North Dakota Gambling Laws

There are plenty of chances to gamble in North Dakota, especially if it’s for charity. However, North Dakota gambling laws do not belong to the permissive branch of US gambling laws.

North Dakota gambling laws

North Dakota gambling laws and regulations revolve mostly around charity gambling. However, this does not mean that there are no casinos in North Dakota. “The legislative assembly shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery, or gift enterprises, under any pretense, or for any purpose whatever,” states North Dakota’s Constitution. The only exceptions are charitable games and the state lottery.

Thanks to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, there are numerous tribal casinos in North Dakota but no commercial ones. There are five Native American casinos around the state, offering Class III gambling, including table games and slots. The charity gambling laws of North Dakota are unique when compared to the majority of states.

North Dakota has seven charitable casinos, which offer blackjack, poker tournaments and other Vegas-style games. Their revenues are “devoted to educational, charitable, patriotic, fraternal, religious, or other public-spirited uses.” Each casino supports a charitable cause or organization, such as the Plains Art Museum or Development Homes.

Online Gambling in North Dakota

North Dakota gambling laws allow for charity gambling, a state lottery, and gaming on Native American land. Other forms of gambling are not explicitly mentioned in the laws. Therefore, online gambling is not regulated or legalized. North Dakota gambling laws provide the following definition for gambling: “risking any money, credit, deposit, or other thing of value for gain, contingent, wholly or partially, upon lot, chance […].” Gaming at unlicensed venues is a crime and North Dakota does not allot licenses to online casinos.

Lotteries in North Dakota

The North Dakota Lottery began in 2004 and it is run by the state’s government. North Dakota’s constitution needed an amendment in order to establish the lottery. The voters’ approved that “the legislative assembly shall authorize the state of North Dakota to join a multi-state lottery for the benefit of the state of North Dakota.” The North Dakota Lottery offers six multistate games, including Powerball. Tickets are available at licensed retailers, but not online.

Daily Fantasy Sports in North Dakota

The legality of daily fantasy sports in North Dakota was referred to federal authorities. Currently, it’s unclear whether paid fantasy leagues are legal or not in the state. US gambling news imply, that North Dakota legislators will wait for a federal law on daily fantasy sports. “With the way the state's constitution is written and everything else, this could be a game of chance and not a game of skill," said North Dakota's former director of gaming, Keith Lauer. According to Marc Edelman, Law Professor at Baruch College in New York, most daily fantasy sports sites have decided not to operate in North Dakota.