Gambling Laws In North Dakota
North Dakota permits several forms of regulated gambling, but its laws draw clear lines between authorized activities and illegal operations. Residents can participate in the state lottery, pari-mutuel horse wagering, charitable gaming, and casino-style play at tribal properties, while commercial online casinos and statewide mobile sportsbooks remain unauthorized.
This guide explains the current rules governing gambling in North Dakota, including minimum ages, online betting restrictions, tribal gaming laws and the agencies responsible for oversight. It also outlines the key sections of the North Dakota Century Code that regulate charitable games, racing, lotteries, amusement devices and unlawful gambling.
Is Retail Gambling Legal in North Dakota?
Yes, but only certain forms are authorized. Legal options include:
- Tribal casino gaming conducted under federal law and tribal-state compacts
- The North Dakota Lottery
- Pari-mutuel horse-race wagering
- Licensed charitable gaming, including bingo, raffles, pull tabs, electronic pull tabs, poker, blackjack, paddlewheels, and sports pools
- Certain limited private or social gambling activities
Operating an unauthorized gambling business, maintaining an illegal gambling establishment, or using prohibited gambling devices can result in criminal penalties under NDCC Chapter 12.1-28. Charitable activities must also receive the appropriate state license or local permit before operating.
Is Online Gambling Legal in North Dakota?
North Dakota does not authorize statewide commercial online casinos, mobile sportsbooks, or internet poker rooms. The Attorney General specifically states that even licensed charitable organizations may not conduct gaming or host raffles online.
The state lottery offers online account features and certain electronic purchasing services, but this does not legalize broader internet gambling. Offshore casino sites may accept residents, but they are not licensed or regulated by North Dakota.
Minimum Gambling Ages in North Dakota
- State lottery — 18: Players must be at least 18 to purchase or redeem North Dakota Lottery tickets, including tickets purchased through Pick & Click.
- Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering — 18: State racing rules prohibit minors from buying pari-mutuel tickets or entering immediate wagering areas.
- Tribal casinos — generally 21: Players normally must be at least 21 to play slots, blackjack, poker and other casino-style games at tribal properties. Individual tribes and facilities may establish their own admission policies, so requirements should be checked with the casino.
- Charitable poker — 21: This includes both tournament and nontournament poker conducted by an authorized organization.
- Blackjack — 21: Players must be at least 21 to participate in charitable Twenty-One games.
- Pull tabs and electronic pull tabs — 21: Players must be 21 or older. Electronic pull-tab devices must also be located in an area restricted to patrons aged 21 and above.
- Punchboards, seal boards, tip boards and club specials — 21: These charitable gaming activities are restricted to players aged 21 and older.
- Paddlewheels — 21: A participant must be at least 21 to play a charitable paddlewheel game.
- Sports pools — 21: This applies to authorized charitable sports pools, such as boards on which participants purchase lines or squares. It does not represent statewide sportsbook wagering.
- Calcuttas — 21: Participants in authorized Calcutta auctions and pools must be 21 or older.
- Electronic quick-shot bingo — 18: State law expressly prohibits anyone under 18 from participating, directly or indirectly.
- Traditional charitable bingo — normally 18: Someone under 18 may participate when accompanied by an adult, when the activity is conducted under a local permit or when its prize structure falls within the local-permit limits.
- Charitable raffles — no statewide minimum age: An organization may establish its own age requirement, particularly when the prize is age-restricted, such as alcohol or a firearm.
- Commercial online casino gambling — not authorized: North Dakota does not license commercial online casinos statewide, so it has no state-regulated minimum age for online casino gambling.
- Online sports betting — not authorized statewide: The state does not currently license commercial online sportsbooks. The 21-year requirement for charitable sports pools should not be confused with legal mobile sportsbook wagering.
Current North Dakota Gambling Laws
The primary laws governing gambling in North Dakota are found in the following sections of the North Dakota Century Code:
Federal and Tribal Gambling Laws
Tribal casinos in the state are primarily governed by:
- Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. §§ 2701–2721
- Tribal-state gaming compacts
- National Indian Gaming Commission regulations
- Applicable tribal gaming ordinances
These authorities regulate Class II and Class III gaming on federally recognized tribal lands rather than placing tribal casinos under the ordinary charitable-gaming provisions of Chapter 53-06.1. Read our OnlineNorthDakotaCasinos.com page dedicated to local casinos to learn more about these venues.
North Dakota does not have a broad commercial-casino or statewide sports-betting statute. The Attorney General also states that licensed charitable organizations may not conduct their authorized gaming activities online.
Who Regulates Gambling in North Dakota?
There is no single regulator responsible for every form of gambling in North Dakota. Oversight is divided among several agencies:
- North Dakota Attorney General’s Gaming Division: Regulates, licenses and enforces the state’s charitable gaming laws. Its responsibilities include auditing organizations, reviewing gaming tax returns, investigating violations and overseeing games such as bingo, raffles, pull tabs, poker, blackjack and sports pools.
- North Dakota State Gaming Commission: Helps establish administrative rules and policies for charitable gaming. The commission works alongside the Attorney General’s Office, which handles day-to-day licensing and enforcement.
- North Dakota Lottery Division: Administers and regulates the state lottery under the supervision of the Attorney General. North Dakota participates in multistate drawings rather than operating its own in-state draw games.
- North Dakota Racing Commission: Regulates horse racing, racetracks, simulcast facilities, account wagering and pari-mutuel betting under NDCC Chapter 53-06.2.
- Tribal gaming authorities: Each tribal casino is overseen by its respective tribal gaming commission. Tribal gaming is also subject to the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, National Indian Gaming Commission rules and applicable tribal-state compacts.
Local city and county governments may also issue permits for limited charitable activities, including certain raffles, bingo events and sports pools. However, the Attorney General’s Gaming Division is the principal statewide regulator for most nontribal gaming.
Recent Attempts To Expand Gaming
The most recent expansion efforts have focused primarily on statewide sports wagering. During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers considered House Concurrent Resolution 3002, which proposed amending the state constitution to authorize sports betting. Had it passed, the question would have appeared on the November 2026 general-election ballot. The House rejected the resolution by a 70–24 vote, preventing it from advancing to voters.
A similar proposal was considered in 2023. That version of HCR 3002 passed the House by a narrow 49–44 vote, but the Senate defeated it 30–16. It would have allowed voters to decide whether the legislature should have the authority to legalize professional sports betting beyond tribal lands. Earlier legalization attempts also failed in 2019 and 2021.
North Dakota did approve a more limited expansion through updated tribal-state gaming compacts signed in 2022. Those agreements allow participating tribes to offer online Class III casino games and mobile sports wagering, but only when the player is physically located within the boundaries of the applicable reservation. The compacts did not create statewide mobile betting.
Lawmakers have also reviewed the rapid growth of electronic pull tabs. Rather than pursuing a major expansion, recent discussions have centered on where the machines may be placed, which charitable organizations may operate them and how the state can strengthen oversight.
For now, there is no approved statewide expansion of commercial casinos, online casino gaming or mobile sportsbooks. Any broad legalization effort would likely require a constitutional amendment approved by voters.
What Is the Difference Between Class II and Class III Gaming?
Under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribal gaming is divided into separate classes based on the type of activity and the level of regulatory approval required.
Class II gaming primarily includes bingo and games similar to bingo, whether played using paper cards or electronic systems. It also includes certain non-house-banked card games in which players compete against one another rather than against the casino. Electronic bingo machines may resemble slots, but their results are based on a shared bingo game. Class II gaming generally does not require a tribal-state compact, although it remains subject to tribal regulation and oversight by the National Indian Gaming Commission.
Class III gaming covers traditional casino-style activities not included in Class I or Class II. Examples include:
- Slot machines
- Blackjack and other house-banked card games
- Roulette
- Craps
- Baccarat
- Sports wagering
- Pari-mutuel wagering
Disclaimer: Our team consists of experienced online gaming professionals with years of hands-on industry knowledge. While we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and thoroughly researched information, nothing on this website should be interpreted as legal advice. We are not attorneys, and our content is intended for informational and educational purposes only.