Sports Betting

Best Sports Betting Bonuses and Promos in Idaho

Idaho sports betting is completely illegal with no legal sportsbooks, no retail locations, and no mobile betting options. Idaho has never introduced serious legislation to legalize sports betting, and Idaho has no tribal casinos (no federally recognized tribes), meaning there's no alternative pathway to legal betting like Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, or Wisconsin. At Shurzy, we skip the boring stuff and get straight to what works: Idaho doesn't work. It's completely illegal with no legal betting options.

Best Sports Betting Bonuses and Promos in Idaho

Is Sports Betting Legal in Idaho?

No. Sports betting is completely illegal in Idaho if you're any age. The state has never introduced serious legislation to legalize sports betting since the 2018 Supreme Court PASPA decision. Idaho has zero bills introduced in the state legislature to legalize sports betting as of November 2025.

You cannot bet in person at any location in Idaho. You cannot bet online through mobile apps. No legal sports betting exists anywhere in the state.

Here's what you need to know:

Sports betting is completely illegal in Idaho
No retail sportsbooks exist
No mobile betting exists
No tribal casinos exist (no federally recognized tribes with gaming compacts)
Daily Fantasy Sports explicitly banned in 2016
State lottery is the only legal gambling option

Why Idaho Has No Legal Sports Betting

Idaho stands alone among neighboring states in never attempting sports betting legalization. Here's why:

No Legislative Interest

Since the 2018 Supreme Court PASPA decision, Idaho has never passed or seriously pursued sports betting legislation. There have been zero bills introduced in the state legislature as of November 2025.

Comparison to neighboring states: Washington (legalized tribal betting 2021), Oregon (legalized DraftKings monopoly 2019), Montana (legalized tribal/lottery model 2019), Wyoming (legalized online-only 2021), Utah (explicitly banned 2012). Idaho stands alone in never even attempting legalization.

No Tribal Casinos

Idaho has zero federally recognized tribes with gaming compacts. All of Idaho's Native American tribes are based in neighboring states or have no gaming compacts, meaning no tribal sports betting pathway exists, no built-in gambling infrastructure, and no tribal government pressure to expand gaming. This makes legalization harder, Idaho would need to create a regulatory framework from scratch.

Conservative Rural State

Idaho is a conservative, rural state with strong Christian values opposed to gambling, agricultural economy with limited tourism (less pressure for gaming tax revenue), small population (1.9 million), and no major urban gambling centers. Legalizing sports betting doesn't generate enough projected revenue to motivate lawmakers.

Revenue Not Needed

Idaho's state budget doesn't face the pressure that drives legalization in other states. No massive pension obligations (like Illinois), no budget crisis requiring new revenue, no major athletic venues demanding gaming partnerships, and limited professional sports teams (minor league baseball only).

Cultural Opposition

Idaho has a strong anti-gambling culture rooted in Mormonism influence from neighboring Utah and southern Idaho, rural conservatism and work ethic values, religious denominations opposed to gambling expansion, and limited coastal/urban "gambling culture" compared to Nevada or New Jersey.

Shurzy tip: Idaho is surrounded by states with legal sports betting (Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming), but Idaho has never even tried to legalize it. That tells you everything about how strongly Idaho opposes gambling.

Daily Fantasy Sports Ban

Idaho explicitly banned Daily Fantasy Sports in 2016. When DraftKings and FanDuel tried to operate in Idaho, the Idaho Attorney General's office declared DFS illegal gambling and forced both platforms to cease operations.

This was one of the first post-PASPA states to ban DFS, showing Idaho's aggressive anti-gambling stance predates the modern sports betting era. Unlike other states where DFS operates in a legal gray area, Idaho actively enforces the ban.

Shurzy tip: Idaho didn't just ignore DFS—it actively banned it and kicked DraftKings and FanDuel out of the state in 2016. This is one of the most anti-gambling states in America.

What Idaho Residents Cannot Do

Idaho bans all gambling except state lottery, horse racing at specific tracks (limited), and charitable bingo (very limited).

Idaho bans: ❌ Sports betting ❌ Casinos ❌ Daily Fantasy Sports (explicitly banned in 2016) ❌ Tribal casinos (no tribes with compacts) ❌ Online gambling ❌ Sweepstakes casinos

The only legal gambling in Idaho: State lottery with Draw Games, Scratchers, and Powerball.

How to Bet on Sports in Idaho (Legally)

There are no legal sports betting options in Idaho. Here's what Idaho residents do:

Travel to neighboring states: Oregon is 2+ hours west from Boise and offers statewide DraftKings monopoly (mobile-only). Washington is 6+ hours northwest from Boise with tribal casinos (retail-only). Wyoming is 6-8 hours southeast with online-only betting. Montana offers retail-only betting at racetracks (limited).
State lottery: Idaho operates a state lottery with Draw Games, Scratchers, and Powerball. This is the only legal betting option available.

Shurzy tip: Most Idaho residents just drive to Oregon. It's a 2+ hour drive from Boise to Oregon, where you can download DraftKings (Oregon's monopoly operator) and bet legally with statewide mobile access.

Sports Betting Tips for Idaho Residents

Idaho betting is nonexistent. Here's how to make the best of it:

Drive to Oregon for mobile betting. Oregon is 2+ hours west from Boise and offers statewide mobile betting through DraftKings (Oregon Lottery monopoly). Sign up in Oregon and bet from anywhere in Oregon.
Consider Washington or Wyoming. Washington offers tribal casino betting (retail-only, 6+ hours from Boise). Wyoming offers online-only betting (6-8 hours from Boise).
Don't expect legalization. Idaho has shown zero legislative interest in sports betting since 2018. The state explicitly banned DFS in 2016. Zero bills have been introduced. Idaho's conservative culture and lack of tribal gaming infrastructure make legalization extremely unlikely.

Shurzy tip: Realistic timeline for legalization is 2028-2032 or beyond (if at all). Likelihood of legalization by 2030 is very low (5-10%). Don't wait. Just drive to Oregon.

Responsible Betting (Not Applicable in Idaho)

All sports betting is illegal in Idaho. If you have a gambling problem, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), available 24/7. You can also call 1-800-522-4700.

Final Take

Idaho sports betting is completely illegal with zero legal options. Idaho is one of only 11 states without legal sports betting and the only state that has never seriously pursued legalization since the 2018 PASPA decision.

No tribal gaming pathway, no major cities with sports betting culture, conservative state with no gambling tradition, budget doesn't need gaming revenue, zero legislative momentum, rural population opposed to expansion, and strong religious opposition.

Idaho residents must travel to neighboring states for legal sports betting. Oregon is 2+ hours west from Boise with statewide DraftKings monopoly (mobile-only). Washington is 6+ hours northwest with tribal casinos (retail-only). Wyoming is 6-8 hours southeast with online-only betting.

Shurzy tip: No spreadsheets, no stress. Just fast picks, good promos, and wins you can flex. That's the Shurzy way. (But honestly, Idaho doesn't have sports betting at all, so just drive to Oregon and use DraftKings instead.)

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