Idaho Online Casinos

Idaho is a state that takes a dim view of online casinos and has been rather opposed to gambling in general. As a result, you won’t be able to find real money online casinos in Idaho as they have been outlawed. The state does however provide a variety of land-based casinos

The absence of regulated online casinos has pushed players into exploring options such as social and sweepstakes casinos, which are generally considered to be a viable option for Idaho residents, who keep participating in these online sites and apps.

To help navigate this often-difficult landscape of Idaho online casinos, we have put together an exhaustive detail of everything you ought to know about the current state of affairs about online casinos in The Gem State.

Idaho Casino News

Stay updated as Idaho makes waves with its evolving gambling laws, responsible gaming efforts, and enforcement actions. Check the feed below for the latest updates and developments across the state.

Casino August 21, 2020

Washington, Idaho Tribal Casinos Adapt to COVID-19 Outbreak Tribal and commercial casino operators in the U.S. were affected by the spread of COVID-19. While all casinos were closed back in March upon gradual reopening tribal venues and commercial properties implemented strict health and safety protocols. The Impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. Gaming Industry Similar to commercial casino operators, the tribal casinos in […]

Are Online Casinos Legal in Idaho?

One question remains, however. Are online casinos for real money in Idaho legal? The answer is no, they are not. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find some online casinos still. For one, social and sweepstakes casinos are allowed in the state, and they even feature many Vegas-style slot games by popular developers such as Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, NetEnt, and many others.

They are fun and easy to access, and very light on the purse, using an alternative currency instead of real money. You can still spend money to buy virtual currency, however. The drawback is that you can never win real money this way. Rather, the social casinos are there to offer some games of chance, but they take out the biggest part of the experience, the real money reward.

Some players have been tempted by the offshore casino market, but this vertical comes with many inherent dangers – from becoming the victim of identity theft to financial losses to developing problem gambling and addiction.

Presently, Idaho criminalizes gambling, specifically under the Idaho Code (Title 18, Chapter 38) which states that games of chance, including those held online, are subject to enforcement by the law. The state similarly prohibits sports betting and you will be perhaps surprised to find out that there are similarly no online lotteries in the Gem State.

Gambling is defined as an activity where a person is betting on the outcome of a chance event with anything of value, including money naturally. This definition has allowed sweepstakes and social casinos to exist.

Social and Sweepstakes Casinos in Idaho

Idaho may be one of the toughest states when it comes to overall gambling regulation and the most conservative at that. Yet, The Gem State does allow social and sweepstake casinos to operate on its territory. The Idaho Code which outlaws gambling does not include these types of sweepstake operations, as long as no real money is involved.

Interestingly, you may purchase the alternative currency used at the casinos with real money, but this still does not constitute gambling, because you do not stand to win anything with an actual real-world value.

Mobile California Casinos

Mobile casinos are almost a given for players in any state. Although Idaho does not regulate real money casinos, the available social casinos are fully built to support mobile play. You can connect and play from any Android and iOS device and do so on the go from anywhere in the state.

Idaho Casino Apps

Since there are no regulated online casinos in Idaho, this means that you won’t find dedicated apps that you can download directly from the Google or Apple Play Store. Is this a drawback – perhaps it is, but you can still access the mobile casino from your mobile browser. Another option you have here is to try the social casinos available to you as well. They are legit and have dedicated apps.

Land-Based Casinos in Idaho 

There aren’t that many casinos to go around, but the four we have picked for you are some of the best brick-and-mortar venues to visit in person in Idaho. They are all easy to reach and come with great interiors, service, and a good variety of games.

Responsible Gambling in Idaho

Just like most other states in the country, Idaho too has a network that is dedicated to addressing the outstanding and perpetual issue of problem gambling. Because some forms of gambling are still unregulated, however, there is less funding to support treatment options.

Responsible gambling is a cause for the National Council on Problem Gambling, and its local branch. Gamblers in Idaho may get help for their problem gambling behavior in one of several ways. First, they can contact the National Problem Gambling helpline:

• Call: 1-800-GAMBLER
• Text: 800GAM
• Chat: 1800gamblerchat.org

They can similarly reach out to organizations such as Gam Talk, Gam-Anon, and Gamblers Anonymous all of which are committed to addressing the outstanding issues of problem gambling and treatment.

Idaho Online Casinos FAQ