Sports Betting Alaska
Alaska may be cold and lack their own professional sports teams, but that doesn’t mean that residents are any less inclined to enjoy betting on sports. Due to their proximity to legal US bookmakers, this presents a bit of a problem for Alaskans seeking options for betting on their favorite sports events, teams and athletes.
The state is not opposed to all gambling entertainment, with several regulated forms of betting allowed in the state. However sports betting is a different kind of animal in the legal landscape of US gambling laws. Sports gambling is the one form of betting that is governed by federal laws that reach across the country.
There are currently no legal sports betting options within the borders of Alaska. Alaska does not allow betting on horse racing, so advance deposit wagering websites are not allowed to accept bets from within the state. There are also no legally operating sports betting websites that will accept a bet from anyone within Alaska. However sports betting is a different kind of animal in the legal landscape of US gambling laws. Sports gambling is the one form of betting that is governed by federal laws that reach across the country. Here we will guide you through the legalities surrounding sports betting in Alaska. Alaska Sports Betting Laws Adding even more to your level of comfort should be the fact there are no actual sports betting laws in Alaska. The only laws that are included in the Alaska Statutes (Section 11.66.280 et seq.) are those that pertain to general gambling within the state. The Current Online Sports Betting Situation in Alaska Alaska has a reputation for taking a hard line on gambling and that includes sports betting. Residents of America’s largest state won’t currently find licensed casinos or sportsbooks around their town (or any part of the state for that matter).
Here we will guide you through the legalities surrounding sports betting in Alaska. We will provide insight into what is and is not legal to participate in, how US federal laws affect your options, and how to legally access industry leading US online sportsbooks that are licensed, regulated and located offshore.
Best Online Sports Betting Site
For Alaska Residents
Betonline Sportsbook is a reputable and trusted brand that legally welcomes players from the United States, including those in Alaska. They are licensed and regulated in Panama City, Panama, and new customers are eligible for a 50% match bonus up to $1000 on the first deposit. In addition, Betonline provides a lifetime 25% match bonus up to $1000 on all deposits made into your player account. They offer mobile sports betting options as well as live betting and live in play betting features. They cover all major US and international sports categories with a wide range of wagering options and competitive odds and lines.
Lifetime bonus offer - 25% up to $1000 on all deposits
Holds legal licensing and compliance certifications through Panama City, Panama
Offers multiple gambling platforms, including sports, poker, skills games, casino and racebook
Long time presence in the industry as one of the pioneers of online sports betting
Top Rated Online Sportsbooks Accepting Alaska Players
| Site Name | Current Bonus | U.S. | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50% Max $250 | Review | |
| 2 | 50% Max $1,000 | Review | |
| 3 | 50% Max $1,000 | Review | |
| 4 | 50% Max $1,000 | Review | |
| 5 | 50% Max $500 | Review | |
| 6 | 100% Max $500 | Review |
Does Sports Betting Exist in Alaska?
Many Alaskans are avid sports betters, which means they visit different sportsbooks to put down money on point spreads, over-under scores, proposition bets, and more. So while it's nowhere near the market of a state like California or New York, sports betting does exist in Alaska and actually makes up a hefty percentage of the state's gamblers. Sports betting in Alaska takes place via licensed betting sites, as the state has not passed any legislation allowing domestic sportsbooks to operate.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Alaska?
There are no forms of state regulated sports betting available in Alaska either online or offline. The repeal of PASPA in May of 2018 has given each individual US state the authority to legalize or prohibit sports betting within their territories, however, Alaska has made no moves either way.
Sports fans in the Frontier State are free to place sports wagers by traveling to one of the states that have already launched legal domestic sports betting, which is not necessarily easy or affordable due to their proximity to the mainland. Another option is to visit legally sanctioned, US-friendly online sportsbooks, such as the ones listed in this guide.
PASPA is now irrelevant, the Federal Wire Act only prevents states from accepting interstate wagers, and the UIGEA regulates the financial institutions that process gambling related transactions. There are not any state laws in Alaska prohibiting offshore betting at legally licensed and regulated destinations. Therefore there are not any state or federal laws that make it illegal to place bets at online sportsbooks operated offshore.
Types of Sports Teams in Alaska
There aren’t any professional sports franchises in the state due to the cold weather and their day-night cycle being hard to adjust to if accustomed to it. By and large, however, there's a lack of sports teams there because there's a lack of people. New York City has roughly ten times the population of the whole of Alaska.
Alaska does have a hockey team from East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), and while it does have a decent following, particularly with the Alaskan Aces, the league itself is small. There's also a summer league baseball league in Anchorage, which has teams like the Anchorage Glacier Pilots and the Anchorage Bucs.
Alaska's State Sport - Dog Mushing
Dog mushing is considered the state sport of Alaska, and it consists of dogs, usually huskies, pulling people on a sled through a long course. These international dogsled competitions don't have the sponsorship of NASCAR or the commercial media buzz of the Super Bowl, but in Alaska, these big events are equivalent to the Tour de France.
Many Alaskans bet on dog mushing, and most of them will do it in person. Dog mushing is a niche sport that's confined almost entirely to a state like Alaska, so you won't find many sportsbooks offering mushing odds.
However, some sportsbooks do have entire dog racing sections, and when a big event comes up in Alaska, you can find odds on a sportsbook. It's not something that's happening with every sportsbook, but the largest ones typically do have something for the largest events in Alaska. This page lists the industry leaders and those sportsbooks most likely to offer lines on dog mushing.
Relevant Links For Alaskan Gamblers
There are currently no legal sports betting options available in Alaska. As it stands, gambling is limited to fantasy sports, bingo, and dogsledding. Even still, bingo and dogsledding are only available when run by a charitable organization.
After the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned on May 14, 2018, each state in the US can create its own laws and regulations for sports betting, but Alaska has been slow to address the issue.
Fantasy sports are allowed in Alaska due to the wording in the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act which classifies fantasy sports as a game of chance.
Given Alaska’s separation from the rest of the United States, there are few alternatives nearby for Alaskans to place a sports wager in person. Washington is the closest state with legalized sports betting, and can only be reached from AK after a days-long drive through Canada.
When Will Online Sports Betting Be Legal in Alaska?
There seems to be a lack of urgency in regulating sports betting in Alaska. From a revenue standpoint, Alaska has been prosperous thanks to its successful oil industry. As a result, the potential tax benefits of legalizing sports betting in Alaska are not as enticing as in other states.
That being said, there were attempts to legalize sports betting in Alaska in 1987, 1990, 1993, and 2008. The latest attempt saw a referendum shot down by a large majority of the state’s voters.
Sentiment does seem to be changing, with Alaska’s fiscal budget facing a large deficit. Governor Mike Dunleavy proposed two bills in early 2020, SB 188 and HB 246, which would allow for multiple forms of legal gambling, including sports betting. The bills were known as The Alaska Lottery Corporation Act.
Alaskan residents are said to spend an estimated $348 million annually on sports betting out-of-state, and legalization could bring in at least $100 million per year. Hopes were high for these bills to gain approval, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Alaska state legislature ended their session early, allowing the bills to expire in May.
Alaska’s governor is spearheading the effort to legalize sports betting in the state. There is hope that legal sports betting could make it’s way to Alaska in the coming years.
Alaska Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports betting legal in Alaska?
Alaska residents are permitted to the following forms of gambling: fantasy sports betting, instant games, bingo, multi-state draw games, and keno.
Does Alaska have gambling?
There are no licensed casinos in Alaska, though Alaskans often partake in cruises that offer casino gambling in international waters.
Wyoming Sports Betting
What is the state sport of Alaska?
Is Sports Betting Legal In Alaska
Alaska’s state sport is dog mushing, designated in 1972.