North Dakota Gambling Laws – Legal Overview

Gambling may not be the most thriving industry of North Dakota, but if you are a resident or a visitor of the state, you can still have fun with plenty of options. Even if the casino games are limited and regulated, players have the chance to play at tribal casinos, buy a lottery ticket, and bet on horse races. For more information about the North Dakota gambling laws, stay with us, and explore our overview of the allowed games, authorities, legal gambling age, and more!

There are several forms of legal gambling in North Dakota, including a total of five land-based casinos in Native American reservations and one commercial casino venue. In the tribal casinos, you can choose from slots, poker, roulette, and blackjack. The lottery is another fun choice – you can play numerous jackpot games with big potential prizes. Then, there are horse racing tracks and charity gaming. Now, let’s do an overview of each of these options!

History of Gambling in North Dakota

Considering that North Dakota’s population is less than a million, it’s no surprise that gambling options in the state are limited. The first gambling games in the state date back to the late 70s, when charitable games became legal. Later, tribal casinos were legalized, followed by lottery. Here is a short overview of the foremost reforms in North Dakota gambling laws during the last few decades:

Gambling Laws in North Dakota – What Games are Legal?

The Peace Garden State gives you plenty of choices when it comes to gambling. From land-based casinos and horse races to charity games, there are many good choices. Let’s take a closer look at the gambling laws in North Dakota. Here are all the legal games on the territory of the state:

North Dakota’s tribal casinos are, without any doubt, your best option if you want to experience a realistic gaming session. The casino venues are situated in Native American reservations and offer all kinds of fun games like slots, roulette, blackjack, craps, Sic-Bo, and many others. There are also poker rooms where you can compete with other players.

Live and off-track horse races are allowed – there are several racetracks on the territory of the state. Residents of North Dakota can play the lottery as well. You can choose from different options like Mega Millions, Powerball, and other multi-state games. If you are a fan of bingo and raffles, you can join a charitable game conducted by licensed organizations.

North Dakota Gaming Authorities

The North Dakota Gaming Division consists of a chairman and four other members, all appointed by the governor. The Division regulates and enforces charitable gaming. It performs audits and investigations on charitable gaming organizations and monitors tribal-state gaming establishments.

Native American tribes in North Dakota have the right to conduct gaming at casinos on tribal land, and the Gaming Division’s responsibility is to observe the game integrity and compliance on their sites. The authority ensures that the wager limits are respected and checks if the prize payout ratios are correct.

For horse races, there is another regulatory body – the North Dakota Racing Commission. The objective of the Racing Commission is to supervise and check the making of pari-mutuel pools and betting machines. Another responsibility of the ND Racing Commission is to set the racing dates and adopt rules that prevent the use of substances or methods that could alternate the performance of racehorses.

Finally, the North Dakota Lottery Advisory Commission administrates, regulates, enforces, and promotes the lottery in the state. The organization also issues licenses to the retailers and assists them with the training of employees.

Lottery Games in North Dakota

According to the North Dakota gambling laws, lottery games are legal for everyone of 18 years or over. Throughout the state, there are more than 400 licensed retailers that sell tickets. All of them have a license from the local Lottery Advisory Commission. In total, there are five multi-state games, which you can play. Here is the complete list:

The US gambling legislation authorizes the lottery games on the territory of North Dakota. The tickets cost between $1 and $2 and offer generous prizes. For example, Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto America have a jackpot that is continuously growing. Winners of Lucky for Life receive daily cash rewards, and 2BY2 has a set jackpot prize.

Tribal Casinos in North Dakota

Thanks to the 1992 reform, betting in Native American reservations became possible. The gambling establishments comply with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act from 1988 and are monitored by the local Gaming Division. There are five tribal casinos in North Dakota – one in Fargo, one in Hankinson, and three in Bismarck. Below, you can find the complete list:

The tribal casinos in North Dakota offer a variety of entertaining games. You can choose among hundreds of slots with traditional or video reels, including video poker. The casinos also organize poker tournaments – you can join a game of Let It Ride, Flop Poker, Limit Hold’em, No-Limit Hold’em, and others.

Table games like American and European Roulette are also available. Another popular game in the best US casinos is blackjack. In North Dakota, you can find single and double-deck variants. Keno, bingo, and scratchcards are other gambling games offered by the tribal casinos. There are no sports betting options, as the state doesn’t allow it.

Players above 21 years old can enter the Native American casino establishments. Betting limits are set at a minimum of $0.01 and a maximum of $250. In the resorts, you can enjoy luxurious rooms and suites, dining lounges, and bars. Most of them also organize concerts and shows for their visitors. For the loyal players, there are discount clubs and exclusive programs with many benefits.

In addition, there is one commercial casino in North Dakota – the Southgate Casino Bar & Grill in Grand Forks. The approach of the operator is old-school and unusual, compared to many other casino resorts in the US. Here, you can play poker, blackjack, and dice games. Southgate Casino offers bingo games, while slot machines aren’t available.

North Dakota Online Gambling Laws

When it comes to online gambling, the North Dakota legislation is straightforward – it’s strictly forbidden. The state law doesn’t allow any organizations, even those who are licensed, to conduct or host online gaming.

If you want to play at US casino sites, you should consider taking a trip to another state. Nevertheless, Native American casinos are allowed, and you can choose the one which offers the most appealing gambling games for your taste. Charitable gaming and horse racing are two more legal gambling variants for North Dakota residents.

Legal Gambling Age in North Dakota

The North Dakota gambling age for playing at land-based casinos is 21 years old or above. The tribal casinos offer a wide range of games like slots, video poker, table games, and bingo. Live horse races accept bets from players above 21 years old, while off-track wagers are open for 18+ year olds. To purchase a lottery ticket, you must be at the age of 18 or over.

Common Questions About Gambling Laws in ND

To complete our North Dakota gambling laws guide, we have created a list of FAQs. In the section below, we will give you the answers to the most frequently asked questions about gambling in North Dakota. Learn about the legal games, gambling age, tribal casinos, and other fundamental details. You will also find more information about the available lottery games, horse racing, local regulatory bodies, and online gambling laws.

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