Online Casinos for players from Montana in 2024

Introduction

Montana has many interesting nicknames, including Big Sky Country, The Last Best Place, and the Treasure State, all of which show just how impressive this state is!

After the settlers found gold around 1850 in a place that is now Montana, people started coming to the state. Soon, it was made a US territory in 1864 and, 25 years later, a state!

Nowadays, Montana is known as a perfect place for those who enjoy exploring nature, thanks to its stunning mountains and expansive landscapes.

Unsurprisingly, its name comes from the Spanish word montaña, roughly meaning “mountainous.”

Although it has a small population, this is a liberal state with many forms of gambling available! Moreover, it was among the first US states to legalize in-person sports betting!

Besides, due to its history, which includes many Native American tribes coming to the state, several tribes nowadays also own tribal casinos!

When it comes to gambling...

...the Treasure State has had an on-off relationship with it, just like other US states over the years, meaning it has often switched from legalizing to banning various types of gambling, and vice versa.

Generally, the state is relatively liberal, which was especially evident after it legalized retail sports betting in 2020. However, Montana has yet to legalize online gambling, daily fantasy sports, and dog track betting.

Gambling Control Division, a state Department of Justice subordinate, regulates commercial gaming facilities and tribal casinos.

Other games authorized for commercial play include poker, bingo, keno, and raffles. Additionally, the Division works with tribal gaming agencies to enforce state-tribal agreements governing tribal gaming.

The Montana Lottery Department, however, legalized sports betting several years ago, which makes sense since the state does not have many major casino interests, and the Lottery Department gets all the revenues.

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History of Gambling in Montana

If you are familiar with the histories of other US states, you can easily imagine the history of gambling in Montana, as it does not differ at all in the majority of aspects!

As already mentioned, Montana became a state in 1889, and it took two decades to ban any form of gambling in 1910, including lotteries, which were extremely popular during the 1800s!

In 1937, various table games in different locations became legalized thanks to the Hickey Act, while in 1945 illegal slot machines became located throughout the state as "trade stimulators."

1973 was the year when the legislature passed the Card Game, Bingo, Sports Pool, and Raffles Act, while video keno was legalized three years later.

The Montana Lottery was finally established in 1986, and in 1989, the Department of Justice took over legislation regulating and monitoring the gambling industry.

House Bill 537 from 1995 was passed to increase the payout on video poker machines, while a decade later, in 2005, Governor Brian Schweitzer signed SB0103 to outlaw internet gambling in the state.

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Sports Betting Legalization & Current Legal Gambling Options in Montana

As we might have seen so far, the gambling climate in this state mainly goes toward in-person playing experiences, but while Montana is relatively relaxed about land-based gambling, there are no indications of legalizing online gambling!

Regarding land-based gambling houses, there are both commercial and tribal casinos. The latter became available after the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act passed, allowing federally recognized tribes to get the authority to provide Class II or Class III gambling!

Additionally, many of them accept sports bets from on-site customers.

A year after the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned in 2018, allowing each state to propose and create its own regulations and laws for sports betting, the Treasure State legalized sports betting when Governor Bullock signed HB 725.

The bill permitted sports wagering through the Montana State Lottery and finally became law in 2020.

However, since 2015, when the legislature failed to legalize daily fantasy sports betting, this type of gambling has been illegal, as well as all online sports betting and casino gambling!

Montanans can only access online sports betting through Sports Bet Montana, a state-sponsored app.

Bettors can register, deposit, and place wagers through the app without visiting a sports betting location, but wagers cannot be placed outside of one of the many sports books in the state.

Nevertheless, social casinos are not off-limits and offer a fun alternative, though they don't involve real money.

The Treasure State has also legalized charitable gaming, the state lottery, keno, video and live poker, video slots, and pari-mutuel horse wagering!

If these games are not for profit, schools, churches, and charitable organizations may also run poker, keno, raffles, and other games.

The American Gaming Association reported $8.5 million in revenue in 2023, an increase of 17.8% from 2022.

In addition, gambling revenue supports various public programs and services in the community.

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Depositing and Withdrawing when in MT

Please see below for a table of the withdrawal/deposit and banking term rankings. Click on the casino name for a detailed look at the withdrawal and deposit score of each casino and how we determined each. More information about deposit and withdrawal terms for US players can be found here.

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Conclusion

Montana’s approach to gambling is shaped by both its history and a practical sense of regulation. Though full online casinos and daily fantasy sports remain off-limits, the state offers a good range of options for anyone interested in legal gambling. There’s in-person sports betting through outlets like Sports Bet Montana, an established state lottery, and a selection of casino-style games, from poker and keno to video slots. 

Tribal and commercial casinos provide additional spots for locals to enjoy, with each venue meeting state regulations for safety and fairness. The official gambling regulatory body in Montana is the Gambling Control Division of the Montana Department of Justice.

When looking to experience online casinos across the border, you’ll have a range of international options. You’d do best to avoid unlicensed sites, but established jurisdictions like Curacao, Malta and others will usually license those reputable ones. There are also reputable US-facing casinos operating without an official license, however with a very good reputation and ratings in the community. Find out more about them at lcb.org. 

So, while Montana may not offer every type of gambling, its setup strikes a balance that respects both local traditions and the interests of its residents. Whether it’s a lottery ticket, a sports bet, or a round of poker, Montanans have a variety of ways to legally and responsibly engage in the state’s gaming scene, while international casinos accepting US players offer more ways to engage in online gaming, as long as you make sure to carefully select reputable sites. 

 

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Written by: Michael Shackleford