Gambling Laws in Alaska

Gambling is pretty rare in the state of Alaska. Current legislation makes most types illegal, although there are a few interesting exceptions.

What Types of Gambling Can You Legally Enjoy in Alaska?

The gambling laws of this state are laid out in the Alaska Code section 11.66.200. They make most forms of gambling illegal with just a few exceptions. Online gambling has yet to be legislated too, with current laws not addressing these activities.

Slots and Other Casino Games

Casino gambling is completely illegal here, with the state outright banning all forms of the activity within its borders. Even native American tribes are not permitted to build casinos on their lands. This is because the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act stands in place of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Tribes in Alaska are defined as corporations rather than sovereign nations and therefore unable to build such venues.

Online casino gambling is illegal by default. State residents can access online casino slots and other games via foreign casinos, even though doing so is technically illegal.

Poker Games

Poker is illegal as it's classed as a game of chance and there are no venues in the state that offer poker gambling. Only social games held within residents' homes are permitted under the current legislation.

Online poker gambling is also considered illegal in Alaska, though residents still play at out-of-state online poker sites.

Video and Online Bingo

Bingo is one of the few forms of gambling that is legally permitted in Alaska. However, there are only a handful of bingo venues located in the state, with most of them found in Anchorage. Some charitable causes are also permitted to run bingo games to generate funds.

Online bingo gambling is deemed illegal by default in Alaska. Foreign online bingo sites can still be accessed and joined by locals with little legal repercussions.

Does Alaska Have a State Lottery?

Alaska classifies lottery gambling as illegal, hence it doesn't have its own state lotto.

The only form of gambling similar to lotteries are the pull-tab games offered at retailers throughout the state. Some charitable organisations are granted permission to generate funds through such games, but on a limited basis.

Online lottery gambling isn't offered in Alaska as it is also considered illegal. State residents can still access and play online lottery games for real money via any out-of-state lotto sites which accept members from Alaska.

Social Gambling and Crypto Casinos

Alaska's current legislation states that gambling is:

'Staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or future contingent, not under one's contingent or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that the person will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome'.

Therefore social casinos (playing with coins/chips) are not classed as gambling, though they are unregulated.

Gambling (card games) in the privacy of your own home is generally seen as none of the state's business as long as it's not for commercial profit. Lootboxes and skins gambling are not specifically mentioned in Alaska's gambling laws and are currently unregulated.

Cryptocurrencies were recently added as a 'virtual currency' to Alaska's money transfer laws. Still, none of the state's existing gambling venues currently accept cryptocurrencies as a payment method. 

What Are the Alaskan Laws Relating to Sports Betting?

Betting on sports is illegal with one important exception: dog mushing, which remains a solid Alaskan tradition. Online sports betting is also considered illegal, even though the current legislation hasn't yet been updated to address online gambling. 

Fantasy sports betting is an interesting exception to Alaska's strict ban on most forms of sports betting. The assumption is that fantasy sports betting is considered a game of skill, meaning it falls outside the state's definition of gambling. As such, DFS sites like FanDuel have so far accepted players from Alaska without legal repercussions.

What's the Legal Age for Gambling in Alaska?

The legal gambling age is 19 years or older for bingo games and 21 years of age or older for pull-tab games.

Alaskan Gambling Tax Regulations

These apply at different rates of tax based on the games offered. Pull-tab game providers pay a 3% tax, while vessels offering gambling opportunities within Alaskan waters are charged a 33% tax.

Under Alaskan laws, players are not subject to any specific tax on gambling winnings, but federal gambling taxes still apply.

A Short History of Gambling Laws in Alaska

In 1960 legislation was introduced that made bingo the only legal form of gambling in Alaska. Whilst pull-tab games were introduced as an additional legal form of gambling in 1984.

After mayoral candidate Mike Von Gnatensky's push for the legalisation of casino gambling, Alaska put the question to voters in 1990, with an overwhelming majority going against establishing a gambling industry.

In 1993 permission was granted to build a tribal casino in Klawock, but a state-wide ban on card, wheel and dice games stopped the project. Alaska permitted gambling on cruise ships in its waters in exchange for a fee in 1995, but the law hasn't been reapplied since.

An amendment to allow lottery games in Alaska was proposed in 2003 but rejected. Another vote on whether to develop a gambling industry and board was presented in 2008, but again, an overwhelming majority voted against it.

Key Facts

• Casino gambling is illegal in Alaska.

• Online casino gambling, including at online live casino sites, is currently not mentioned in existing legislation but is deemed illegal by default.

• Offline and online Poker is illegal, except for home-based social games.

• Bingo is legal in Alaska, with several clubs dotted throughout the state.

• Lottery gambling is illegal except for pull-tab games.

• Sports betting is illegal except for traditional dog mushing betting.