Alaska Online Casino Real Money – Gambling Laws in The Last Frontier State

Land-Based Casinos in Alaska

Casino gambling is limited to Class II gambling held at Native American casinos.
There are three Native American providers in the state, along with three Native American community bingo halls. 

Horse & Dog Tracks

Horse racing and pari-mutuel betting are illegal.

The state is not conducive to horse racing due to its climate. State law prohibits all forms of horse racing, including simulcast racing.

The only form of dog racing legal is dog mushers, aka sled racing.

This activity is permitted under charitable gambling statutes and held as a charitable activity. The Iditarod is the most famous sled racing event that allows betting.

Also, as of January 1, 2023, charitable organizations can sell tickets for charitable gaming online. This includes dog mushers. 

Online Sports Betting

Alaska is one of the few US states that have yet to legalize sports betting. The state legislature has made attempts to legalize it, but there hasn’t been sufficient interest. 

Due to its small population and remote location, sportsbooks have been reluctant to lobby for sports betting.

The closest thing to sports betting is Dog Mushers betting.

Alternatively, some offshore sportsbooks or racebooks may take wagers on Dog Mushers and other sports events in the country.

Bingo Halls and Charitable Gambling

AK has some of the most extensive charitable gambling laws in the country.

The most exciting development occurred in 2022, when SB204 was passed to allow the online sale of charitable contests, including dog mushers.

Besides fantasy sports, charitable gambling is the only form of regulated online gambling.

Under state law, the following activities are authorized:

• Bingo
• Raffles
• Pull Tabs
• Dog Mushers
• Big Bull Moose Derbies
• Cabbage Classics
• Calcutta Pools
• Canned Salmon Classic
• Crane Classic
• Deep Freeze Classic
• Fish Derbies
• Goose Classics
• King Salmon Classic
• Mercury Classic
• Numbers Wheel
• Race Classics
• Rain Classics
• Snow Classic
• Snow Machine Classic
• Freeze-Up Classic

Social Gaming at Home

Social gambling is exempt under Alaska law, allowing it where “no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where there is no house income from the operation of the game.”

To be clear, anyone hosting a home game can participate in the activity, such as playing in a poker tournament.

They cannot receive any form of compensation for running or hosting the game. This includes tips from other players. 

Poker Rooms and Clubs

Unfortunately, live poker games are not legal in Alaska casinos.

That is because Native American casinos can only offer Class II bingo-style gaming. Otherwise, the state has yet to legalize poker rooms.

However, home game poker is legal under state law. For the game to be legal, the host or operator cannot profit from operating the game.

Other legal forms of poker include social poker rooms or clubs like bar poker leagues where players do not buy in with or wager money.

Alternatively, some offshore poker sites are available for players in AK.

Eight-Liners

Eight-liners would generally fall under laws for illegal gambling devices, making them illegal.

The exception is if the eight-liner is operating as a video bingo machine. In that case, you may find them in Native American casinos. 

Casino Cruise

The state once had legal cruise ship gambling for a single year in 1995. Now, this is illegal.

However, casino cruises still depart from Alaska and begin gambling once they reach international waters around British Columbia.

Online Slots

If you want to play real money slots online, your best option is offshore sites. Online casinos offer numerous slot games from reputable providers such as BGaming, BetSoft, Real Time Gaming, Rival, and more. 

Whether you’re looking for classic slots or more modern mechanics like Megaways, you’re sure to find something to play.

Don’t forget about jackpots. Most operators have jackpot slots with massive prizes, something you won’t find at land-based casinos in the state.

Alaska is one of the few states where slots are illegal in any form of live gambling. The closest thing you’ll get to slots is video bingo machines. 

Online Poker

Live poker is not regulated in Alaska, so outside of private home games, your only option for improving your poker skills is at offshore poker rooms and sites.

Video poker sites offer Texas Hold’em and Omaha cash games and tournaments. You’ll find a variety of low to mid-stakes cash games and tournaments with generous guarantees.

One advantage of playing poker online is that you can multi-table, meaning you can play multiple poker games simultaneously.

This allows you to improve your hourly rate and keeps you from getting bored.

Blackjack

Online blackjack games allow you to perfect your strategy, and some games offer lower minimum betting limits than you’d find in brick-and-mortar casinos.

Internet operators offer traditional online blackjack and variants such as 21+3 Blackjack, Super 7 Blackjack, and Pontoon. 

In AK, only Class II casino games are legal, meaning blackjack games are off-limits. Your only option for real money wagering is to play blackjack at offshore sites.

Live Dealer Games

Live games give you an authentic casino experience with a human dealer.

Online operators offer live dealer casino games primarily featuring Blackjack, Roulette,  Baccarat, and Casino Hold’em. 

Live games simulate a brick-and-mortar experience and offer higher betting limits than standard games.

Some Blackjack games offer Bet Behind, allowing you to bet on other players’ hands. 

Is Online Gambling Legal in Alaska?

Until recently, online options were limited to fantasy sports.

However, the legislature passed a measure to allow charitable gambling contests to offer online sales. This includes dog mushers and Lotto Alaska.

Standard sports betting is still unregulated in the state. While efforts have been made in recent years to legalize the activity, they have fallen short.

Online casinos and online poker fall in a legal gray area as laws do not explicitly communicate computer or internet prohibitions.

Also, no laws prohibit offshore Advance Deposit Wagering for horse betting. Sports betting remains a gray area, and players can access offshore sportsbook sites.

As such, Alaskans can still access offshore online casinos and poker rooms. Remember to only gamble at licensed sites if you choose this option.

Gambling Clearly Defines Contest of Chance and Excludes Social Gambling

Alaska does an excellent job of defining social gambling.

It says it means “gambling in a home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where there is no house income from the operation of the game.” (Section 11.66.280 of Alaska Statutes)

The law defines gambling as where a “person stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the person’s control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that that person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.”

It further clarifies that a contest of chance is a “contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that the skill of the contestants may also be a factor.”

Also, it further clarifies that casino-style games, slot machines, craps, video poker, and other forms of gaming are a contest of chance. 

Criminal Gambling Offenses

There are several ways that Alaskans can be prosecuted for violating gambling laws. They are as follows:

• Unlawful Gambling – Starting with the second violation, a person engaging in unlawful gambling can be fined up to $1,000 per offense. 
• Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree – Promoting or profiting from unlawful gambling is a Class A misdemeanor. The penalty is a fine of up to $25,000 and possibly up to 1 year in jail.
• Promoting Gambling in the First Degree – Promoting or profiting from unlawful gambling is a Class C felony. The maximum penalties are fines up to $50,000 and up to 5 years in prison. 
• Possession of Gambling Device – Possessing a gambling device that is intended to be used for gambling purposes outside of social gambling is a Class A misdemeanor. This section also covers the sale and transport of such devices. The penalty is a fine of up to $25,000 and possibly up to 1 year in jail for each offense.

State Law Allows For Online Charitable Gambling

In 2022, the state legislature passed a law allowing charitable organizations to sell tickets online. The new legislation covers all forms of charitable gambling, including dog mushers.

Since Dog Mushers are the official sport in the state, you could technically say that there is legal sports betting in Alaska. However, this is yet to be regulated.

For online sales, the operator must ensure that players are of legal age and not located in localities that may have adopted local ordinances against charitable gambling.

The law went into effect on January 1, 2023. (Section 05.15.640 of Alaska Statutes)

Checking Licensing

One of the first things you should check for at all online casinos is licensing.

Legitimate gambling sites are licensed by regulatory bodies, including the Malta Gaming Authority, the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association, and the Curacao Gaming Control Board.

Never play at unlicensed casinos.

Look for Secure Payment Methods

 The best gambling sites offer secure payment options like credit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrency.

If you don’t recognize most of the payment options at a casino, it’s better to avoid them.

Complete KYC Verification

To prevent fraud and money laundering, legitimate online casinos conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) verification on players.

This is generally necessary to complete before you cash out for the first time.

Do Not Use a VPN

While it may be tempting to use a VPN to mask your location, Alaskans should never use a VPN to play at a gambling site.

Some sites have policies that allow them to ban you if they determine you’re using a VPN. 

Use Responsible Gambling Tools

Most operators allow you to set limits on your play, allowing you to control how much you deposit, wager, and how long you play at the casino.

Setting limits is a vital tool for responsible gambling and helps most players control their gaming.