Real Money Online Gambling in Idaho

State legislators have barely addressed the subject of legal Idaho online gambling. Perhaps not surprising given they’ve been indecisive when it comes to land-based betting.

However, the Gem State does have a variety of gambling options for Idahoans that have been solid for a few decades. Gambling online for real money is also possible, with a number of the best Idaho gambling sites providing a wide range of options.

How We Rate

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.

Bonuses

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

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.

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.

In the past, slots, historical horse racing, and daily fantasy sports (DFS) have come and gone in Idaho. Some, like slots, have returned with restrictions. Others, such as historical horse racing, are still off the table despite efforts to revive the program.

There are currently seven tribal casinos, although table games are off the table. High-stakes bingo is played at the casinos, and charity bingo games are also held in other venues for smaller prizes. Residents can play the lottery, including a touch tab lottery.

Online gambling regulated in the state of Idaho is technically active, as pari-mutuel betting includes advance deposit wagering so website-based betting is possible. Other real money gambling sites accept ID players, but the operations and regulations originate from outside of the state.

If you’ve been looking for gambling sites IN Idaho, you’ll come up short. But when you tweak that to gambling sites FOR Idaho, it’s a different story.

Real money online gambling in Idaho is alive and well, but we’re not talking in-state businesses. You might not be familiar with their names and services, but we’ve been keeping track of them since their inception. That’s how our expert team compiles a list of the best Idaho gambling sites online.

So, when you look through our recommendations, you can feel confident that it’s not just a guessing game. We review all of the online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms that accept ID players, then compare the results to see which sites rise to the top.

Additionally, we take the next steps by keeping up with any changes to the existing online gambling sites for Idaho players. We also monitor the comings and goings of operations. So, if a new site opens, then we evaluate it and add it to our list of recommendations, if appropriate.

So, what makes an Idaho online gambling site worthy of a mention or even a recommendation?

It’s not a simple answer, as there are quite a few decisive factors.

To kickstart the process, we create a complete list of real money gambling websites that accept players from Idaho. But once we’ve crossed that bridge, the actual review process begins, as we go one by one through the list. We examine every element of the service, as well as the website as a whole.

Comparing online gambling in Idaho to the tribal casinos is like night and day. While you may have some similar slots available to you, there are many more gaming options.

Some sites stick to casino games, while others incorporate race and sportsbooks and, sometimes, even poker rooms. While Idaho’s land-based casinos don’t have table games, there are a few ways to play them on a gambling site.

Table games like blackjack, baccarat, poker, craps, and roulette are standards. Additionally, though, some online casinos include live dealer areas as well. So, you can take a virtual seat at a table that’s being run by a living and breathing professional dealer.

Before we even address other aspects of gambling online, you can already see that you’ve got some decisions to make about which site is the best for you.

Unlike your local casinos, which are all about cash transactions, a variety of accepted payment methods is another key component of a quality online gambling site. We look for cryptocurrency options, as well as debit and credit cards. Additionally, fast and fee-free transactions are also part of the best-case scenario.

User-friendliness and mobile play are essential for a quality experience. You want the buttons to be big enough, as mistakes could cost you cash.

The checklist rounds out with bonuses and promotional offerings, customer service, prominently posted terms and conditions, and RNG (random number generator) verification.

In addition to the evident criteria, our ranking process also incorporates player feedback, the operator’s reputation, and our overall impressions into the process.

These are things that can change, which is why revisits and reevaluations also enable us to provide you with consistently accurate rankings of the best Idaho gambling sites.

1890 Idaho state constitution is enacted; explicitly outlawing all forms of “lottery” based gambling

1930 Slot machines become popular due to lack of clear legal language banning their use

1947 State statute exempting slot machines from the lottery ban is passed, legalizing them throughout the state

1953 Slot machines are deemed to be unconstitutional by the Idaho Supreme Court, and are officially prohibited by Section 18-3804 of the Idaho Code

1957 State legislature approved the first Horse Racing Act, which is then vetoed by the Governor

1963 A second Horse Racing Act is passed and signed into law (section 54-2501 of Idaho Code), creating the Idaho State Racing Commission to oversee Idaho’s pari-mutuel horse racing industry

1988 State legislature passes Senate Bill 1471 in March, called the Lottery CreationAct, which is then put to voters in a public referendum. Idahoans approved a new lottery program in November

1988 The federal government authorizes the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which enables federally recognized tribes to forge gaming compacts with the states on which their lands are situated. This nationwide reform transforms Idaho’s gambling industry

1992 Three federally recognized tribes – the Coeur d’Alene, the Kootenai, and the Nez Perce – petitioned Idaho to negotiate the state’s first tribal gaming compacts under IGRA. The tribes sought the right to offer Class III gaming, or casino games like blackjack, roulette, and slot machines, rather than limiting their operations to Class I and II gaming (charity drawings, bingo halls, and pull tabs)

1992 Constitutional amendment [Idaho Const. Art. III § 20(1)-(3)] is passed to specifically outlaw Class III games, limiting the state’s legal gambling industry to the state lottery, pari-mutuel horseracing, and bingo or raffle games held for charitable purposes. This amendment effectively limited Idaho’s tribal casinos to Class I and II games only, a limitation which was upheld by the courts despite the tribes’ repeated challenges

2002 Initiative 1, the Idaho State-Tribal Gambling Compact, was put to voters. When it was approved with 57.8 percent of the vote, Idaho’s tribal casinos were granted the right to offer video gaming machines, so long as they lacked coins, pull levers, and other signifiers of slot machine game play

2011 Horse racing laws are amended to allow for bets to be placed at locations other than the actual racetrack, thus expanding Idaho’s racing industry through expanded simulcasting

2013 State legislature approves Bill No. 220, which allows for wagers to be placed on historical horse races (section 54-2512A of Idaho Code), using machines which mask pertinent information about the venue, jockeys, and conditions

2014 A state court rules that the Coeur d’Alene tribe cannot legally construct a poker room within their casino facilities. The tribe had opened a six-table poker room in May, but the state quickly sued them to effect immediate closure. The tribe brought their case to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, but that body upheld the original court ruling in 2015 – effectively banning Idaho tribes from spreading poker games

2015 State legislature approves Bill No. 1011, which repeals the historical horse racing machine law passed just two years before. Lawmakers claimed that they were “duped” by the slot machine style devices, which include bells and whistles, along with reels and symbol graphics like fruit.

2016 Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announces agreement with DraftKings and FanDuel, the two largest daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators, which effectively prohibits Idahoans from accessing the sites’ real money contests.

2017 Rep. Tom Loertscher (R-Bone) introduces a bill which would reverse the 2002 referendum allowing tribes to operate video gaming machines. The proposal was quickly shot down, but it does reveal that the state’s longstanding opposition to slot machines of any sort hasn’t diminished.

Idaho’s gambling history is unlike other states. In most places, gambling was in full gear in the 1800s, followed by a lull of about 75 years or so.

The exceptions to the rule primarily revolved around pari-mutuel activities in the early 20th century, followed by charitable bingo or other games.

Pari-mutuel didn’t emerge until 1963, which is relatively late in the game, compared to most.

In the Gem State, though, slots were part of the “here today, gone tomorrow” legal betting status. While residents in other areas had racetracks exclusively, Idahoans were spinning slot reels for six years from 1947 to 1953.

Real change didn’t happen until the late 1980s when the Idaho lottery emerged and proved to exceed expectations. Even with a relatively low population, the lottery is a proven winner and has contributed much-needed funds to the state coffers.

Once the lottery was in full gear, gambling expansion was much broader and faster. Four years after the original ticket sales, Idaho’s first tribal casino, Coeur d’Alene, opened its doors.

To this day, neither Coeur d’Alene nor the other casinos can host table gaming. But Idahoans can play machines that are similar to slots and participate in higher stakes bingo sessions.

Further growth came through the lottery once again when touch tab lottery machines rolled out in 2011. They’re similar to electronic pull tabs and, so far, have survived any scrutiny. Historical horse racing wasn’t treated the same, though.

Racetracks were looking for ways to stay solvent, and historical horse racing was successful in many other states. The games supplemented the races and saved many courses from closing. However, historical horse racing went on the chopping block, and legislators mandated the removal of all machines.

When it comes to online gambling in Idaho, though, racing is back at the forefront. Advance-deposit wagering (ADW) allows local punters to make virtual bets on racetracks around the world. But it’s the only in-state, legally-authorized betting site opportunity allows by Idaho gambling laws.

Other real money Idaho gambling is provided through out-of-state operators. There isn’t a long list of websites, as players in other parts of the world could access, but there are enough to accommodate US players and, subsequently, give Idahoans some options.

The internet has given us an entirely new way of life. Stores that aren’t in our area will deliver their goods to us with a few clicks of a button. We’re no longer limited to pizza delivery, as most restaurants will bring their delicious dishes right to our doors. We can watch TV or movies on our smartphones and build playlists of our favorite songs without a stereo, cassette, or CD player.

And we can gamble online for real money right from the comfort of our homes or on-the-go on our smartphones.

In a state like Idaho that has restricted casino gambling and no poker or sportsbooks, online gambling is the only alternative for players looking for blackjack or a place to submit a bet slip.

Online gambling in ID is somewhat like using other web-based services, though, in that you don’t want to pick the first casino that pops up in your Google search. To get the most from your experience, you’ll want to look for a quality provider that has your favorite betting options.

Fortunately, you’ve got options. If you’re looking for a poker room, you won’t have as many sites from which to select, but there are a few. For casino gambling, there’s a bigger list, and we’ve not only compiled it but have rated and ranked the included websites.

Once you locate an Idaho real money gambling site that appeals to you, then you’ll find that there are many benefits.

Bannock Peak Casino

Address:1707 E County Rd, Pocatello, ID 83204 (Located on Interstate 86 at Exit 52)

Website:http://www.shobangaming.com/bannock-peak

Venue Type:Tribal

Clearwater River Casino & Hotel

Address:17500 Nez Perce Highway, Lewiston, ID 83501

Website:http://crcasino.com/

Venue Type:Tribal

Coeur D’Alene Casino

Address:Box 868, Fort Hall, ID 83203 (Located on Interstate 15 at Exit 80)

Website:http://www.cdacasino.com/

Venue Type:Tribal

Fort Hall Casino

Address:301 Beach Terrace, Colonial Beach, Virginia 22443

Website:http://www.shobangaming.com/

Venue Type:Tribal

It’se-Ye-Ye Casino

Address:419 Third Street, Kamiah, Idaho 83536 (Located on Hwy. 12 and Idaho St.)

Website:http://500nations.com/casinos/idItSeYe.asp

Venue Type:Tribal

Kootenai River Inn Casino & Spa

Address:7169 Plaza St., Bonners Ferry, ID 83805

Website:http://www.kootenairiverinn.com/games

Venue Type:Tribal

Sage Hill Travel Center & Casino

Address:Interstate 15, Exit 80, Blackfoot, ID 83203

Website:http://www.shobangaming.com/sage-hill.php

Venue Type:Tribal

Online gambling in Idaho has the longevity that’s been lacking in some of Idaho’s in-person betting opportunities.

While it doesn’t look like the lottery or tribal casinos are going anywhere any time soon, you’ve got another option if you’re looking to do some gambling.

The Gem State’s tribal casinos are filled with slot (or slot-like) gambling machines, but they don’t offer table games, poker, or sports betting. So, not only is web-based betting convenient but, sometimes, it’s the only game in town.

Just make sure that you stick to the best Idaho gambling sites that we recommend. They’re safe and trusted options that we rate highly.