North Dakota Online Poker Research Indicates Real Money Play's Legal
Can I play online poker in North Dakota? The answer is yes!
Is it legal to play online poker in North Dakota? The answer to this is also yes!
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1.1. Ignition 1.2. SB Poker 1.3. BetOnline 1.4. Bovada 1.5. Americas Cardroom 1.6. CoinPoker 1.7. Everygame 1.8. SwCPoker 1.9. Nitrobetting 1.10. Alternate Sites
3.1. Laws 3.2. Live Gambling 3.3. Regulated iPoker? 3.4. Gambling History 3.5. Famous Players
Online poker in North Dakota is a fine form of recreation especially during the winter when temperatures often dip below freezing and make going outside uncomfortable. The North Dakota online poker sites that are available offer a wide range of stakes and games, so there's undoubtedly something that fits your preferences.
Although there are a few offline poker locations in the state, they are all small. Online, however, you'll find many tables to select from and a level of player participation that puts N.D. live poker rooms to shame. Another benefit to conducting your real money gambling over the internet is that you don't need to leave the cozy confines of your home, and you can thereby avoid the expenses and bother involved in traveling to a brick-and-mortar cardroom.
The laws in the State of North Dakota are never used to go after online poker players, so you're perfectly safe from a legal perspective. Even when we take a look at the federal laws that apply to the entire United States, there's nothing criminalizing the game. The Wire Act and the UIGEA in combination have been used to go after poker site operators in the past, but a reinterpretation of the law by the Department of Justice in 2011 stated that the Wire Act only applies to sportsbetting, not to poker or casino gaming. Playing cards online is thus not a violation of any federal statutes.
There's a lot to consider when contemplating joining a North Dakota online poker room. Fortunately, we've outlined the major factors that pertain to this topic in our site reviews below. We'll also go over the state's poker laws, the history of North Dakota gambling, the prospects for the development of a state-supervised online gaming economy, and other info that you might find useful.
What Online Poker Sites Can I Play in North Dakota?
Online poker in North Dakota is an excellent and fun-filled hobby, but it's important that you take steps to safeguard your money. Some of the organizations out there aren't exactly known for their honesty and fairness despite the fact that most of them are entirely aboveboard. We've evaluated them all along numerous criteria so that we can present you with a lineup of the premier poker operators in existence. When you play poker at one of the sites below, you'll get to enjoy smoothly running software, truly randomized shuffling algorithms, and the efficient payment of any winnings you're fortunate enough to accumulate.
IGNITION
- BONUS:
- 150% up to $1,500
- ★★★★★
- 4.7 / 5
Of all poker sites for North Dakota residents, Ignition has the highest level of traffic and therefore the most games going at any given time. You can play No Limit Hold'em, Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, and Pot Limit Omaha/8. Furthermore, fast-fold Zone Poker, normal sit-n-goes, and lottery-style Jackpot SNGs provide diversions separate from the usual ring games. There are a lot of tournaments here too, including a $150K guarantee every Sunday, a $1 million event monthly, and recurring series with eight figures in prize money.
You can download and install Ignition Poker on a PC or Mac, and there's also an excellent web client for iOS and Android users. New poker players get a 150% up to $1,500 poker bonus when depositing with Bitcoin, and there's a similar bonus for casino games as well.
SB POKER
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $1,000
- ★★★★★
- 4.5 / 5
BEST ND ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BAD BEAT JACKPOTS
- NETWORK:
- CHICO
- EXTRAS
- CASINO, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
If you appreciate the bad beat jackpots that are common in live poker, then SB Poker is one of the few places online that has them. There's a large BBJ active in certain NL Hold'em games, which has reached more than $1 million on occasion, and a smaller one for Boost fast-fold games. Besides these formats, you can look forward to PLO, PLO/8, and 6+ Hold'em. Tournaments consist of normal MTTs and SNGs along with Windfall games that feature randomized prize pool multipliers.
SB Poker has software for PCs, Macs, iOS, and Android. The first deposit poker bonus is a 100% up to $1,000 match.
BETONLINE
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $1,000
- ★★★★★
- 4.4 / 5
Many internet poker providers now boast mobile-compatible software, but few of them do it as well at BetOnline. BOL's mobile poker app, for iOS and Android, contains basically all the same tables and games as you will find in the desktop version of the client, and it's even possible to multi-table them smoothly. This room is a sister site of SB Poker, so their poker offerings are virtually identical. You can also access the casino and sportsbook from your smart device.
Beyond the mobile packages, BOL also provides download software for Windows and Mac OS. Upon making your initial deposit, you'll qualify for a 100% up to $1,000 poker bonus.
BOVADA
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $500
- ★★★★★
- 4.2 / 5
BEST ND ONLINE POKER SITE FOR ALL-IN-ONE GAMING
- NETWORK:
- PAIWANGLUO
- EXTRAS
- CASINO, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
Bovada, together with Ignition, is part of the PaiWangLuo Poker Network, and so both sites share the same games and player pool. Yet, Bovada may prove the superior gaming destination; for it contains a sportsbook, which is lacking at Ignition. When you need a break from poker, you can bet on football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and many other types of contests, including non-sporting events, like financial markets and eSports. There's a racebook too, which lists horse races from hundreds of tracks.
Bovada Poker provides installers for Macs and PCs. In addition, there's a web client that works great on Android and iOS phones and tablets. When you make your first deposit, you'll get a 100% up to $500 poker bonus along with additional bonuses for casino and sports betting.
AMERICAS CARDROOM
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $2,000
- ★★★★★
- 4.1 / 5
Americas Cardroom is renowned among poker players as the place to go for massive tourneys. There's a million-dollar event every single Sunday along with $5 million VENOM tournaments a couple of times per year. From time to time, there are big series with hundreds of events and tens of millions in prize money. Of course, you can also dabble in cash games (NLHE, LHE, PLO, PLO/8, LO8, 7CS), sit-and-goes, and lottery-inspired Jackpot Poker.
The download software works on Macs and PCs. There's a mobile client too, but it only contains a fraction of the total games spread. Use our ACR promo code PRB10FREE to score a free $10 no deposit bankroll, and then make a deposit for 100% up to $2,000 in bonus money.
COIN POKER
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $700
- ★★★★★
- 4.0 / 5
CoinPoker has been growing in recent years, and it is now the largest crypto-only cardroom online. Games are denominated in Tether (USDT), but you can deposit and withdraw in several other cryptos, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Besides Hold'em and Omaha, there are also 5-Card Omaha and Open Face Chinese games to enjoy. Look for the cash game and tournament leaderboards to grow your balance if you grind a lot.
You can play at CoinPoker using any modern desktop, tablet, laptop, or mobile system. CoinPoker boasts three welcome deposit bonuses including a 100% bonus worth up to $700, a 100% bonus worth up to $300, and a 100% bonus of up to $100. You can also obtain up to 33% rakeback each week if you invest in the proprietary CHP token.
EVERYGAME
- BONUS:
- 200% up to $1,000
- ★★★★★
- 3.8 / 5
BEST ND ONLINE POKER SITE FOR PROMO VALUE
- NETWORK:
- HORIZON
- EXTRAS
- CASINOS, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
Everygame is a bit on the smaller side with seldom more than a half dozen cash games running at the same time. However, it still deserves your attention because of the incredible promotional value to be had. It all starts with the 36% rakeback for life that you'll receive when you sign up through one of our links. Then, you'll be able to compete in a $4,000 rake race every week, take advantage of time-sensitive reload bonuses, and receive free cash payments through the loyalty program.
Everygame's poker software works only on Windows PCs, although there's an Instant Play interface on its website that grants those using Macs, phones, and tablets access to the games. When you deposit for the first time, you'll get a 200% up to $1,000 poker bonus + 25 free casino spins.
SWCPOKER
- BONUS:
- NONE
- ★★★★★
- 3.6 / 5
A descendant of the original BTC poker room (SealsWithClubs), SwCPoker maintains its focus on crypto although it has since added Bitcoin Cash to its menu. There are plenty of varieties of poker on offer here, including NL Hold'em, PL Omaha, Limit Hold'em, Razz, Open Face Chinese, 2 – 7 Triple Draw, and mixed games. There's no rake at the lowest of micro-stakes, and the lobby boasts many freerolls with no requirements to enter.
SwC software is compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. This room lacks a deposit bonus, but you can get up to 50% rakeback depending on your playing volume.
NITROBETTING
- BONUS:
- 100% up to 25 mBTC
- ★★★★★
- 3.3 / 5
BEST ND ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BITCOIN USERS
- NETWORK:
- STANDALONE
- EXTRAS
- CASINO, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
There's only one valid method of depositing and withdrawing at Nitrobetting Poker: Bitcoin (BTC). Its games, which include No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, Crazy Hold'em, Six Plus Hold'em, and Limit Hold'em, are denominated in fractions of this same crypto-currency. Most of the action is concentrated in ring games although there are a small number of sit n' goes and tournaments. Look for reward freerolls that you qualify for by playing a certain amount each day or week.
Nitrogen's web-based software ensures compatibility with almost every computing device in widespread use today. The first deposit bonus is 100% up to 25 mBTC.
ALTERNATIVE POKER SITES
- BlackChip Poker – 100% up to $2,000 bonus – 27% Rakeback
- Juicy Stakes Poker – 200% up to $1,000 bonus – 36% Rakeback
- True Poker – 100% up to $2,000 bonus – 27% Rakeback
How to Choose the Right North Dakota Poker Site
The right online poker home will differ from individual to individual, so we can't recommend any one as being preferable to the others. You'll have to make this determination for yourself after considering their various strengths and weaknesses. While we can't make the ultimate decision on your behalf, we are ready to present you with a rundown of some of the factors you ought to consider as you're pondering which North Dakota online poker site would satisfy your needs:
☛ If the size of your welcome bonus is one of your primary criteria, then Americas Cardroom's 100% up to $2,000 first deposit deal may leave you happy.
☛ If you don't like waiting around for your games to fill, then the crowded lobbies at Ignition, Bovada, and ACR ought to appeal to you.
☛ If you wish to play from a Mac, phone, or tablet, then Ignition, SB Poker, Bovada, and BetOnline will permit you to do so easily.
☛ If you're in the market for an all-in-one gambling provider, then Bovada, SB Poker, BetOnline, and Everygame merit your close attention.
☛ If you think you deserve to benefit from regular rewards on an ongoing basis, then ACR's Elite Benefits and Everygame's Loyalty Levels are for you.
☛ If you're in the market for a superb rakeback offer, then Everygame's 36% should be more than adequate.
☛ If you like lottery-style SNGs, then Americas Cardroom, Ignition, Bovada, SB Poker, and BOL are the places to partake in them.
Online Poker Payouts
After you win a sufficient amount from your rivals at the poker tables, you'll undoubtedly wish to cash out some of your funds. All of the sites we've discussed above stand ready to process your payout requests via check. At some of them, additional methods may be offered, like debit cards and bank wires. Perhaps the most convenient means of payment is the digital currency Bitcoin. It has low fees and speedy transaction completion timeframes, and every site we deal with supports it. If you're curious about the potential of using crypto-currency for poker but you don't really know much about it, then head over to our beginners guide to gambling online with Bitcoin.
Creating Your Account in a Nearby State
If you are fortunate enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it your office address, summer home, second apartment, family estate, etc, you may have other online poker options available to you. Here is a list of the states that border North Dakota and Professional Rakeback's review on each of them: Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. If none of these states are particularly relevant to your situation, then our guide to online poker in the United States as a whole might be more appealing to you.
Many North Dakotans are unaware of the online poker ecosystem in the state. You can help to relieve their ignorance by sharing this page with any of your friends or family whom you feel would benefit from reading it.
North Dakota Poker + Gambling Info
The status of online poker and other gambling varies widely from state to state. We have collected a lot of information about this subject as it pertains specifically to North Dakota. You can peruse it by continuing to read below.
North Dakota Online Poker Law
The laws of North Dakota don't mention poker by name although there are parts of the Administrative Code that deal with charitable poker games. If we want to learn how the statutes in place relate to card games, we have to look at the texts regarding gambling in general. Fortunately, the relevant portions of the law are pretty short and sweet, amounting to no more than a couple of pages. They're contained in Title 12.1 - Criminal Code - Chapter 28 - Gambling and Related Offenses.
It's pretty useful, when dealing with anti-gambling provisions in any state, to look at how gambling is defined. We can easily find this information in 12.1-28-01:
As used in this chapter:
1. "Gambling" means risking any money, credit, deposit, or other thing of value for gain, contingent, wholly or partially, upon lot, chance, the operation of gambling apparatus, or the happening or outcome of an event, including an election or sporting event, over which the person taking the risk has no control.
There follow a list of activities that are exempted from this definition, which include contests of skill, business transactions, and the use of gambling equipment for academic studies at institutions of higher learning. The phrasing used in this section tends to imply strongly that poker is considered a form of gambling especially because games that depend “wholly or partially, upon lot, chance,” are treated this way. The only way around this seems to be to argue that poker falls into the category of contests of skill. However, this is a longshot, and there's no particular reason to believe that such an argument would be successful in the Roughrider State notwithstanding the fact that many prominent individuals are of the opinion that poker is a game of skill. One of them is federal judge Jack B. Weinstein who ruled in 2012 that skill predominated over chance in Texas Hold'em.
On to the section criminalizing various gambling activities, which is 12.1-28-02:
Except as permitted by law:
1. It is an infraction to engage in gambling on private premises where the total amount wagered by an individual player exceeds twenty-five dollars per individual hand, game, or event.
2. It is a class A misdemeanor to:
a. Sell, purchase, receive, or transfer a chance to participate in a lottery, whether the lottery is drawn in state or out of state, and whether the lottery is lawful in the other state or country;
b. Disseminate information about a lottery with intent to encourage participation in it, except that a legal lottery may be advertised in North Dakota; or
c. Engage in gambling on private premises where the total amount wagered by an individual player exceeds five hundred dollars per individual hand, game, or event.
There are a few things about this that seem unusual. First of all, only “gambling on private pemises” is treated in this text. This leaves open the question as to whether or not gambling in public is prohibited, but there don't seem to be any statutes dealing with this subject. The other thing that's a bit odd is that only gambling more than $25 per hand is illegal. Doing so is an infraction, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, unless you bet more than $500 in a single hand, which is a Class A misdemeanor and carries the risk of up to a year in jail and/or a fine as high as $3,000.
These provisions of the law are mostly academic, however, because they're not enforced in practice against online poker enthusiasts. Indeed, North Dakota ranks near the bottom of the United States for gambling-related arrests in general. As an individual online poker player, you have no reason to fear the law because it has never been used to prosecute participants in online card games.
The N.D. gambling laws go on to tackle the subject of people who engage in gambling businesses. Here, the consequences are more severe. Let's take a look at the relevant part of the codes (12.1-28-02(3)):
A person is guilty of a class C felony if that person engages or participates in the business of gambling. Without limitation, a person is deemed to be engaged in the business of gambling if that person:
a. Conducts a wagering pool or lottery;
b. Receives wagers for or on behalf of another person;
c. Alone or with others, owns, controls, manages, or finances a gambling business;
d. Knowingly leases or otherwise permits a place to be regularly used to carry on a gambling business or maintain a gambling house;
e. Maintains for use on any place or premises occupied by that person a coin-operated gaming device; or
f. Is a public servant who shares in the proceeds of a gambling business whether by way of a bribe or otherwise.
Anyone found guilty of any of these crimes will be subject to the penalties prescribed for Class C felonies, which are imprisonment for up to five years and a fine of up to $10,000. Regardless of the sanctions possible for gambling businesses in the state, none of the internet poker rooms that operate in the United States bar North Dakotans from accessing their services. It's probably the case that their legal counsel have evaluated the N.D. legal situation and have advised their clients that the risks are minor.
Live Gaming Options
There are many gambling diversions available in the Flickertail State, including a lottery, pari-mutuel and off-track betting, full-bodied charitable gaming, including poker and casino nights, and five tribal casinos. There are no commercial casinos, and unfortunately, none of the tribal establishments feature more than a few card tables. However, there are several charitable poker rooms that host events for nonprofit groups on a rotating schedule, and this expands your brick-and-mortar alternatives for poker. Sports betting at tribal facilities is the latest form of wagering to appear.
Online Poker Legalization Chances
This may come as a surprise given that all gambling was outlawed until 1976, but North Dakota was actually one of the first states to explore the possibility of regulated internet poker. Representative James Kasper sponsored HCR 3035 in 2005, which would have expressly legalized online card games in North Dakota subject, of course, to licensing and other requirements. While it passed the House, it was defeated by the Senate. Again in 2021, the state House voted to put the question of internet poker legalization on the ballot, but then the Senate defeated the resolution.
The fact that there's a thriving live gambling scene in the state perhaps augurs well for the eventual implementation of a legalized real money online poker framework in the state. We wouldn't necessarily expect N.D. to be one of the next wave of states to enact the needed legislation, but it probably will do so eventually.
History of Gambling in North Dakota
Before the arrival of European settlers, natives of the area now called North Dakota had already developed several gambling games. One of the most popular was the hoop and pole game. As played by the Mandan, a small hoop was rolled along flat and level ground. The hoop had a network of webbing stretched across it with a gap in the middle. Competitors would try to spear the hoop directly through the center to score points. Most of the other North Dakota tribes had similar games, although they differed in small details, and were known to regularly put valuable goods at stake on the outcome.
After cursory French explorations in the mid-18th century, this territory was transferred (at least on paper) to Spanish sovereignty in 1762 until sold to the United States in 1802. For most of the rest of the 19th century, it remained sparsely populated. It was only with the expansion of the railroads in the 1870s and '80s that it became feasible for homesteaders and ranchers to relocate to this out-of-the-way expanse.
Bismarck was notorious during the early 1870s for its thriving vice scene. Indeed, it became known as the Wickedest City in the West for a short while. Gambling halls, houses of ill-repute, and saloons proliferated on a section of 4th street. So many violent disputes eventuated from these activities that the neighborhood soon came to be known as “Bloody Fourth,” and local newspaper accounts reported that there was at least one shooting, stabbing, or fight per week though this may have been an exaggeration designed to increase paper sales. With wealth came respectability, and Bismarck soon clamped down on these illegal operations.
In 1889, North Dakota was admitted as the 39th state, and in 1894, the state constitution was amended as follows:
The legislative assembly shall have no power to authorize lotteries or gift enterprises for any purpose, and shall pass laws to prohibit the sale of lottery or gift enterprise tickets.
As used in this passage and understood by legal experts of the time, “lottery” was deemed to include all kinds of real money gaming pastimes, not just what we think of today as a lottery. It effectively banned all types of gambling throughout the state although a few illicit slot parlors continued to operate below the radar.
Another type of gambling that remained prevalent in North Dakota was gaming for charitable fundraising. While the activity was not expressly allowed by law in the first half of the 20th century, it was widely tolerated by state officials. However, by the '70s, these games started to be advertised publicly to potential players, which was a bit of an embarrassment for N.D. leaders because philanthropic groups were openly flouting the law in a way that could not be ignored. In 1976, this problem was resolved when the state constitution was amended to permit charitable bingo and raffles, and this was expanded to include pari-mutuel wagering in 1987. Over the years, further games have been allowed to nonprofit organizations albeit with strict rules and reporting requirements in place. Off-track betting was authorized in 1989 and generates a lot more revenue than would be expected given the state's paltry schedule of racing days.
2004 WSOP ME Champion
In 1992, a major addition to the gambling menu in North Dakota arrived with the signing of the first tribal gaming compacts. In 2002, a state lottery was voted on and approved, and it began selling tickets in 2004. This lottery is unique in the United States in that only multi-state games are allowed; North Dakota-specific drawings are prohibited. Also in 2004, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, originally from Minot, North Dakota, prevailed in the World Series of Poker Main Event to the credit of his home state although he had by then moved elsewhere.
In December 2021, North Dakota adjusted its compacts with certain tribes to permit sports betting. All wagers on sporting contests must be placed at a retail gaming location; no mobile or online sports bets are allowed.
Below, we have captured the important gambling occurrences in the State of North Dakota on a timeline.
Famous Poker Players From North Dakota
As a sparsely populated state far from any noteworthy gambling centers, North Dakota and its citizens cannot truthfully be said to have contributed a ton to the game of poker. Nevertheless, some of its residents have had a fair share of success on the green felt. One such individual is Tom McCormick who hails from Fargo.
Unlike many “pros” of the internet era, Tom hasn't made his name with one or two big scores. Rather, he has been plying his trade in live poker tournaments for more than three decades. McCormick's first trip to the World Series of Poker came in 1983, but he didn't have any success.
It wasn't until 1992 that Tom McCormick recorded his first major tournament cash, placing 3rd in the $2,500 LHE event for a $42,000 payday. Since then, he has gone on to post an impressive 100 cashes in WSOP events, including 12 final tables. Sadly, throughout this whole time, a gold bracelet has eluded his grasp.
Nevertheless, Tom has earned more than $2.3 million in live poker tournament winnings: the most of any player from North Dakota. His largest score came in the 2018 WSOP $3,000 NLHE event in which he placed 5th for $118,552.
Other Kinds of Online Gambling
In addition to poker, there are other types of betting online that you can access as a resident of North Dakota. Keep reading to find out more about them.
Online Casinos
Though North Dakota has brick-and-mortar casinos, you may wish to play online instead. By getting your casino thrills over the internet, you can avoid the hassles of having to travel to a physical venue, find a parking spot, fight the crowds, and deal with the other inconveniences of live gaming.
We have picked three online casinos that you can enjoy from inside the borders of North Dakota.
There are actually more than three honest online casinos for North Dakota's players, and you can read up on more of them with this review of trusted online casino sites.
Online Sportsbooks
It's now possible to bet on sports at a handful of North Dakota tribal gaming establishments. However, all such wagers must be placed while you're physically present at a casino.
Therefore, it's probably more convenient to place a few wagers on the outcomes of sporting contests over the internet. Online, there are quite a few international bookmakers that accept residents of the state as customers.
You need to find an offshore sportsbook that's reputable and honorable, and fortunately, we can recommend three of them to you.
You can actually bet on sports at many other online destinations, and you can find out more about them with this page about the best USA offshore bookmakers.
Parting Thoughts
There are only small cardrooms in the Peace Garden State, but online poker in North Dakota has come to the rescue. You can sign up, make a deposit, and play right from your own house. The legal authorities never take actions against individual players, so choose one of our reputable North Dakota online poker sites and open an account today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Online poker in North Dakota isn't a straightforward affair, and so you might have a few unanswered questions about it. We've attempted to address some of the most frequent concerns about this topic below.
Yes, there's no legal risk to playing internet poker in North Dakota. The few laws that could be interpreted as criminalizing the game are, in practice, never enforced against ordinary players.
At the federal level, regular players are safe too because the various statutes in effect, like the UIGEA, target those providing the games and the financial institutions that process real money transactions related to such gaming. Therefore, you can enjoy your online poker pastime without fear of breaking the law.
Yes, PokerStars is conducting its affairs according to the law in North Dakota. Unfortunately, what this means is that North Dakotans cannot play at the site for real money.
This is a consequence of the Black Friday indictments against 'Stars. In order to clear its name, the company voluntarily agreed to cease offering real money games to residents of the United States except in areas where it holds a license explicitly allowing it to do so.
As of July 2022, there are only a few states that have licensed PokerStars to deal online poker games to their residents: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Only if North Dakota joins the ranks of these licensed online gaming states and issues a license to PokerStars will its populace be able to play at PokerStars for real money.
Global Poker says it's legal in North Dakota and throughout the rest of the United States as well. We don't know if this is correct though. We won't spell out all our reasons for thinking this way in this FAQ lest we bore you, but you can find out more in our Global Poker review.
Yes, Ignition is a legal online poker site in North Dakota. Although the U.S. authorities might disagree with this, the principals and execs at Ignition are not in any way bound by American laws so long as they resist the foolish impulse to set foot on U.S. soil.
Ignition's parent organization is based in Hong Kong, and it is the laws in this jurisdiction that Ignition must comply with. The firm is doing nothing illegal by accepting customers from around the globe, including North Dakota.
Yes, BetOnline bases its operations on the laws of Panama, which is where it is headquartered. Though the federal government has gone after sites like BOL in the past, these persecutions have been found to be contrary to international trade rules, which the United States has pledged to uphold.
Suffice it to say, there's hardly any chance of BetOnline's operations in North Dakota being interfered with by law enforcement. You yourself are even more secure because all prosecutions related to online gambling in the United States have focused on those actually running the games, not mere players.
Yes, North Dakota residents are welcome to play at Bovada. There are only a few states from which Bovada declines action, and the Roughrider State is not one of them.
You may have heard that Bovada stopped dealing out poker hands, and this was the case for a while. However, it resumed poker operations in 2017 and has been faithfully spreading poker games that North Dakotans can participate in since that time.
North Dakota, like many states, have two different minimum gambling ages: 18 and 21. Which one is relevant depends upon that type of gambling involved.
Starting at 18, you can purchase lottery tickets, engage in charitable gaming, and bet on horse races. However, if you wish to play at one of the tribal casinos, including for poker or sports betting, then you must be at least 21.
Online, the 18-or-over guideline is the one that applies. If you are below the age of 18, it would not be smart to try to open an account for online poker or gaming.
If you lie on a registration form and indicate a birthdate that doesn't reflect your true age, then you might have trouble when it's time to verify your identity. If this should happen, the site will be fully within its rights to terminate your account. Even worse, your entire balance could be confiscated.
No, running an underground gambling establishment in North Dakota is against state law. Unlike when dealing with individual players, the laws can be quite severe when it comes to those actually managing an illegal gambling enterprise.
You could be found guilty of a felony if you engage in illicit gambling transactions. Even worse, the violation of state gambling laws can trigger federal charges as well, so you could get in trouble with the FBI in addition to state agencies.
There are any number of deposit and payout methods available for online poker in North Dakota. The exact menu varies from site to site, but money transfer services, checks, and credit cards are widely supported. Even more widely supported, though, is the crypto-currency Bitcoin, which is accepted at every single one of our recommended poker sites for North Dakotans.
Bitcoin has low fees, fast transaction speeds, and provides independence from traditional banking sector. This is why it's beloved by the internet poker community.
Lately, several other cryptos have seen expanding popularity across the online gaming world. They include EthereumEthereum and Bitcoin Cash.
Yes, it's legal to host private poker games in North Dakota. However, there is a pretty strict bet limit in effect – no individual player can bet more than $25 per hand. Needless to say, this is very restrictive and would not be sufficient for most home poker games.
Still, we haven't turned up any evidence of any social poker games being busted up by North Dakota law enforcement. Therefore, we think you're in the clear if you elect to participate in poker home games as long as you don't publicize such games too widely.
Additional Resources
For more information regarding the gambling environment in North Dakota, check out these resources:
We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!