Gambling Online in Alaska

When it comes to hobbies in The Last Frontier, gambling online probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. After all, Alaska and the great outdoors go hand in hand.

You may be one of those residents who spends a good deal of your time fishing, camping, or hiking. But that doesn’t mean that you still don’t enjoy a game of poker, betting on sports, or the “cha-ching” of a slot machine. And you can find all of these things at the best Alaska online gambling sites.

How We Rate

Gambling safety and security

Safety & Security

You should be able to gamble online without fear. So we only recommend licensed sites that use the latest security and encryption techniques.

Gambling bonuses and promotions

Bonuses

Maximize your bankroll with fantastic bonuses. Our recommended sites offer valuable bonuses with fair terms and conditions, including manageable wagering requirements.

Casino games

Games & Betting

The best sites have the best wagering options. That’s why you will find extensive games and betting opportunities on our recommended sites.

Gambling banking methods

Banking

Getting your money to and from your account shouldn’t be a hassle. We only recommend sites with a variety of convenient banking methods, including cryptocurrency and e-wallets.

Vegas-style gambling can come to you, at any time and anywhere, as there are now quite a few real-money gambling sites for AK players. This is at least partly because in-person betting and gaming options are limited, so online gambling in Alaska has taken on a prominent role.

Residents here have a lot of room to roam. It’s the largest state by area, but less than 800,000 people have chosen to call it home. So, you’ve got a small population that’s spread out.

Is there enough interest, and will there be enough potential patrons to warrant legalized and regulated in-person gambling? After all, Alaska doesn’t even have a state lottery. It’s only one of five US holdouts, along with Alabama, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.

As you read on, you’ll see that things may slowly be evolving. Nonetheless, you don’t need to wait, as there’s real money gambling online in Alaska available right now.

Best Alaska Gambling Sites

Best Alaska Online Gambling Sites

Ranking the best online gambling sites for Alaska players takes a lot of time and effort. But when you’re talking about moving money into a virtual account and relying on fair and accurate payouts, it’s well worth the process.

Over the years, we’ve developed a reliable rating system that we don’t use as a “one and done” process, but we return and revisit it frequently.

So, when you’re looking at the top AK gambling sites that we recommend, you know that we’re very familiar with the operations, including games, banking, customer service, and more.

When it comes to online gambling in Alaska or anywhere in the US, establishing a player account is the biggest challenge. You need to access a top provider that allows American players to use its services. From there, you’ll want to a few different methods to move cash into your new betting account.

As we compile the data for our reviews and rank the sites based on our findings, we consider all of these to be important qualities.

All of the Alaska online gambling sites we rank highly not only meet our criteria but exceed it. You’ll find that they tick all of the boxes for bonuses, promotions, accessible customer service agents, and, of course, their gaming opportunities.

Ranking AK Online Gambling Sites

Coming up with a list of the best real money online gambling sites in Alaska is different from taking all the sites out there and comparing one to the other. Before we get into the ratings and comparisons, our team first narrows the options to operators that cater to the USA.

Once there’s a shorter list in place, there’s an extensive process that we go through before we designate an online casino, sportsbook, or poker room as recommended.

Safety and Security

While player acceptance is vital, real money gambling sites for Alaska players need to be safe, secure and monitored.

You want to know that betting and gaming are fair and that, when and if you win, you’ll receive your money quickly and easily.

Customer Service

In the earlier days of online gambling, it was challenging to find contact information on some of the websites. So, if players had questions or ran into issues with cashing out, or even depositing, they were in the dark.

But these days, things have changed. AK online gambling sites and operators that service any jurisdiction are much more forthcoming with their information. You can typically get help through live chat or a dedicated customer service number, which gives you a comfort level straight off the bat.

You’ll also notice that these sites will display RNG (random number generator) verification for fair gaming.

Fair Online Gambling for Alaska

One thing that you may not be aware of is that the gaming software used is also registered jurisdictionally. When it comes to gambling online for real money in Alaska, you’ll primarily have access to games by RealTime Gaming, Betsoft, or Rival Gaming.

There may be a few games in the mix by some boutique providers, but those are the three most popular for Americans. So, if you come across a site that’s not on our list and you don’t recognize the slots or table design, you may want to reconsider account registration.

These safety issues are some of the first things we go through in our review process. There are quite a bit more, though, as we dissect each site from top to bottom. We’ve got an entire page dedicated to our complete ranking process. But just know that we don’t judge a book by its cover, we read the whole thing.

Regulated Gambling in Alaska

From territory to statehood, Alaska has taken a consistently icy stance when it comes to gambling. That ice seems to be slowly melting, though.

It may be one of the youngest to join the union, but Alaska’s Constitution still dates back to the 1950s, when life was entirely different. Not only was life more conservative, but even until recently, Alaskans didn’t worry too much about filling state coffers.

The government and residents relied on oil revenue, and even an education lottery wasn’t a necessity.

Slowly Evolving Gambling Laws

That’s not to say that gambling laws in Alaska completely outlaw everything. Its limited menu, though, coincides with states that are heavily restricted. Bingo laws surfaced in 1960. Pull tabs came along in 1984, and charitable gaming regulation followed in 1993.

While nothing is set in stone right now as far as gambling expansion, it’s apparent that Alaska online gambling is prompting discussion. There’s an interesting opinion piece in the Anchorage Daily News that outlines the current situation and potential benefits of lifting the brick-and-mortar gambling restrictions.

Real Money Gambling Online

There aren’t any in-state AK real money online gambling sites, so potential revenue is leaving the area instead of filling those coffers that could now use replenishment. Like most locations across the US, though, it could take some time for the tide to turn.

In the meantime, you do have online gambling in Alaska, even if the state isn’t ready to sanction any local operations. And it may not be very long before there’s an AK Lottery Corporation. There’s a 2020 bill proposal, which also includes provisions for in-state sports betting.

Current Alaska Gambling Laws

  • Casino Gambling: Only through offshore cruise ships
  • Sports Betting: As part of the proposed 2020 Bill package; betting on dog mushing contests is legal
  • Lottery: One of only five states without a lottery, but part of the proposed 2020 bill package
  • Bingo: Legal
  • Full Tabs: Legal
  • Charitable Gaming: Legal
  • Poker: Online only; no in-state providers
  • Online Gambling: No in-state providers

History of Alaska Gambling Laws

1960 The legislature legalized certain forms of gaming for the first time, and gave the Department of Revenue total oversight over all gaming activities. Only bingo was allowed, by state law.
1984 The Department authorized pull-tab games for the first time.
1993 The passage of HB 168 changed basically every statute governing gaming (especially charitable gaming) in the state. For the first time, the state took regulatory control of third-party vendors, allowing these vendors to contract with the government and sell pull-tabs directly to customers. This bill also increased minimum payments from 15% to 30% of adjusted gross income for pull-tab games, requiring a minimum of 10% of adjusted gross income for all other regulated gaming activities.
1995 The state legislature legalized cruise ship gambling activities in Alaska waters during the 1995 session. Cruise ships were required for the first time to pay a fee to offer games, which generated more than $500,000 in revenue for the state during the one year it was on the books. This law expired at the end of the 1995 legislative session, and has never been re-enacted.
1996 The state legislature authorized three new games – “Sled Dog Race Classic”, “Deep Freeze Classic”, and “Snow Machine Classic.” These are pull-tab style games in an electronic case, designed to look and act like slot machine and video poker games. That same year, the state prohibited the donation of proceeds from pull-tabs and bingo activities to state lobbyists and political organizations.

Benefits of Online Gambling

The situation with Alaska online gambling isn’t much different from many other US states. In-state operators aren’t sanctioned. But there are casinos, sportsbooks, and poker websites that are regulated outside of the area that allows AK players to participate.

As betting options have traditionally been so restrictive in The Last Frontier, real money gambling sites for AK players capitalize on the demand. While you may enjoy walking into a brick-and-mortar casino and sitting down at a table, or camping out at your favorite slot machine, that’s not possible in your home state.

Without physical casinos, sportsbooks, or poker rooms, gambling online in Alaska is your best option.

If you didn’t read the section on our ranking and review process, you might want to scroll up and take a peek. There are many benefits to gambling online for real money in Alaska, but you need to access a reputable website.

That’s why we take the time to review and revisit the sites on our list, as well as new ones frequently. The list we’ve provided includes Alaska online gambling sites that we consistently monitor for changes and updates to their service and betting opportunities.

Virtual Conveniences

Once you’re comfortable with your choice of sites, you can look forward to what the best Alaska gambling sites offer.

  • A broad range of online gambling options
  • Stretching your budget with bonuses and promotions
  • Cryptocurrency options, as well as traditional debit and credit transfers
  • Enhanced privacy through Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies
  • Mobile access, as well as laptop and PC
  • At least 100 slots in each casino
  • A variety of options on the same site (slots, table games, video poker; some have sportsbooks, racebooks, poker rooms, and live dealer casinos)
  • Low and high-stakes betting
  • No need to travel
  • Regulated online gambling for Alaska and beyond

More Online Gambling Sites for Alaska

Not all online gambling sites are alike, though. While some may stick to traditional casino offerings like slots, table games, and video poker, others also have online sports betting and gambling options that you can’t access in person.

If you’re looking for something specific, you can use the links below to narrow down the field and save yourself time and energy. In addition to our overall best Alaska online gambling sites, we break them up into categories.

Nearest Casinos to Alaska

Okay, so there aren’t any casinos in the state – where can Alaska citizens go to gamble? The options are limited.

If you’re in Southern Alaska, you’ll have the shortest trip to a gambling hall, but you’ll probably need a passport. That’s because the shortest distance between an Alaskan and a legitimate casino ends in Canada. Chances Casino, at 240 1st Ave W, in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, is just fifty miles or so from Ketchikan. It’s a small space, with 100 slot machines and video poker games, and a dozen or so tables of casino classics, mostly casino-style poker games.

You could head further south – 2,200 miles to the south, to Port Place, just across the Strait of George from Vancouver. Casino Nanaimo, located at 620 Terminal Ave in Nanaimo, British Columbia, is the first casino you’ll hit heading south from Alaska towards the United States. This boutique spot has 350 slot machines and table games, including live dealer blackjack, roulettecraps, and other casino favorites.

Outside of a long flight south to Las Vegas, or a jaunt over to the casinos of Russia, you’re out of luck when hunting down a casino near the borders of Alaska. Gamblers in Alaska can participate in limited forms of social and charitable gambling, along with legal bingo and pull-tab games.

Further Reading on Alaska Gambling Law

FindLaw.com
Alaska Gambling Laws by FindLaw.com

A concise collection of all statutes in Alaska related to the practice of gambling. If you’re looking for the bare facts in the question of the legality of betting in the state, you should start here. Useful links to other details on Alaska law are included at the bottom of the page.

Alaska Department of Revenue
Alaska Department of Revenue – Tax Division

An interesting FAQ that should answer any basic questions about gambling within state lines, from notes on charitable contests to explanations of the basis of the state’s gambling statutes. Also included is contact information for all the major areas of state government related to gambling regulation.

Alaska Law
Gaming Statute Updates from the State of Alaska

This page contains any and all updates or changes to Alaskan gambling statutes going back two years. It appears to be regularly-updated. This is a handy bookmark for people interested in the changes being made to Alaskan gaming law.

Summary

As a resident, you’re probably quite familiar with the land-based betting options, but online gambling in Alaska isn’t as cut and dry. You won’t find any real money gambling sites that are licensed and regulated in the state, but there are plenty of operators that have opened their virtual doors to Americans.

Whether you’re looking for online poker, sports betting, or action, it’s essential to find the best Alaska online gambling sites that cover all of the bases from payment options to the games to reliability.

So, we’ve put forward our top recommendations for you, as well as plenty of other information regarding gambling and online gambling in AK. We hope you found it useful!

Kevin Roberts
Kevin Roberts Administrator

Kevin Roberts, previously published under the pseudonym Noah Davis, is one of the more diverse writers at GamblingSites.com. Like many of his colleagues, he's a huge fan of both football and basketball. But he also writes about box office records, TV show prop bets, DFS, and all kinds of other subjects.

When it comes to the NFL, Kevin's favorite team is the Green Bay Packers. He enjoys cheering them on with his wife and daughter.

More Articles by Kevin