Is Sports Betting Legal In Montana?
Despite what some may have as preconceptions of the state, sports betting is legal in Montana. Montana is a land of its own – untamed, beautiful, and home to relatively few of the big city eyesores that dot so many other states. Montana is a land that eschews concrete jungles for the wide-open plains and the beauty of the national parks located there. It is a land infused with history, from Custer’s Last Stand to the 2019 legalization of sports betting. But no matter how naturalistic the MT culture is, the people of Montana still enjoy their sports. After all, it’s only natural. And for that reason, there is a lot of interest in sports betting in Montana. Nevertheless, sports betting itself is usually surrounded by misinformation. Popular consensus has sadly painted sports betting in a poor light over the years, and we are attempting to shed some light on the subject.
In years past, even though Montana was nominally exempt from the now-overturned anti-gambling PASPA ban, single-game “Vegas-style” sports betting was unlawful in the state. In other words, while the law didn’t actually make it a crime for individuals to bet on sports, it did make it impossible for MT-based sportsbooks to operate in a licensed, legal manner. That didn’t keep MT bettors from betting, of course. When there’s a will, there’s a way, and MT residents are nothing if not able to make more with less. Offshore sports betting thrived in the state for years as a result, and it continues to do so. However, the MT government has now legalized online-based sports wagering to compete with these long-standing offshore solutions, and the result is that Montana sports betting enthusiasts now have more options than ever when it comes to wagering on their favorite sports and teams.
Land-Based Sports Betting in Montana:
Montana had the opportunity to legalize land-based sports betting in 2019, as the House and Senate both passed SB 330 to the governor for his signature. However, the state legislature also passed HB 725 and SB 25. The first bill legalized sports wagering to be carried out by the state lottery, while the second bill authorized expanded sports pools and sports tabs gaming at area taverns and casinos. HB 725 also allows for the Montana Lottery to install self-service betting kiosks in the state’s hundreds of taverns and retail storefronts.
As a result, SB 330, which would have legalized land-based sports betting lounges in area gaming venues, was deemed to have too much inherent conflict with the above passed laws. The governor of Montana signed HB 725 into law and has vowed to revisit the provisions of SB 330 in the future if gaming authorities deem land-based betting a profitable risk, but for now – outside of kiosks in various bars – you will only see legal state-based sports betting via the Internet in Montana.
Legal Online Sports Betting in Montana:
State-based online sports betting powered by the Montana Lottery rolled out in March of 2020, though its rollout was a bit hindered by the Coronavirus pandemic that began only days later. State-regulated online sports betting can be accessed if you’re inside an establishment with licensed betting terminals. But, that online platform won’t work once you leave that establishment. Nevertheless, if you don’t have the time or money to head to a land-based venue, you can legally wager on sports over the Internet from Montana right now! To do so, all you need is a computer or modern smartphone or tablet (any iPhone or Android device will do!) and an Internet connection. Then, simply pick a reputable offshore sports betting site, take a few minutes to sign up, and you’ll be betting – safely and legally – in no time at all! These books are legal to use because US and MT laws don’t criminalize individuals for placing wagers, and they have no jurisdiction over sportsbooks legally operating in other countries. Free trade, baby!
Bovada Sportsbook - The Safest Legal Place To Bet Online In Montana
It can indeed be hard to find a trustworthy sports betting site when, unlike the big online retailers, no one site really has a monopoly on the sports betting traffic or the Google search results page. Luckily for you, Bovada is one of our favorite sportsbooks on the web, and we love telling people about it. Bovada is one of the sports betting game’s old guard when it comes to online betting, and they’ve been a trendsetter for over a decade. Around since the early days of the Internet, Bovada’s management group and owners practically invented modern online sports betting. To this day, Bovada sets the standard for superior customer service and offers deals that would make any land-based operation green with envy (but not green with money!). This old dog is a master of learning new tricks, too!
Not only does Bovada continue to provide the same great service they have provided for years, but they also always strive to make their site better with the latest innovations in betting. They have pioneered advances like live betting where bettors can place many smaller bets throughout the game in real-time. These smaller bets resolve as the conditions are met, often within mere seconds, so the joy of victory and the drama of defeat can be experienced throughout the game rather than just at the end. This also opens up even more opportunities to win a fortune, as not only can you win on the big end bet, but you can win big throughout the game, making every game a potential jackpot extravaganza. Other advances in the field include a mobile betting portal that allows Bovada's members to bet on games no matter where they are. And of course, Bovada wouldn’t be Bovada without the best bonus in the business, which is a first-deposit 50% match worth up to $250 in free plays. While this isn’t the biggest bonus out there, it comes with a 5X rollover, which is the friendliest rate any sportsbook offers.
Top Montana Sports Betting Sites
What's The Bottom Line? Will I Get In Trouble For Betting On Sports?
There are a few easy ways to identify if you would be interested in betting on sports in Montana. First off, are you an avid sports fan who knows every team and their strengths and weaknesses? Do you tune in to every game just because you love to watch the sport? Second, and this one is important, do you like to easily and reliably make extra money while watching your favorite players and teams? If you answered yes to those questions, then you would absolutely love sports betting. It is proven to be more reliable than investing in the stock market and you get to watch sports, not monitor a list of company points. All Montana residents that like sports owe it to themselves to check out the Montana online sports betting sites available, so they can decide for themselves just how much they love it.
Of course, even if you love sports and sports betting, it’s only logical that you question its legality and whether or not you’ll ever get in trouble for participating in the pastime. Well, put those concerns to rest with Custer, because no, you will not. Sports betting is 100% safe and legal in Montana, whether you bet with the lottery’s online app or via your smartphone or tablet at an offshore sportsbook. The choice – and the profits – are yours for the taking!