Gambling Online in North Dakota

North Dakota and New Hampshire aren’t typically compared and contrasted. But when it comes to real money gambling, they both use casinos and other betting activities to the benefit of their non-profit organizations.

However, North Dakota online gambling is much less prevalent, at least when it comes to state-sanctioned websites. Legislators voted down a sports betting bill in 2019, and none of the charitable or tribal casinos have a web presence. So, the best North Dakota gambling sites are all based out-of-state.

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.

With less than a million residents in the state, there are some challenges that North Dakotans have to face regarding land-based gambling opportunities, as well as any in-state services. Because of the geographical situation, you’d expect that the state would cover more ground by approving more opportunities for gambling online.

ND online gambling is new territory, though. The state lottery is dabbling in web-based ticket sales, and there are five approved providers for advance deposit wagering (ADW). So, racing enthusiasts are accommodated more than anyone else with easy access to pari-mutuel action.

However, the state is hesitant to take further leaps with other forms of real money online gambling. That leaves the door wide open to gambling websites in other jurisdictions that provide daily fantasy sports, casino games, poker rooms, and sportsbooks.

Best North Dakota Gambling Sites

Best North Dakota Gambling Sites

Getting started with online gambling in North Dakota takes more than a simple internet search. While you may develop some viable options, how do you know which gambling sites are safe and secure with reputable ownership?

Things aren’t always as they seem in the online world, whether it’s with real money gambling or any other service. So, as a player or consumer, you should be particular.

Fortunately, you have more than one choice when it comes to gambling online for real money in North Dakota, and we’ve researched the entire list of alternatives. It’s not enough for a website to promote US player acceptance. There are banking and other considerations exclusively for Americans.

Because there are so many things involved in selecting the best online gambling sites for North Dakotans, we go through a carefully devised process for ranking the top sites.

Our expert team has decades of experience in the industry and takes a systematic approach to determine which online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks are better than others. They use their knowledge and research in conjunction with comprehensive reviews.

Ranking Online Gambling Sites for ND

Without proper evaluations of all the ND gambling sites, we wouldn’t be able to eliminate the subpar services and ultimately provide you with the best recommendations.

So, our review process has a standard checklist that we use for every real money gambling provider, regardless of location. But when it comes to North Dakota or any US-facing sites, certain things take priority. For example, some Americans run into a challenge in funding gambling accounts with traditional methods. Therefore, the variety of banking methods is especially important.

Banking also extends to fees and turnaround times. Deposits with cards don’t always yield payouts via the same account. Many providers will issue checks in place of withdrawals to credit or debit accounts. You need to be aware of things like that, so we note it in our findings, and it factors into our overall ratings.

Money is a big focus, but we look into every other aspect of ND gambling sites during our evaluation process. While we have a long list of criteria, the highlights include a few of the following factors.

  • Initial impressions of the design and layout
  • Mobile access
  • Terms and conditions are front and center
  • Accessible customer service
  • Gambling options, including variety, quantity, and quality
  • Bonuses and promotions, as well as user-friendly terms and conditions
  • Ownership reputation
  • Newsworthy items, such as player feedback and any payout issues

Once the reviews are in, and the sites are ranked, there’s a natural elimination process that leads to our recommendations. However, the status can change in the future, as we frequently revisit ND gambling sites. We keep track of ownership or management changes, new software, player feedback, etc.

History of North Dakota Gambling Laws

1976 Certain forms of charity gambling are legalized.
1987 North Dakota legalizes pari-mutuel betting for licensed charities.
2002 Voters approve a state lottery, which only sells multi-state drawing tickets.
2004 North Dakota Lottery begins operation.
2005 Rep. James Kasper proposes online poker bill, which fails to progress.
2012 North Dakota amends charitable gaming laws to reduce taxes.

North Dakota’s Gambling Laws

We kicked off this article by mentioning North Dakota’s marriage of gambling and fundraising. Plenty of states have approved charity gaming, but ND gambling legislation takes it to a new level.

Charity Gambling

Non-profits have more than bingo to rely on for much-needed funds. Since 1977, bingo, raffles, punchboards, paddle wheels, betting pools, pull tabs, poker, and blackjack are proven fundraising methods.

North Dakota even has seven established charity casinos further boosted in 2017 when electronic pull tabs were approved. That may not seem like much when so many other games are up for grabs. However, there are no slots or VLTs at non-tribal casinos, so the new machines are proven winners all around.

Vegas-Style Casinos in ND

In addition to the charity casinos, there are five Class III tribal venues. The Class III designation equates to Vegas-style gambling. So, casinos like the Dakota Magic Casino Resort can host slot gaming. There are 1,000 machines in Dakota Magic, as well as 18 tables.

Poker is offered at a couple of the state’s tribal casinos, including the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, Prairie Spirit Lake Casino & Resort, and Sky Dancer Casino.

Regardless of the brick-and-mortar casino presence, though, North Dakota online gambling that originates from within state lines is off-limits. The state has been hesitant to embrace gambling online for real money.

ADW and DFS

Aside from North Dakota gambling sites that aren’t in-state regulated, including DFS (daily fantasy sports), residents have two choices. One is ADW (advance deposit wagering). There are five approved providers for online pari-mutuel wagering.

A second alternative is web-based lottery ticket sales. But even that opportunity is limited, as the lottery sticks to multi-state pooled games. The North Dakota Lottery had a late start and didn’t emerge until 2004.

Limited Lottery

With less than a million people in the state, the viability of a full-blown lottery program was shaky. So, instead of taking a chance on a state-based program, ND opted for five games, like Powerball, with shared participation.

Tickets for the five games can be purchased online, though. But as far as the instant gameplay that some states offer, ND sticks exclusively to the five draws.

Online Gambling Expansion in North Dakota

As online gambling is quite limited in the Peace Garden State, there’s plenty of room for expansion. Some legislators have been attempting to get a sports bill through, but they’ve been unsuccessful so far.

That’s why it’s handy to have some operators from outside the jurisdiction open their doors to North Dakotans who appreciate the opportunity to gamble online for real money.

Overview of Gambling Laws in ND

  • Casinos: Charitable and Tribal
  • Online Casinos: Through out-of-state providers
  • Sports Betting: Not approved by the state
  • Online Sports Betting: Through out-of-state providers
  • Pari-Mutuel: Two racetracks and four OTBs
  • Online Pari-Mutuel: ADW is approved through five websites
  • Lottery: Multi-state pooled games only
  • Online Lottery: Multi-state pooled games only
  • Daily Fantasy Sports: The state doesn’t regulate providers

Benefits of Online Gambling in ND

Online gambling in North Dakota isn’t going to be for everyone. But if you enjoy placing a sports bet or you can’t travel to a land-based casino for whatever reason, it’s handy to know that you have options.

Convenient and Exclusive

One of the most significant advantages of using online gambling sites is convenience. You can grab your computer or smartphone and instantly connect to a casino, sportsbook, or poker room.

If you’re homebound or have a long, tedious wait somewhere, it gives you something to do to pass the time.

In a place like North Dakota that doesn’t have poker rooms or sportsbooks, online gambling is the only convenient option.

Virtual Gambling Evolution

Today’s online gambling situation shows how far things have come since the early days. Newer gambling sites are custom-designed and can hold hundreds of games. You can walk from the virtual casino lobby into a live dealer casino. So, if betting against the computer isn’t your thing, a live dealer is in charge of the table action.

You’ll also find that modern-day North Dakota online gambling is safer than even just a few years ago. Websites like ours are monitoring operators, players are publicly posting feedback, and there’s more stringent accountability.

If you tried gambling online for real money in the past and weren’t happy with the results, you may be surprised at how far things have come. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency acceptance give you privacy, as well as a quick and easy way to move funds back and forth.

Many ND gambling sites also take gift or prepaid cards if you want to keep your gambling separate from your traditional bank account.

Where Can I Gamble in North Dakota?

Blue Chip4 Bears Casino & Lounge

Address: 202 Frontage Road, New Town, ND 58763
Venue Type:Casino
Blue ChipBaymont Inn & Suites

Address: 3333 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103
Venue Type:Charitable
Blue ChipBest Western Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center

Address: 800 S 3rd St, Bismarck, ND 58504
Venue Type:Charitable
Blue ChipBig Top Bingo

Address: 901 25th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103
Venue Type:Charitable
Blue ChipBlue Wolf Casino

Address: 3402 Interstate Boulevard South, Fargo, ND 58103
Venue Type:Charitable
Blue ChipBorrowed Buck’s Roadhouse

Address: 1201 Westrac Dr, Fargo, ND 58103
Venue Type:Charitable

North Dakota has an enormous selection of gambling options that we haven’t listed, but if you’d like to look at more available options, there are plenty of places that have a thorough list of North Dakota gambling locations.

Summary

The Peace Garden State isn’t a place that’s entirely void of real money betting and gaming opportunities. The state has used legal gambling wisely, and non-profit organizations have reaped the benefits for more than four decades. Two racetracks and 12 relatively small casinos provide residents with some land-based gaming.

However, when it comes to online gambling in North Dakota, the pickings are slim for state-regulated operations. Aside from ADW and lottery draw tickets, virtual opportunities originate remotely.

While it’s helpful to know that you can register and use gambling sites even without in-state licensing, don’t settle for second best. We’ve provided a list of the best North Dakota gambling sites, as well as separated them into categories.

So, if you enjoy sports betting, you can go right to the sportsbook list; the same applies to poker. If you’re picky about your choices and you read the terms and conditions, your experience should be safe, fair, and secure.

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