Idaho Online Gambling
Idaho law prohibits most forms of online gambling. Unlike many states, where players have a handful of legal or unregulated options, the Idaho online gambling market offers nothing outside of online horse racing betting and lottery ticket sales via the Jackpocket app.
The Idaho Constitution, specifically Article III, Section 20, declares that “gambling is contrary to public policy and is strictly prohibited.” Additionally, state law strengthens the constitutional prohibition by broadly defining “gambling” and criminalizing participation as a player.
As a result, Idaho expressly prohibits online casinos, poker sites, and sports betting. State law also bans sweepstakes casinos that pay cash prizes and daily fantasy sports, which operate in legal gray areas in many other states.
Read on for a complete overview of Idaho’s online gambling laws, an explanation of what is and is not permitted, and a list of available responsible gambling resources.
Legal Idaho Gambling Sites
21+ and present in ID. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.
Idaho Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under ID Const. Art. III § 20 and ID Code § 18-3802 |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Cash-prize models constitute illegal lotteries; major operators do not serve Idaho |
| Online Poker (n/a) | Illegal | Treated as gambling under ID Code § 18-3801; prohibited under Idaho’s general gambling ban |
| Online Sports Betting (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under the state’s broad definition of gambling |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (n/a) | Illegal | Classified as illegal gambling by a 2016 Attorney General opinion |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under the same legal reasoning as traditional DFS |
| Online Lottery Sales (n/a) | Legal/Unregulated | The ID Lottery does not sell tickets online, but third-party app Jackpocket is active |
| Online Horse Racing (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized under ID Code § 54-2512 |
Idaho Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in Idaho.
The state constitution and criminal code work in tandem to create an unambiguous and comprehensive ban on online casinos. There have been no legislative efforts to authorize real-money casino sites, and the legal barriers to doing so are substantial.
Article III, Section 20 of the Idaho Constitution, which explicitly outlaws “any form of casino gambling including, but not limited to, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, baccarat, keno and slot machines”.
Idaho’s criminal statutes, specifically Idaho Code § 18-3801 and § 18-3802, define these activities as “gambling” and make participation a misdemeanor offense.
Will Idaho Legalize Online Casinos?
The outlook for legal online casinos in Idaho is poor.
The explicit constitutional prohibition means that even if there were political willpower to legalize online casinos, legalization would not be achievable through a simple legislative act.
Legalizing online casinos in Idaho would require a constitutional amendment, a time-consuming, politically challenging process with an uncertain outcome and little support among lawmakers or the public.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Idaho
Sweepstakes casinos that offer cash prizes are illegal in Idaho.
Although sweepstakes casinos operate in many states under a “no purchase necessary” model designed to avoid classification as illegal gambling, Idaho’s strict laws effectively prohibit their operation.
Idaho law contains no carve-out for sweepstakes casinos, and ID Code §67-7446 expressly forbids “private lotteries” and games of chance that offer cash prizes except those authorized under the State Lottery Act.
Additionally, the Idaho Constitution’s exemption for promotional activities is limited to “merchant promotional contests and drawings conducted incidentally to bona fide nongaming business operations.”
As a result, all major sweepstakes casino sites block customers from Idaho. Some operators allow residents to play games in a “social casino” mode using non-redeemable virtual currency, but they do not allow users to compete for or redeem cash prizes.
Idaho Online Poker
Online poker is illegal in Idaho.
Unlike states where poker’s classification as a game of skill or chance is a matter of legal debate, Idaho’s constitution removes all ambiguity by explicitly naming poker as a prohibited form of casino gambling.
Article III, Section 20 of the Idaho Constitution lists “poker” alongside games like blackjack and roulette as a banned activity, rendering any argument about skill versus luck irrelevant.
Courts have tested and affirmed the state’s position on the legality of poker. In 2015, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the state in forcing the Coeur D’Alene Tribe to shut down its live poker room.
Legalization Outlook
The legalization outlook for online poker is exceptionally poor. Authorizing online poker would require new legislation and a constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval in a statewide referendum.
Currently, there is no political momentum to take up that challenge and legalize poker sites in Idaho.
Idaho Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is illegal in Idaho.
The broad prohibition on gambling in Article III, Section 20 of the Idaho Constitution covers all forms of gambling or wagering, including online sports betting, outside of narrow exceptions.
Furthermore, ID Code § 18-3801 includes wagering on “the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event,” in its definition of illegal gambling.
Currently, there is no way to bet on sports online in Idaho safely or legally.
Legalization Outlook
The prospects for legal online sports betting in Idaho are bleak.
Legalization would require a constitutional amendment, a process that demands a two-thirds majority vote in both legislative chambers, followed by approval from a majority of voters in a statewide referendum.
Since the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, Idaho lawmakers have not considered a single bill to authorize sports betting.
With no political will to initiate this process, Idaho is unlikely to legalize retail sportsbooks or online sports betting anytime soon.
Idaho Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports are illegal in Idaho.
In 2016, then-Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced that his office had concluded that paid fantasy sports contests meet the state’s definition of gambling under ID Code § 18-3801.
The legal reasoning was that participants risk money for a cash prize contingent on the collective performance of athletes in future sporting events. Rather than engage in a protracted legal battle, the Attorney General’s office negotiated an agreement with DraftKings and FanDuel, under which both companies agreed to cease all paid operations in Idaho.
Today, Idaho is one of only a handful of states where major DFS apps do not operate.
Fantasy Pick’em Contests in Idaho
Fantasy pick’em contests are illegal in Idaho.
Although no state law or official opinion specifically names fantasy pick’em contests, they remain prohibited under the same legal principles that outlaw traditional DFS games.
Fantasy pick’em contests, in which players predict whether an athlete will go over or under a specific statistical projection, fall squarely within the legal reasoning established by the Idaho Attorney General in 2016.
As a result, all legitimate fantasy pick’em apps restrict Idaho customers.
Idaho Online Lottery Sales
Online lottery sales are available in Idaho through the Jackpocket app, a reputable courier service that purchases official tickets on behalf of customers.
This arrangement allows for de facto online lottery play while adhering to state regulations that restrict sales to physical retail locations.
Idaho Lottery rules specify that tickets may only be sold by authorized retailers at the address listed on their contract. The official lottery website further clarifies that it does not offer online sales. However, this framework allows for the operation of lottery courier apps that hold a valid state retailer license.
The Jackpocket app launched in Idaho in 2022 and operates as a licensed agent of the Idaho Lottery. When a user places an order through the app, Jackpocket purchases an official lottery ticket on their behalf from its licensed retail location in Boise.
Online Horse Racing Betting in Idaho
Online horse racing betting is legal and regulated in Idaho.
Advance deposit wagering is the only form of online gambling explicitly authorized by state law.
Online horse racing betting is legal in Idaho because it falls under the “pari-mutuel betting” exception outlined in Article III, Section 20 of the state constitution.
Although the constitutional exception was originally intended to authorize on-track wagering, it provided the necessary legal foundation for the legislature to later authorize online betting.
Several of the nation’s most prominent ADW platforms are licensed to operate in Idaho:
Idaho Gambling Regulators
The primary gambling regulators in Idaho include:
- Idaho State Racing Commission (ISRC): Regulates all aspects of live and simulcast horse racing under the authority of the Idaho Horse Racing Act. Its duties include issuing licenses to racetracks, participants, and advance deposit wagering (ADW) operators, as well as promulgating rules to ensure the integrity of pari-mutuel betting.
- Idaho Lottery Commission: Oversees the operations of the state lottery. Its responsibilities include adopting rules for lottery games, approving major contracts, and ensuring the maximization of revenue for public education. The Lottery Commission is also responsible for licensing and regulating charitable organizations that conduct bingo and raffle games.
- Tribal Gaming Commissions: Each of Idaho’s tribal casinos is primarily regulated by its own sovereign gaming authority, such as the Shoshone-Bannock Gaming Commission. These tribal agencies operate in accordance with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and the specific terms of their gaming compacts with the state. They are responsible for the day-to-day oversight of gaming operations, licensing, and compliance, with the National Indian Gaming Commission providing federal oversight.
Responsible Gambling Resources in Idaho
Idaho provides no state funding for problem gambling services and lacks a statewide, unified self-exclusion program. The state’s prohibitionist stance on most forms of commercial gambling means it does not generate the dedicated tax revenue that other states use to fund treatment, prevention, and education programs.
This absence of a state-supported safety net means that Idaho residents seeking help for gambling-related harm must rely on national organizations, peer-support groups, and private telehealth providers.
Self-Exclusion Resources
Idaho does not operate a statewide voluntary self-exclusion program that would allow individuals to ban themselves from the state lottery, tribal gaming facilities, or online racebooks.
However, most reputable online gambling platforms allow users to request self-exclusion online from within their account settings.
Responsible Gambling Organizations
- National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): Provides a national, confidential 24/7 helpline for individuals and families facing issues with problem gambling. Call 1-800-522-4700, text 800GAM, or chat online.
- Gamblers Anonymous: A fellowship that offers peer-support meetings for individuals seeking to recover from a gambling problem. Meetings may be available in various Idaho communities.
- Kindbridge Behavioral Health: A private telehealth provider that offers specialized online therapy and counseling services for gambling addiction to Idaho residents.
- Birches Health: Another online therapy provider specializing in the treatment of gambling addiction and other behavioral health challenges, with services available throughout Idaho.