right to issue sportsbook licences.

The removal of PASPA from federal legislation has seen a number of states legalise sports betting since May 2018. Montana joined the hunt about 12 months in when Governor Steve Bullock signed HB 725 into law.

Unlike other sports betting bills that allow for multiple operators, the Montana model sees Intralot granted an exclusive seven-year licence to run the state’s sports betting industry.

Online casinos in Montana

Online casinos are banned in Montana with no regulated sites accepting players from here. This is enforced in legislation where it clearly says offshore sites are also illegal.

Having said that most of the popular offshore casino sites still accept players from here.

No individual has been charged in Montana for playing at an offshore casino, but it definitely could be a risk to play at these sites if officials decide to clamp down.

If you decide to play at an offshore online casino you will more than likely find it will be powered by Real Time Gaming software. This is because many of the biggest software platforms don’t operate in Montana because of the lack of regulation.

Fantasy sports

Fantasy sports surround most sports leagues in the USA, but unfortunately for Montana it is one of the few states that has outlawed sites like Fan Duel and Draft Kings.

The only Fantasy Sports legally available are the Montana Lottery’s pay to play fantasy football and racing contests.

There was some talk about legislation passing to allow Fantasy Sports in early 2017, but this has cooled.

Fantasy Sports are usually a league where participants pay an entry fee and possibly an administration fee to enter.

Each team in the league then chooses a team made up of random players from the sport, for instance the league might be based around the NBA, NFL or MLB.

In Montana’s legislation it states: “It is unlawful to wager on a fantasy sports league by telephone or by the internet.”

Horse racing in Montana (parimutuel betting)

Montana is home to MetraPark and Yellowstone Downs race tracks, which both are well-known tracks in the USA.

Wagering on horse racing is legal via pari mutuel betting on-course.

Montana residents can also wager at nominated off-course betting hubs.

• • Billings
    • Dehler’s Hand Casino
      603 24th Street West (Corner of Broadwater & 24th Street)
      Billings,  MT  59104
      (406) 259-2800



• • Great Falls
    • Halftime Sports Bar
      1199 Northwest Bypass
      Great Falls, Montana 59404
      (406) 727-8053



• • Kalispell
    • Scotty’s Bar & Steakhouse
      2205 US Highway 93 South
      Kalispell, Montana 59901
      (406) 257-8188



• • Miles City
    • Golden Spur Casino
      1014 South Haynes Avenue
      Miles City, Montana 59301
      (406) 234-7787



• Missoula
  • Katie O’Keefe’s Casino
    2100 Stephens Avenue, # 11
    Missoula, Montana 59801
    (406) 728-9023

Card Games Act – Poker

Montana has legalised poker via the Card Games Act. This means games authorized include bridge, cribbage, hearts, panguingue, pinochle, pitch, rummy, solo and whisk are also legal.

However online poker is still not legal, although the Department Of Justice is on record saying it’s not illegal. Which means if you arse based in Montana you are free to play online poker at offshore site.

How to deposit at gambling sites from Montana

It is troublesome to say the least to deposit money into a real money gambling account from Montana. A lot of popular options like e-Wallets are not supported in Montana because of the laws.

This means you are left with credit cards but even these can be hit and miss, with banks blocking your transaction and black listing your account for future gambling transactions.

Several alternatives include burgeoning crypto currency bitcoin and pre-paid cards, like Visas. After you have signed up at the site it’s worth checking with customer service to see what cards are currently being accepted.

Gambling laws in Montana

Gambling laws in Montana are covered by the Parks, Recreation, Sports and Gambling department.

They have power over parks, recreation, horse racing, athletics & boxing, amusement games, state lottery and of course gambling.

Sports betting laws are covered by the Montana Department of Justice and the Lottery, which is in charge of rolling out betting terminals in the state. Technology company INTRALOT was awarded the contract for the betting terminals and the rollout of the at-location app.

So in summary, while sports betting is legal in Montana, there is yet to be any licensed betting sites in the state. Undoubtedly people are still betting with offshore illegal betting sites in Montana, because of the ease in which they can be accessed. This means there will be growing pressure for online betting to be legalised.