This little gem of a state takes a middle of the road approach to gambling – it does regulate certain legal forms, but the range of options isn't so wide, and you'll be hard pressed to find a legal poker game in Idaho. There are a number of tribal casinos across the state, but these must also abide by state prohibitions on poker, roulette and craps, and generally offer only pull tab play.
The history of Idaho, as that of many a western state, is filled with poker games and other forms of gambling. Sports gambling sites. But with a serious crackdown on these activities during the middle of the 20th century, those times are definitely a part of history now. One of the oft' told tales of that earlier time is that of 'Poker Bride' Polly, a Chinese slave who was won by an American in a game of poker in Warrens, Idaho back in the 1870s.
Idaho Statutes 18-3801 et seq.: Gaming; Idaho Statutes 54-2501 et seq.: Horse Racing Gambling. Risking any money, credit, deposit or other thing of value upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device or the happening or outcome of an event, including sporting events. Since most legal gambling sites are operated outside the United States, any players who meet the legal gambling age for residents of Idaho, may enjoy all the benefits that come from gambling online. Such as access to some of the best online casinos, online poker rooms and some of the top online sportsbooks around.
Bemis, the lucky winner of the hand in question went on to win Polly's [1] hand in marriage, and they became one of very few interracial couples in the USA at that time. Bemis was an ardent gambler, and required nursing back to health by Polly after being badly shot in another wild game of cards held during the 1880s.
- Gambling defined. 'Gambling' means risking any money, credit, deposit or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, the operation of casino gambling including, but not limited to, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, bacarrat baccarat or keno, but.
- Idaho has a handful of Indian casinos that are not required to pay the state minimum paybacks. The gambling age is 18 and most casinos offer pull tab machines and some Bingo. Bannock Peak Casino 1707 W. Country Road Pocatello. ID 83204 Phone: (208) 235-1308. Clearwater River Casino 1700 Nez Perce Road Lewiston, ID 83501 Phone.
Polly went on to live to the grand old age of 81, quite a feat in those days, and has remained a figure of local legend ever since.
A more modern proponent of the game hails from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the notorious Kevin Macphee or 'ImaLuckSac' as he is known online, winner of EPT Berlin in 2010 and ranked amongst the top online MTT players in the world. I wonder where he cut his teeth at the game. It seems pretty unlikely that it was in his home town, given the strict rules governing any form of real money poker play in Idaho state.
The Letter of the Law
In Idaho, state law doesn't differentiate between games of skill and of chance. Where a specific form of wagering is not explicitly allowed under state law, it is illegal. Anyone gambling illegally is committing a misdemeanor.
Exceptions allowed under the law include 'bona fide contests of skill, speed, strength or endurance', although before you poker players perk up at the prospect of arguing for poker being a skill game, bear in mind that it is specifically legislated against by name under state law.
Bingo and raffles are allowed under the law, with certain provisions which mean that in practice most of the events permitted are charitable ones. Licenses must be obtained to run such events, and limits are in place regarding maximum fees, prizes and age of participants.
Pari-mutuel racing is allowed on horse racetracks, and dog racing is illegal in Idaho as it is now in most states. The government themselves helpfully provide this list of scheduled horse racing events [3] taking place across the state.
It is a crime to possess a slot machine in Idaho, unless it's from before 1950 and non-electronic. Exceptions exist within the tribal casinos for pull tab machines.
The state has run a lottery since 1988, now providing a range of games including scratch cards. With record breaking ticket sales in July 2013, this remains the most popular form of gambling in the state. Of course anyone but the state running a lottery is breaking the law.
Laws governing pool and billiards have been repealed, according to this extensive guide from Gaming Law Masters [5], so there may be room for a flutter there.
The lottery website also offers a handy FAQ[6] for those wishing to find out more about running charitable bingo games and raffles.
There is no provision for social gambling under Idaho law, so while it may or may not be tolerated by lawmakers, it is not technically legal to play any kind of game for real money even in the privacy of your own home.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Idao?
There are no specific statutes under Idaho state law regarding online gambling, but this does not indicate that it's a legal, or even a risk-free venture. Nonetheless the local press has no reports of arrests for anyone gambling online.
In Section 20 of the state code it is stated that it is illegal to 'employ any electronic or electromechanical imitation or simulation of any form of casino gambling', which would seem to apply to most forms of online wagering, on top of which any such activity would violate more general state laws on gambling anyway.
In response to the news that states such as New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware were working to allow online intra-state gambling, the executive director of the Idaho lottery discussed the prospects for such a thing to occur in Idaho, concluding that while he wouldn't rule it out at some stage in the future, there are no plans to even look into this matter within the state legislature at this time.
For now then, any online gambling within the state of Idaho is very clearly against state law.
What Forms of Gambling Are Legal?
For those of you still seeking a poker game in the state, there's really not much in the way of legitimate options. This thread on a sports website discusses the possibilities, essentially concluding that the best option is to head to Washington. I can't even find any free rolls listed in Idaho.
While there are home games listed here and here on the nation's most popular websites for such gatherings, it's unclear whether the people posting here realize that in hosting real money games they are breaking state law. We list these links purely for academic purposes, additionally at least some of them are likely free rolls. If your aim is to stay within the letter of the law, you can't play home games of any sort for real money.
You can of course attend the tribal casinos, which offer a range of games, almost exclusively pull tab machines with a nice fat house edge. The casinos are not allowed to run poker or other table games, although there does seem to be a very quiet movement towards electronic tables.
The Fort Hall Casino is running electronic blackjack tables [8].
The Coeur d'Alene resort apparently installed video poker tables with manned dealers. The tables aren't even referenced on the casino website, the only online talk of them being an article in the Spokesman Review when they were first proposed in 2007 [9] and a passing mention in this general guide to Idaho's casinos [10].
This seeming exception to the law bore further investigation, so being the perfectionist that I am I just had to give them a call. And as it turns out, of course, they are cruising within the letter of the law by keeping the game strictly player vs. machine, not player vs. player, and of course thereby player vs. house. The game featured is a form of Stud, and a live dealer runs the game via prompts from the 'poker machine'. Unlike table poker itself, these games cannot be worked for a profit, due to the persistent house edge. A slot by any other name…
Recent Developments in Idaho Gambling Laws
In the only positive poker news to hit Idaho for decades, in 2010 a legal review following a bust of elderly citizens for playing a $20 poker game has led to an adjustment in the existing legislation for how the state handle individual cases of breaking the law by gambling socially.
The local criticism which the police faced after busting over twenty retirees mid-game at the Twin Falls Senior Center was so heavy that the House and Senate passed almost unanimous votes supporting a measure to 'place discretion for investigating any gambling reports back in the hands of the prosecutors' .
This small but significant victory seems to suggest that a private home game which doesn't bother any neighbours or other folk would likely go unprosecuted by the law.
Moving in the opposite direction, resistance to existing tribal gambling continues to make itself heard in Idaho. A new legal claim was put forward in March that the existing resorts are violating the Idaho constitution, and the proponents of this bill also claim that the state lottery has its sights set on electronic gaming.
Busts and Arrests
Venues are periodically shut down for playing host to illegal gambling, as happened to various grocery stores, Laundromats and bars in this series of busts of May 2013 [11] which saw 19 machines seized and four people charged.
Busts of home games do happen from time to time usually based on citizens' complaints, for example in this case from July 2013 [12] in which four people were arrested. A 'facilitator' is discussed as exchanging cash for chips, though no mention of a sizeable operation or premises is made.
It emerges that the family who played cards together moved their friendly games from their home to office locations after neighbor complaints. They were later busted and defended themselves to the press [13], claiming they were just playing socially and weren't aware of any wrongdoing. Technically, they could avoid prosecution under the 2010 ruling discussed above.
Generally, prosecutions for illegal gambling activity covered in the Idaho press are relatively small scale, and few and far between.
Summary
If you're seeking a wager in the Gem State, you're not exactly short on options, but they are perhaps not the most varied, nor glitzy choices in the United States. You can play the state lottery, bet at the licensed horse racetracks with some pari-mutuel wagering, partake in charitable bingo games and raffles organized by licensed non-profits, and perhaps get away with a wager on pool or billiards.
Aside from that, if you're after an actual gambling venue you have half a dozen tribal casinos to choose from, which run electronic gaming only, mainly limited to pull tabs and with a couple of player vs. house electronic blackjack and poker tables in the larger venues.
Other than that, you're best off heading to Washington for your closest games. Of course, you could partake in a prop bet about navigating the Idaho River in winter, except that Amarillo Slim already did it and won over $30,000 doing so.
Slim riled locals back in 1972 by running the river [14] at the least challenging time of year, as it's actually more difficult in the summer with the higher water levels.
Of course to anyone familiar with prop betting this is clearly the exact reason Slim made the wager, since to the layman winter looks like the toughest time, while to someone in the know it's actually the ideal moment to take the bet. There's always an edge, if you're Slim enough to find one.
Sources for this article
- MeridianStar.com: MPD confiscates gambling machines, arrests made
A more modern proponent of the game hails from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the notorious Kevin Macphee or 'ImaLuckSac' as he is known online, winner of EPT Berlin in 2010 and ranked amongst the top online MTT players in the world. I wonder where he cut his teeth at the game. It seems pretty unlikely that it was in his home town, given the strict rules governing any form of real money poker play in Idaho state.
The Letter of the Law
In Idaho, state law doesn't differentiate between games of skill and of chance. Where a specific form of wagering is not explicitly allowed under state law, it is illegal. Anyone gambling illegally is committing a misdemeanor.
Exceptions allowed under the law include 'bona fide contests of skill, speed, strength or endurance', although before you poker players perk up at the prospect of arguing for poker being a skill game, bear in mind that it is specifically legislated against by name under state law.
Bingo and raffles are allowed under the law, with certain provisions which mean that in practice most of the events permitted are charitable ones. Licenses must be obtained to run such events, and limits are in place regarding maximum fees, prizes and age of participants.
Pari-mutuel racing is allowed on horse racetracks, and dog racing is illegal in Idaho as it is now in most states. The government themselves helpfully provide this list of scheduled horse racing events [3] taking place across the state.
It is a crime to possess a slot machine in Idaho, unless it's from before 1950 and non-electronic. Exceptions exist within the tribal casinos for pull tab machines.
The state has run a lottery since 1988, now providing a range of games including scratch cards. With record breaking ticket sales in July 2013, this remains the most popular form of gambling in the state. Of course anyone but the state running a lottery is breaking the law.
Laws governing pool and billiards have been repealed, according to this extensive guide from Gaming Law Masters [5], so there may be room for a flutter there.
The lottery website also offers a handy FAQ[6] for those wishing to find out more about running charitable bingo games and raffles.
There is no provision for social gambling under Idaho law, so while it may or may not be tolerated by lawmakers, it is not technically legal to play any kind of game for real money even in the privacy of your own home.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Idao?
There are no specific statutes under Idaho state law regarding online gambling, but this does not indicate that it's a legal, or even a risk-free venture. Nonetheless the local press has no reports of arrests for anyone gambling online.
In Section 20 of the state code it is stated that it is illegal to 'employ any electronic or electromechanical imitation or simulation of any form of casino gambling', which would seem to apply to most forms of online wagering, on top of which any such activity would violate more general state laws on gambling anyway.
In response to the news that states such as New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware were working to allow online intra-state gambling, the executive director of the Idaho lottery discussed the prospects for such a thing to occur in Idaho, concluding that while he wouldn't rule it out at some stage in the future, there are no plans to even look into this matter within the state legislature at this time.
For now then, any online gambling within the state of Idaho is very clearly against state law.
What Forms of Gambling Are Legal?
For those of you still seeking a poker game in the state, there's really not much in the way of legitimate options. This thread on a sports website discusses the possibilities, essentially concluding that the best option is to head to Washington. I can't even find any free rolls listed in Idaho.
While there are home games listed here and here on the nation's most popular websites for such gatherings, it's unclear whether the people posting here realize that in hosting real money games they are breaking state law. We list these links purely for academic purposes, additionally at least some of them are likely free rolls. If your aim is to stay within the letter of the law, you can't play home games of any sort for real money.
You can of course attend the tribal casinos, which offer a range of games, almost exclusively pull tab machines with a nice fat house edge. The casinos are not allowed to run poker or other table games, although there does seem to be a very quiet movement towards electronic tables.
The Fort Hall Casino is running electronic blackjack tables [8].
The Coeur d'Alene resort apparently installed video poker tables with manned dealers. The tables aren't even referenced on the casino website, the only online talk of them being an article in the Spokesman Review when they were first proposed in 2007 [9] and a passing mention in this general guide to Idaho's casinos [10].
This seeming exception to the law bore further investigation, so being the perfectionist that I am I just had to give them a call. And as it turns out, of course, they are cruising within the letter of the law by keeping the game strictly player vs. machine, not player vs. player, and of course thereby player vs. house. The game featured is a form of Stud, and a live dealer runs the game via prompts from the 'poker machine'. Unlike table poker itself, these games cannot be worked for a profit, due to the persistent house edge. A slot by any other name…
Recent Developments in Idaho Gambling Laws
In the only positive poker news to hit Idaho for decades, in 2010 a legal review following a bust of elderly citizens for playing a $20 poker game has led to an adjustment in the existing legislation for how the state handle individual cases of breaking the law by gambling socially.
The local criticism which the police faced after busting over twenty retirees mid-game at the Twin Falls Senior Center was so heavy that the House and Senate passed almost unanimous votes supporting a measure to 'place discretion for investigating any gambling reports back in the hands of the prosecutors' .
This small but significant victory seems to suggest that a private home game which doesn't bother any neighbours or other folk would likely go unprosecuted by the law.
Moving in the opposite direction, resistance to existing tribal gambling continues to make itself heard in Idaho. A new legal claim was put forward in March that the existing resorts are violating the Idaho constitution, and the proponents of this bill also claim that the state lottery has its sights set on electronic gaming.
Busts and Arrests
Venues are periodically shut down for playing host to illegal gambling, as happened to various grocery stores, Laundromats and bars in this series of busts of May 2013 [11] which saw 19 machines seized and four people charged.
Busts of home games do happen from time to time usually based on citizens' complaints, for example in this case from July 2013 [12] in which four people were arrested. A 'facilitator' is discussed as exchanging cash for chips, though no mention of a sizeable operation or premises is made.
It emerges that the family who played cards together moved their friendly games from their home to office locations after neighbor complaints. They were later busted and defended themselves to the press [13], claiming they were just playing socially and weren't aware of any wrongdoing. Technically, they could avoid prosecution under the 2010 ruling discussed above.
Generally, prosecutions for illegal gambling activity covered in the Idaho press are relatively small scale, and few and far between.
Summary
If you're seeking a wager in the Gem State, you're not exactly short on options, but they are perhaps not the most varied, nor glitzy choices in the United States. You can play the state lottery, bet at the licensed horse racetracks with some pari-mutuel wagering, partake in charitable bingo games and raffles organized by licensed non-profits, and perhaps get away with a wager on pool or billiards.
Aside from that, if you're after an actual gambling venue you have half a dozen tribal casinos to choose from, which run electronic gaming only, mainly limited to pull tabs and with a couple of player vs. house electronic blackjack and poker tables in the larger venues.
Other than that, you're best off heading to Washington for your closest games. Of course, you could partake in a prop bet about navigating the Idaho River in winter, except that Amarillo Slim already did it and won over $30,000 doing so.
Slim riled locals back in 1972 by running the river [14] at the least challenging time of year, as it's actually more difficult in the summer with the higher water levels.
Of course to anyone familiar with prop betting this is clearly the exact reason Slim made the wager, since to the layman winter looks like the toughest time, while to someone in the know it's actually the ideal moment to take the bet. There's always an edge, if you're Slim enough to find one.
Sources for this article
- MeridianStar.com: MPD confiscates gambling machines, arrests made
- Year Idaho Regulated Gambling: Horseracing (1963), Lottery (1988), Casinos (2002)
- Estimated Tax Revenue from Gambling: $38 million
- Estimated Gambling Revenue: About $120 million
- Idaho Gambling Age: 18 for lottery and bingo, 21 for casinos and racing
- Smoking ban: Idaho only bans smoking in establishments that permit minors
- Idaho Online gambling: Horseracing is the only form of legal online gambling
Idaho gambling is quite active in the state. There are seven tribal Idaho casinos that offer slots and video poker. A state lottery sells scratch-offs and lotto tickets. The horse racing industry continues to enjoy popularity; compared to other states. Charities may offer games of chance when the beneficiary is solely a nonprofit organization.
You will find a good selection of Idaho casinos and racetracks spread throughout the state, but if you are looking for casino card games like Blackjack or Poker, you are out of luck. Idaho only allows slot machines and video poker to be played, even at the Indian casinos.
November 2018 Update
Horse Racing rejected during the midterm elections. 54% of voters in Idaho rejected an initiative that would allow horse racing to take place in the state.
Idaho Casinos Map & Guide
- Coeur D'Alene Casino
- Bannock Peak Casino
- Clearwater River Casino
- Fort Hall Casino
- Sage Hill Travel Center
- Number of B&M Casinos: 7
- Number of Poker Rooms: 0
- Number of Indian Casinos: 7
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Types of Online Idaho Gambling Allowed
The only form of online gambling in Idaho is off-track betting on horses. TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica all accept horseracing bets from Idaho residents. As of now, online casino gambling is not legal in Idaho.
Daily fantasy sports contests appear to be legal in Idaho. The companies that provide this service to Idaho players assert that it is a skill game. There is no reason to doubt this. Idaho officials have not provided any reason to believe otherwise. FanDuel, DraftKings, Yahoo! and CBS Sports are among the major operators that accept players from Idaho.
Types of Live Idaho Gambling
- Slots: Yes
- Blackjack: No
- Poker: No
- Craps/Roulette: No
- Horses: Yes
- Lottery: Yes
There are two forms of legalized gambling at live venues in Idaho. Horseracing was the first form of regulated Idaho gambling. This includes live and off-track betting. The other version of live gambling are Native American casinos spread throughout the state. Slot machines and video poker are permitted. Table games and poker rooms are not legal at Idaho casinos.
There is also a state lottery. Standard scratch-off and lotto tickets are sold. This includes interstate drawings like Powerball and Mega Millions.
Idaho Gambling Laws
Idaho is very strict when it comes to gambling, as its gambling laws clearly reflect. However, there is a fun fact about slot machines and their legality. They were banned by popular vote in 1948, so how can the Idaho casinos still operate and offer slot machines to their visitors? There was a certain law that allowed these Native American casinos in Idaho to offer antique slot machines. The tribal casinos fought the state and won, by saying they were not slot machines, but rather lottery terminals. The state has not bothered them since, so players can enjoy these old, but still fully functioning slot machines.
Idaho gambling laws prohibit all forms of gambling, except:
State Lottery
A state lottery which is authorized by the state if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation.
Pari-Mutuel Betting
Pari-mutuel betting if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation
Bingo & Raffles
Bingo and raffle games that are operated by qualified charitable organizations in the pursuit of charitable purposes if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation.
The only exception to this is gambling on tribal land. Slots and video poker are permitted at Idaho casinos located on reservations. Blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, baccarat and electronic versions of these games are illegal, even when operated by Native American casinos in Idaho.
List of Idaho Casinos
There are two types of Idaho gambling establishments. One is racetracks and are the oldest form of gambling in Idaho. The other is tribal casinos, where players enjoy slots and video poker. You will find a detailed list of Idaho casino locations and websites below. You can also use our Idaho casinos map to help guide you to the nearest location. Grand canyon slot canyons. There is also a list of Idaho racetracks.
| Casino | Size | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock Peak Casino | 60 Slot Machines | 1707 W. County Rd. | www.shobangaming.com |
| Clearwater River Casino | 400 Slot Machines | 17500 Nez Perce Highway | www.crcasino.com |
| Coeur D'Alene Casino | 1,600 Slot Machines | 37914 South Nukwalqw | www.cdacasino.com |
| Fort Hall Casino | 900 Slot Machines | 1-15 Exit 80 – Simplot Road | www.shobanhotel.com |
| It'se Ye-Ye Casino | 110 Slot Machines | 419 Third Street | www.crcasino.com |
| Kootenai River Inn Casino | 500 Slot Machines | 7169 Plaza St. | www.kootenairiverinn.com |
| Sage Hill Travel Center | 100 Slot Machines | I-15 exit 80 | www.shobangaming.com |
Idaho Racetracks
- Gem County Fairgrounds
- Les Bois Park (includes off-track betting)
- Pocatello Downs
- Intermountain Racing
- Rupert Downs
- Jerome Horseracing
- Oneida County Fairgrounds
- Cassia County Fairgrounds
- Eastern Idaho Fairgrounds
- Sandy Downs (includes off-track betting)
History of Idaho Gambling
Idaho Casino Gambling Age
The Idaho Constitution forbids most forms of gambling. The only exemptions are charitable gaming, horse racing, and the state lottery.
Slot machines were legal between 1947 and 1953. These devices overflowed from Nevada during this era. The state legislature fought back and closed the loophole these devices briefly enjoyed. The games were forced back south into Nevada or were destroyed.
Idaho legalized horse racing in 1963. Off-track betting was added in the 1970's. Racing revenues dropped after Idaho tribes were permitted to offer slots and video poker. The state legalized historical racing machines in 2013 to help the tracks survive this loss in action. State lawmakers repealed historical racing in 2015.
Idaho Casino Gambling Agency
Greyhound racing was legalized at the same time as horses. The last track closed in 1995. Idaho banned greyhound racing when the last track shuttered. Off-track betting on greyhounds ceased on July 1, 1999.
Coeur D'Alene Casino opened a live poker room in 2014. Idaho officials challenged the tribe's position that poker was legal through the state's pari-mutuel laws. The state contended that poker was expressly illegal under the state constitution. The state prevailed when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with it in July 2015. Coeur D'Alene Casino was forced to shut down its poker room in 2015.
Idaho Casinos & Gambling FAQ
Is horseracing legal in Idaho?
What types of legal Idaho online gambling is there?
The only form of legalized online gambling is off-track betting. Online poker, casino games and sports betting are all illegal in Idaho.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that live poker rooms are illegal in 2015.
The last greyhound track in Idaho closed in 1995. The Idaho Legislature quickly repealed the state's greyhound racing laws. Off-track betting was permitted until July 1, 1999.
The Idaho Lottery was created in 1988. Instant and lotto tickets are sold.
Yes. Casinos in Idaho are legal and are permitted to offer slots and video poker.
There are currently seven Native American casinos in Idaho spread throughout the state.
The minimum Idaho gambling age is 21 for casinos and racing bets, and 18 for the lottery and bingo.
The Idaho Legislature legalized instant racing machines in 2013 but the law was repealed two years later.
