Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Montana?

Online Sports Betting Montana: How It Works

Montana legalized sports betting in March 2020 through the state lottery. Instead of opening the market to multiple sportsbook apps, the state created a monopoly. Sports Bet Montana is the only legal operator.

Players can download the Sports Bet Montana app, create an account, and even build their betslip at home. But to actually place the wager, you must be physically inside a licensed retail location. These locations include bars, taverns, casinos, and other businesses approved by the lottery.

Read more: Looking for the ultimate guide to NFL betting this season? We've got you covered right here!

Is Sports Betting Legal Online in Montana?

Yes, sports betting legal online is available—but only under the lottery system. This setup is very different from other sports gambling legal states like Colorado or Wyoming, where bettors can use DraftKings or FanDuel from anywhere inside state lines.

In Montana, the state’s geolocation system locks wagers until you are on-site at a retail location. This keeps online sports betting legal technically available, but it’s not the convenient mobile betting seen elsewhere in the online sports betting USA market.

Online Sports Betting Apps in Montana

There’s only one app in Montana: Sports Bet Montana. You won’t find the usual lineup of DraftKings, Caesars, or BetMGM here.

Example: A bettor in Helena wants to bet on an NFL betting matchup between the Broncos and Raiders. They can open the Sports Bet Montana app at home, select the Raiders +3.5 spread, add a rushing yards prop, and parlay it with the over. But to finalize the wager, they need to walk into a licensed bar or casino. Once inside, the app geolocation unlocks, and the bet can be placed.

This makes Montana unique among sports gambling legal states, with a retail-first, state-controlled model.

Online Sports Betting How To in Montana

Here’s how to legally bet in Montana:

1. Download the Sports Bet Montana app.
   
   
2. Create an account and verify you’re at least 18 years old.
   
   
3. Build your betslip at home if you want.
   
   
4. Head to a licensed retailer—bar, tavern, or casino.
   
   
5. Use the app or a kiosk to confirm and place your wager.
   
   
6. Track results on the app or return to the location to cash out.
   
   

Unlike other states, you can’t sit on your couch and bet during NFL betting Sundays. You need to be physically present at a licensed site.

Why Montana Chose a State-Run Model

Montana’s lawmakers designed sports betting this way to protect local businesses. By tying betting to retail locations, the state ensures bars, casinos, and restaurants benefit from foot traffic.

This is very different from most sports gambling legal states, where mobile betting dominates. In Montana, in-person betting is still the focus, even though the app provides a hybrid experience.

What You Can Bet On in Montana

Despite the restrictions, the betting menu in Montana is broad. Legal wagers include:

• NFL betting, NBA spreads, MLB totals, NHL props.
  
  
• College sports betting, though high school sports are prohibited.
  
  
• Parlays, moneylines, totals, and live betting options.
  
  

Sports Bet Montana covers many of the same markets as big national operators, just within a more limited system.

Montana Compared to Other Sports Gambling Legal States

Montana stands apart from most online sports betting legal states.

• Colorado: Open, competitive market with multiple apps accessible anywhere in the state.
  
  
• Wyoming: Fully mobile betting with DraftKings and FanDuel.
  
  
• Montana: State-run monopoly, retail-dependent system.
  
  

This difference makes Montana’s market smaller in handle and revenue, but it spreads opportunities to hundreds of local businesses licensed to host kiosks.

Online Sports Betting Example: Grizzlies Football

Imagine it’s Saturday, and Montana is hosting Montana State in the annual “Brawl of the Wild.” A fan in Bozeman opens Sports Bet Montana at home, adds Montana -4.5, parlay it with the over on total points, and throws in a first-half moneyline.

To lock it in, they head to a local bar, grab a beer, and finalize the bet on the app while watching the game with friends. That’s the Montana way: betting is social and tied to retail spots.

Challenges of the Montana Model

The Montana Lottery system limits competition. With only one operator, bettors don’t get odds shopping, promos, or welcome bonuses that exist in other sports gambling legal states.

Handle and revenue are much smaller compared to neighboring states with fully mobile markets. But the state values its unique balance—supporting local retailers while still offering regulated sports betting legal online.

The Future of Online Sports Betting Montana

The future likely means more of the same. Unless lawmakers change the law, Montana will remain a state-run monopoly. There’s little sign of outside apps entering the market anytime soon.

Still, Sports Bet Montana continues to expand access, adding more retail partners every year. With NFL betting, NBA action, and college sports fueling demand, Montana’s betting system is expected to remain steady.

Final Thoughts on Online Sports Betting Montana

Online sports betting Montana is legal, but limited. You can bet on NFL games, NBA matchups, and college rivalries, but only through the Sports Bet Montana system, and only at licensed retail locations.

It’s a different model from most online sports betting USA states, with less convenience but more local flavor. For now, Montana players will keep heading to bars and casinos for their bets.

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