Idaho Online Gambling: Understanding What’s Safe in the Gem State
When it comes to the world of gambling, Idaho might not be the first state that springs to mind, but it does offer some opportunities for the legally inclined gambler. Like a lot of states, Idaho runs a lottery and offers some other regulated forms of gambling, such as poker and various card games, at tribal casinos. Since Idaho itself lacks a big gambling scene, if you want to bet on poker, hand over some cash to a dealer at one of the tribal casinos.
Alternatively, if you want to do it in an online setting—Idaho has no infrastructure for online gambling, but do you need that when several online casinos accept players from your state?
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Safe Forms Of Gambling
Idaho’s laws regarding gambling are fairly simple but more restrictive than those of many other states. Betting forms that require more skill than chance do not have as many legal avenues in Idaho as they do elsewhere. If a betting form is not permitted under state law, it is not allowed at all. Some of the better-known legal forms of gambling in the state include the following:
State Lottery: Available since 1988, the Idaho State Lottery has become a mainstay. It is one of the most popular forms of legal gambling for both residents and visitors. Various instant games and draw games are offered. Tickets are available in poker rooms, bingo halls, and other private gambling settings across the state.
Bingo and Raffles: Idaho allows two forms of gambling often associated with churches and other nonprofit organizations. To conduct either one, an Idaho not-for-profit must first obtain a license.
Pokies for Poker
Although poker is a popular card game, it is against the law in Idaho, even when played in a social context. The state has no legal poker rooms, and according to Idaho law, no one may gamble for real money in private homes—regardless of whether the participants are friends or family. The law isn’t clear about what all this means, but it amounts to a prohibition on gambling for real money in any private setting, even for friendly stakes. Playing a game where everyone puts in a little to keep things fun is not within the bounds of what’s legal. Idaho statutes don’t say anything specific about online poker. The state has no laws addressing the issue one way or another. The poker-playing population in Idaho, which is significant, has no good options for staying within the law.
In what ways can one legally bet in Idaho? Although gambling in Idaho might not be quite as varied as in some other states, there are still a few legitimate opportunities for placing bets.
Lotteries: Since its establishment in 1988, the Idaho Lottery has been a vital revenue source for the state. The lottery provides several scratch-off games, instant win tickets, and drawing-type games. Lots of Idahoans enjoy the opportunity to win a large amount of money with not much more than a prayer and a couple of bucks.
What A Thrill!
For those who love the thrill of the racetrack, Idaho allows people to bet on horses at licensed tracks throughout the state—using the pari-mutuel method of betting, which has been around since at least 1796. Despite the allure of the racetrack, however, the number of race days permitted under Idaho law is very limited. And while dog racing was once part of the offering, it is no longer a permitted activity in the state.
Become Part Of The Tribe
Idaho’s casinos operated by tribes mainly feature electronic gaming machines, such as video poker and pull tabs. Although our state does not have any tribal casinos that offer the traditional kinds of table games seen in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, these establishments do provide several other types of games for anyone looking to get an authentic casino experience on the other side of the Rocky Mountains.
Fort Hall Casino, located just south of Pocatello, offers a limited array of electronic table games, which is a new and exciting addition to its gaming lineup.
For A Good Cause
Bingo and Raffles for a Good Cause: Nonprofit groups can entertain and raise money through charitable bingo and raffle events. As with nearly all fundraising activities conducted by nonprofit organizations, the legality of these games and their operation is determined by state and local laws.
Nonprofits considering hosting a bingo or raffle event should first consult with legal counsel to gain a better understanding of the rules and regulations surrounding these events.
History Dictates The Way Forward
Gambling has long been a part of Idaho’s history, ever since the mining boom of the late 1800s. The state was (and still is) home to a number of games of chance and skill, informal and otherwise, where the wagers were often far too high for the side of prudence.
The colorful history of Idaho includes a number of poker games, card sharks, and makeshift gambling hells, as well as at least one known lady of ill fortune, in the person of Polly, the Poker Bride, who was won in a game of poker in the 1870s and brought back to Idaho.
Welcome to the “Gambling State”
Idaho’s contemporary history has seen it veer from an outright ban on gambling to something nearing, if not quite reaching, comprehensive gambling establishment in what the U.S. Supreme Court once called “the gambling state.” The state’s traditional wariness toward gambling has given way to the inevitability of something found in almost every other state—a lottery.
The state’s flirtation with the casinos of its neighbors has settled comfortably, for now, on an Indian casino in both the north and south of the state.
Let’s Get Social!
Idaho’s gambling laws changed significantly in 2010 due to the loud and persistent cry of the public. A new law was passed that allows local prosecutors to use a little more discretion when enforcing Idaho law regarding social gambling. What this means for you is that, in the past, you were more likely to be prosecuted for having a private poker game if law enforcement happened upon your “not so private” game or if we were simply poking around (so to speak) in your private space.
Now, however, I feel safer recommending a game of poker to you that is not for profit and is for you and your friends only.
The State Of Tribal Casinos
Simultaneously, the debates about Idaho’s tribal casinos seem never-ending and often contentious. In the face of this, the state has managed to keep a relatively stable gambling environment, one that—significantly—seems able to fend off any tribe’s efforts to gain what Idaho law denies them: the authority to operate a gambling facility that exceeds the limits that law places on both the siting of such a facility and the kinds of games that might be played inside.
Responsible Gambling
Idaho has a popular regulated gambling environment. The state offers a well-regulated but limited gambling set of options. The Idaho Lottery is very popular, and it’s a good game with a strong regulatory scheme behind it. Legal pari-mutuel horse racing is available. Opportunities for charitable bingo and raffles abound.
Although Idaho has fewer gambling opportunities than many other states, its gambling laws are straightforward, allowing bettors to partake in legal activities that fall within these guidelines. The same cannot be said for online gambling, which remains a legal gray area in Idaho—a state that has passed no laws to either allow or disallow such operations—making it somewhat inaccessible for the time being.
Disclaimer: The content presented here is for general information and is not guaranteed to be current or comprehensive. If you want to know the specifics of the law as it pertains to gambling in Idaho or any other place, and the law surely does change, you would be far better off consulting a trained legal expert than using this content as any kind of foundation upon which to build your understanding.