Is Sports Betting Legal In Idaho

Legal sports betting in Idaho isn’t the first thing that comes to most Americans' minds. If you live in Idaho, chances are you're sick to death of potato jokes. The truth is, not much of America knows a whole lot about your state which is a shame, because the state of Idaho is home to some of the most beautiful landscape you'll come across and close, tight knit communities filled with some of the best people you'll meet across the American heartland. Of course, when you're talking about great people coming together, you're bound to start talking about sports, and this can naturally lead to a lot of questions about betting on sports. We hope to clear a few of the big ones up for you today.

The first thing many Idaho residents want to know is whether or not betting on sport events is legal. Fortunately, we can produce good news on that front. Sports betting in Idaho is not unlawful. No laws have ever been written or interpreted to stop honest citizens from placing a wager on any athletic event, but there is some understandable confusion in the matter. Back when organized crime was at its peak, there were several laws written to break up racketeering, so while the facilitation of sports betting in Idaho is illegal (meaning running a sportsbook or generally putting yourself in a position to profit from betting without actually placing a wager) it has never been the intent of any law to stop an honest citizen from making a wager on a sports game.

Land-Based Sports Betting in Idaho:

This does pose a problem, though. How can an Idaho resident expect to legally place a bet on a sports wager if it's illegal for anyone to allow them to do so? As it stands, this does deal a death blow to legal, land based sports betting in Idaho. It would always be possible for an Idaho resident to seek out the services of an underground, illegally maintained sportsbook, but this can be incredibly dangerous. Even though mere participation in an underground sportsbook is still not punishable by law, seeking them out can prove to be not only incredibly unsafe for you personally, but a very unsafe investment for your hard earned money. Due to the illegal nature of underground sportsbooks, they can vanish just as quickly as you can find them and there are no guarantees on any money you may give them. Obviously, this is not a recommended course of action.

Legal Online Sports Betting in Idaho:

Luckily for Idaho residents, there is the internet. Since all the online betting sites we will recommend are based overseas, they do not fall under the same laws and jurisdictions that prevent land based betting in Idaho, and therefore are able to operate as legitimate businesses. Many Idaho online sportsbooks have been around for more than a decade, providing a rich history of great customer service and earning endorsements from major media outlets. Any Idaho resident who chooses to sign up with these online sportsbooks can rest assured that their money will be as safe with these companies as it would with any online shop.