Sports Betting

NFL Betting: The Best Online Sportsbooks in Montana for Football

Montana did something nobody else dared: it banned online sports betting and built 500+ retail kiosks instead. You read that right. While every other state rushed to launch mobile apps, Montana said "nah" and put betting machines in bars, restaurants, and lottery spots across the entire state. It's the first state outside Nevada to legalize sports betting post-PASPA (May 3, 2019), but it took the scenic route. This breaks down Montana's wild retail-only setup, your actual options for NFL betting, and how to navigate one of America's most restrictive markets.

NFL Betting: The Best Online Sportsbooks in Montana for Football

Is NFL Betting Legal in Montana?

Yes, but ONLY in-person at retail kiosks. True online betting is prohibited. Montana legalized sports betting when Governor Steve Bullock signed HB 725 into law on May 3, 2019, with retail kiosks launching on March 9, 2020.

Here are the key legal facts you need to know:

Regulatory body: Montana Lottery Commission
Retail sportsbooks: 500+ kiosks at bars, restaurants, lottery retailers, casinos statewide
Online sportsbooks: PROHIBITED (no true statewide online betting)
App-managed accounts: Sports Bet Montana app exists but geofenced to retail locations only (you must physically be at a licensed location to place wagers)
Mobile within kiosk range: You can bet remotely IF within range of a licensed kiosk using geolocation
Age requirement: 18 years old or older (one of only 4 states with 18+ age)
Remote registration: Limited (can create accounts remotely, but must physically visit kiosk to wager)
DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports): STRICTLY ILLEGAL
Social sportsbooks: Legal alternatives (Fliff, Thrillzz) available statewide
Tax rates: Lottery partners receive 6% commission on wagering handle
College sports: Yes, full college betting including University of Montana, Montana State
Professional sports: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS allowed

Important: Sports Bet Montana is the only legal option. Offshore and unlicensed sportsbooks lack legal protections.

Best NFL Betting Options in Montana

Montana has no traditional online sportsbooks, forcing bettors to use retail kiosks, social sportsbooks, or offshore platforms. Here's what you're working with:

Sports Bet Montana – The ONLY State-Regulated Option

The ONLY legal in-person sportsbook operated by the Montana Lottery Commission.

Format: Self-serve kiosks at 500+ locations (bars, restaurants, lottery retailers). Sports Bet Montana app available for account management (geofenced to retail locations). Mobile betting is possible if within the range of licensed kiosks using geolocation. Minimum age: 18+ (rare advantage).
Welcome offer: Minimal/None (state lottery model, not competitive promotions).
User experience: Poor app rating (1.4/5 on iOS/Android) due to limited markets and inferior lines.
Strengths: 500+ physical locations (most convenient retail network nationally), 18+ age accessibility (rare), state-regulated safety.
Limitations: No true online betting (must visit retail location), poor app interface (1.4/5 rating), limited betting markets vs. major operators, worse odds than competitive states, no meaningful welcome bonuses.

Best for: Anyone who wants to stay 100% legal and doesn't mind visiting a bar to bet.

Social Sportsbooks (Legal Statewide Alternatives)

Montana bettors use social sportsbooks for free-to-play and stakes-based contests:

Fliff Social Sportsbook: Promo: Spend $100, Get $300 in Fliff Coins (code ACTION). Format: Free-to-play with optional cash stakes. Available statewide (no location requirement). Features simple pick'em format with cash redemption options.
Thrillzz Social Sportsbook: Promo: Spend $100, Get $200 in Coins + $2 Free (code ACTION200). Format: Social betting with squad features. Available statewide. Features "Squads" for teaming with friends and prop betting.

Best for: Anyone who wants to bet from home without visiting a kiosk.

Shurzy tip: Montana's kiosk system is about as convenient as a rotary phone. If you're serious about betting regularly, you're going to end up using social sportsbooks or offshore platforms because driving to a bar every Sunday gets old fast.

Best NFL Betting Bonuses in Montana

Montana offers virtually zero bonuses due to retail-only structure. Here's what's available:

Sports Bet Montana: Minimal/No welcome bonuses (state lottery model). Limited daily promotions.
Social Sportsbooks: Fliff: $300 Fliff Coins (code ACTION). Thrillzz: $200 Coins + $2 Free (code ACTION200).

Shurzy tip: Don't come to Montana expecting big bonuses. The state runs the show through the lottery commission, and they're not trying to impress you with free bets. Social sportsbooks give you something, but it's nowhere near what you'd get in competitive states.

Popular NFL Bets You Can Make in Montana

Here's what you can wager on depending on which platform you use:

Sports Bet Montana (Limited): Moneyline (pick winner), Point Spread (margin of victory), Totals (over/under combined score), Player Props (limited availability), Parlay betting (available).
Social Sportsbooks: Pick'em contests (player prop over/under predictions), Team outcomes (simplified pick formats).

How to Bet on the NFL in Montana: Step-by-Step

Option 1: Retail Kiosks (Sports Bet Montana)

Step 1: Find a location. Visit any of 500+ licensed bars, restaurants, or lottery retailers across Montana.
Step 2: Create account. Provide ID; register for Sports Bet Montana account (or use pre-existing app account).
Step 3: Deposit funds. Use cash or approved payment methods at kiosk.
Step 4: Select NFL wager. Choose game, market, and amount at kiosk terminal.
Step 5: Place bet. Confirm and pay.
Step 6: Withdraw. Claim winnings under $600 from sales agents; over $600 must be claimed from Montana Lottery (by mail or in person).

Option 2: Social Sportsbooks (Statewide)

Step 1: Download Fliff or Thrillzz. No location requirement.
Step 2: Create an account. Standard registration.
Step 3: Claim bonus. Apply promo code.
Step 4: Place pick'em wager. Select player props (over/under).
Step 5: Claim winnings. Cash redemption available.

Shurzy tip: The Sports Bet Montana app has a 1.4/5 rating, which tells you everything you need to know. It's clunky, limited, and feels like it was built in 2010. If you're going to use it, lower your expectations dramatically. Social sportsbooks are smoother, but they're not real sportsbooks either. Montana just isn't built for serious bettors.

Responsible Gambling in Montana

Montana provides responsible gaming resources. Sports Bet Montana offers self-exclusion and self-limiting programs through the app. Contact Montana Lottery Commission for statewide exclusion from all retail locations.

Get Help: If you or someone you know struggles with problem gambling, contact the Montana Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), available 24/7, free, and confidential.

Final Take: Montana's NFL Betting Scene

Montana stands as America's most unique retail-only sports betting market with 500+ kiosks (largest retail network nationally), no true online betting, 18+ legal age, strict DFS prohibition, and poor Sports Bet Montana interface (1.4/5 rating). The state prioritized maximizing retail locations over online convenience, creating the opposite problem from competitive states.

Shurzy tip: Montana built a retail empire when everyone else went digital. It's like they read the playbook backward. If you live here and want to bet seriously, you're going to spend a lot of time at bars, or you're going to find alternatives. That's just how it is.

Share this post

Sports Betting