How Do I Gamble Online in Idaho?

It’s easy to gamble online in Idaho. The key is signing up at a real money casino, sportsbook, or poker site that accepts play from US players. While you won’t be able to play at some of the famous sites that other Americans use, the offshore online gambling sites you’ll encounter have been operating for 10 to 20 years and have a reputation for trust, safety, and reliability.

Read our guide to online gambling in Idaho for all of the details you need. We provide tips for signup up, making a deposit, and collecting a large welcome bonus. The article below gives a history of Idaho gambling, plus a rundown of the land-based and online gambling types available to residents. Once finished, you’ll have learned everything you need to know to gamble online for real money in Idaho.

Idaho Online Gambling Laws

Idaho does not regulate online gambling, though Idaho residents can sign up at offshore online sportsbooks, casinos, and poker rooms. At the same time, Idaho’s legislature claims a ban on online gambling, that doesn’t apply to Idaho residents playing in the privacy of their own homes. It also doesn’t apply to Idaho mobile gamblers who play while on the go throughout the day.

The Idaho online gambling ban focuses on gaming operators. If an Idaho resident launched an online gambling portal and accepted real money play from fellow citizens, this would be punished. Idaho law enforcement has never charged a resident for signup at an online casino, sportsbook, or cardroom.

Gambling Availability in Idaho

 Idaho Gambling Timeline and History

• 1949: Boise criminalizes casino games of all types. Other Idaho cities quickly follow suit.
• 1953: The state government bans slot machines as unconstitutional.
• 1963: Idaho approves pari-mutuel betting at land-based horse tracks.
• 1988: Idaho citizens approve of lottery betting in a statewide vote. This followed years of legal battles over lottery gaming.
• 2002: Idaho approves electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in tribal casinos. These tend to be small numbers of gambling machines (10 to 20) in an annex to other local businesses.
• 2016: Idaho’s Attorney General gives an opinion on daily fantasy sports, effectively banning DFS gaming in the state. This opinion remains in place, though another Idaho AG could countermand the decision.

How to Gamble Online for Real Money in Idaho

Read through the following steps if you’ve never gambled online in Idaho. Our guide focuses on casinos online, but our advice works for any gambling site. Whether you play at an online casino, poker site, or sportsbook, the steps are roughly the same.

1. Find a Safe and Reliable Casino: When gambling at online casinos in Idaho, finding a fair and trustworthy site is crucial. Since offshore casinos lack legal protections, it’s essential to research the site’s reputation, payment history, and entertainment value before making a deposit.
2. Register for an Account: Once you find a reputable casino, you’ll need to sign up for a player account. During registration, you’ll provide basic details and proof of residence, which helps with the verification process when withdrawing winnings.
3. Make a Deposit: After registering, you can play casino games for free or choose to play with real money by making a deposit. To do this, visit the cashier page, choose a deposit method, and add funds to your account.
4. Accept a Bonus: Most online casinos offer welcome bonuses to new players who make a deposit. These bonuses often include bonus money and free spins on specific online slots. However, they have rollover terms that require players to wager the bonus a certain number of times before withdrawing it.
5. Play Casino Games: Once you’ve funded your account, you can start playing casino games for real money. The site’s top menu usually offers options to select slots, table games, and specialty games.
6. Withdraw Your Winnings: After meeting the rollover requirement, you can request a withdrawal of your winnings. Payouts typically take a few minutes to a few days, depending on the payout method.
7. Online Sportsbooks and Cardrooms: If you prefer online sports betting or poker, the process is similar. However, sports betting bonuses offer less cash but include a risk-free bet, while poker bonuses unlock bonus cash as you play hands.

The Best Online Casinos and Sportsbooks for Idaho Players

Idaho Land-Based Gambling Industry

Does Idaho have land-based casinos?

Yes. Idaho has 10 land-based casinos located in 7 different towns. Fort Hall, Lewiston, and Plummer each have two casinos apiece.

The word “casino” might mislead some readers. Using the term “slot parlor” might be more accurate. Let’s look at the two casinos in Plummer as an example. One is Benewah Automotive Center, which is home to 17 gaming machines. The gaming center is open from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday, while it is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

The other casino is Benewah Market Family Foods, which is open Monday through Sunday from 8 am to 7 pm and has 13 gaming machines. These are hardly major casino resorts like you’ll find in Florida, California, or Nevada.

Does Idaho have legal betting tracks?

Yes, Idaho has 6 legal betting tracks in 6 different cities: Blackfoot, Burley, Jerome, Malad City, Pocatello, and Rupert. Each has a racebook and features quarter-horse racing. Cassia County Fairgrounds in Burley also has thoroughbred racing. Some are quite limited in their racing. For instance, Jerome Racing is only active in June each year.

Does Idaho allow off-track betting?

No, Idaho has no legal off-track betting facilities. If you want horse betting and simulcasting, you’ll need to visit one of the six legal betting tracks. No OTBs exist.

Does Idaho allow charitable gambling?

Yes. The Idaho State Lottery oversees charitable gaming throughout the state. Non-profit groups can organize raffles and bingo games. No other games are allowed. Charity games like poker runs, Calcutta’s, and casino nights are strictly prohibited.

If the raffles generate $5,000 or more in sales, the organizer must be licensed. If the bingo game makes over $10,000 annually, then it must apply for a license. Bingo halls that feature games at least once a week also must apply. The Charitable Gaming License upfront fee is $100. Subsequent fees are determined by gross revenues: $100 for revenues less than $25,000, $200 for revenues between $25,000 and $75,000, and $300 for revenues over $75,000.

Does Idaho allow lottery betting?

Yes. Idaho approved the state lottery in 1988 in a statewide vote, then launched lottery gambling in 1989. The state joined the Powerball lottery association in 1991 and the Mega Millions multistate lottery association in 2010. Vendors across Idaho sell state lottery tickets, Mega Millions and Powerball tickets, and scratch cards.

Is social gambling allowed in Idaho?

Yes. Idaho residents can host private poker games in their homes, so long as they don’t collect a rake from the poker hands. They can’t charge door fees or seat fees, so the only winnings are those won over the poker table through luck and skill.

Idaho also allows residents to play at online social gaming sites. Social gaming sites (like Zynga) have a full range of free casino games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. Sign up through a desktop computer or use the casino app to receive free credits. WinStar, Luckyland, and Chumba Casino also offer sweepstakes gaming. These offer real money prizes and jackpots on games of chance.

What is the legal gambling age in Idaho?

The legal gambling age in Idaho is 18 years old. That goes for lottery betting, charitable gaming, social gaming sites, sweepstakes casinos, and online gambling websites.

Land-Based Casinos and Racetracks in Idaho

Online Gambling Idaho FAQ

Is online gambling legal in Idaho?

Online gambling is legal in Idaho, though it isn’t regulated by state authorities. Instead of playing at real money casino sites, players instead sign up at offshore online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites. International gaming regulators audit and license offshore online gambling sites, though US and Idaho regulators do not.

That means you play without legal protections, so you need to find trusted gaming sites. Research by reading online casino reviews, sportsbook reviews, and poker site reviews before funding your account. Learn what other players say about games, deposits, and bonus offers. Pay close attention to reviews of wagering requirements and reliable withdrawal policies.

Can I legally gamble at online casinos in Idaho?

Idaho online players can legally gamble at online casinos. The sites are offshore online casinos, often licensed by international gaming authorities like those in Curacao. Online casinos offer thousands of dollars in bonus cash, plus free spins on select online slots. Idaho residents can enjoy a full range of casino games, including slots, blackjack, video poker, roulette, craps, and baccarat. You can play games not always found in land-based casinos, including keno, bingo, and online scratch cards.

Can I gamble for real money at online sportsbooks in Idaho?

Online sports betting is legal, though you’ll play at offshore online sportsbooks. Bookmaker sites like BetUS.com offer huge welcome bonuses, risk-free bets, deposit methods that Americans prefer, and a full range of sporting bets. Bettors can make point-spread bets, moneyline bets, futures bets, parlays, teasers, pleasers, and prop bets. You cannot play on DraftKings or FanDuel, because Idaho doesn’t regulate land-based or online sports betting.

Can I gamble at online poker sites in Idaho?

Yes, you can. These sites offer poker bonuses, VIP clubs, and gambling on Texas Hold’em, Omaha Holdem, Omaha Hi-Lo, or Seven-Card Stud. Enjoy all types of poker betting, including ring games, sit-and-go events, and big tournament events. Offshore online poker sites for Idaho players guarantee over $1.5 million a week in prize money and jackpots. Like before, you won’t be able to play at PokerStars, but you can sign up at offshore online poker sites like Wild Casino or Planet 7 Casino.

How do I gamble online in Idaho using crypto deposits?

Idaho online gamblers can use crypto deposits at the best offshore online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks. At most US online gambling sites in the offshore market, bettors can use crypto payment methods like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Bitcoin SV. Most offer big Bitcoin welcome bonuses when new signups make their first deposit. Sites like Wild Casino, Slots of Vegas, and Planet 7 Casino have all the games players love: slots, table games like blackjack and roulette, and live dealer games. Many also offer sports betting and poker games.

How to Gamble Online in the United States