Idaho Casino Gambling Age

What is the Legal Gambling Age in Idaho? Residents must be at least 18 years of age to participate in all the legal gambling options in this state. Online gambling and online poker also requires players to be aged 18 or over. Idaho Gambling Options. Casino: Residents have access to tribal casinos only. These only offer class II video games such. Find the minimum gambling age in casinos for every state in the USA include Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. (ID) Idaho Gambling: 18: 18: 18: 18 / 18. Since most legal gambling sites are operated outside the United States, any players who meet the legal gambling age for residents of Idaho, may enjoy all the benefits that come from gambling online. Such as access to some of the best online casinos, online poker rooms and some of the top online sportsbooks around.

  • Horseracing (1963), Lottery (1988), Casinos (2002)
  • $38 million
  • About $120 million
  • 18 for lottery and bingo, 21 for casinos and racing
  • Idaho only bans smoking in establishments that permit minors
  • Horseracing is the only form of legal online gambling

Idaho gambling is quite active in the state. There are seven tribal Idaho casinos that offer slots and video poker. A state lottery sells scratch-offs and lotto tickets. The horse racing industry continues to enjoy popularity; compared to other states. Charities may offer games of chance when the beneficiary is solely a nonprofit organization.

You will find a good selection of Idaho casinos and racetracks spread throughout the state, but if you are looking for casino card games like Blackjack or Poker, you are out of luck. Idaho only allows slot machines and video poker to be played, even at the Indian casinos.

November 2018 Update

Horse Racing rejected during the midterm elections. 54% of voters in Idaho rejected an initiative that would allow horse racing to take place in the state.

Idaho Casinos Map & Guide

  • Coeur D’Alene Casino
  • Bannock Peak Casino
  • Clearwater River Casino
  • Fort Hall Casino
  • Sage Hill Travel Center
  • 7
  • 0
  • 7
    • Huge Welcome Bonus Package
    • Visa and MasterCard Payment Options Available for US Players
    • Over 150 Real Money Online Slot Games
    Compatible with:
    • windows
    • apple
    • android
    • mobile
    • Safe and Reputable Casino, Mobile Friendly
    • Easy Credit Card Deposits for US Players
    • Impressive Welcome Bonuses up to 260% match
    Compatible with:
    • windows
    • apple
    • android
    • mobile
    • Quick USA Payouts, Credit Cards Accepted
    • Great Selection of Slots & Table Games
    • Legit & Reputable Mobile Friendly Casino
    Compatible with:
    • windows
    • apple
    • android
    • mobile
    • Uses the Microgaming Software
    • Fast Cashouts in Just 1-7 Days
    • Online, Mobile, Instant & Live Play
    Deposit Options include:
    • visa
    • mastercard
    • paypal
    • neteller
    100% up to €1,000
    • Big Jackpots and Massive Deposit Bonuses
    • Over 400 Online Casino Games
    • Play Live Dealer Games
    Deposit Options include:
    • visa
    • mastercard
    • paypal
    • bitcoin
    100% up to €1,600
    • Large Australian Bitcoin-Friendly Casino
    • Mobile, Flash, and Download Play Options
    • Fastest Payouts
    Deposit Options include:
    • visa
    • mastercard
    • paypal
    • neteller
    • Safe and Trustworthy Australian Casino
    • Multiple Daily Deposit Deals
    • 100s of Pokies, Slots, and Table Games
    Compatible with:
    • windows
    • apple
    • android
    • mobile

Types of Online Idaho Gambling Allowed

The only form of online gambling in Idaho is off-track betting on horses. TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica all accept horseracing bets from Idaho residents. As of now, online casino gambling is not legal in Idaho.

Daily fantasy sports contests appear to be legal in Idaho. The companies that provide this service to Idaho players assert that it is a skill game. There is no reason to doubt this. Idaho officials have not provided any reason to believe otherwise. FanDuel, DraftKings, Yahoo! and CBS Sports are among the major operators that accept players from Idaho.

Types of Live Idaho Gambling

  • Slots: Yes
  • Blackjack: No
  • Poker: No
  • Craps/Roulette: No
  • Horses: Yes
  • Lottery: Yes

There are two forms of legalized gambling at live venues in Idaho. Horseracing was the first form of regulated Idaho gambling. This includes live and off-track betting. The other version of live gambling are Native American casinos spread throughout the state. Slot machines and video poker are permitted. Table games and poker rooms are not legal at Idaho casinos.

There is also a state lottery. Standard scratch-off and lotto tickets are sold. This includes interstate drawings like Powerball and Mega Millions.

Idaho Gambling Laws

Idaho is very strict when it comes to gambling, as its gambling laws clearly reflect. However, there is a fun fact about slot machines and their legality. They were banned by popular vote in 1948, so how can the Idaho casinos still operate and offer slot machines to their visitors? There was a certain law that allowed these Native American casinos in Idaho to offer antique slot machines. The tribal casinos fought the state and won, by saying they were not slot machines, but rather lottery terminals. The state has not bothered them since, so players can enjoy these old, but still fully functioning slot machines.

Idaho gambling laws prohibit all forms of gambling, except:

State Lottery

A state lottery which is authorized by the state if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation.

Pari-Mutuel Betting

Pari-mutuel betting if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation

Bingo & Raffles

Bingo and raffle games that are operated by qualified charitable organizations in the pursuit of charitable purposes if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation.

The only exception to this is gambling on tribal land. Slots and video poker are permitted at Idaho casinos located on reservations. Blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, baccarat and electronic versions of these games are illegal, even when operated by Native American casinos in Idaho.

List of Idaho Casinos

There are two types of Idaho gambling establishments. One is racetracks and are the oldest form of gambling in Idaho. The other is tribal casinos, where players enjoy slots and video poker. You will find a detailed list of Idaho casino locations and websites below. You can also use our Idaho casinos map to help guide you to the nearest location. There is also a list of Idaho racetracks.

CasinoSizeAddressWebsite
Bannock Peak Casino60 Slot Machines1707 W. County Rd.www.shobangaming.com
Clearwater River Casino400 Slot Machines17500 Nez Perce Highwaywww.crcasino.com
Coeur D’Alene Casino1,600 Slot Machines37914 South Nukwalqwwww.cdacasino.com
Fort Hall Casino900 Slot Machines1-15 Exit 80 – Simplot Roadwww.shobanhotel.com
It’se Ye-Ye Casino110 Slot Machines419 Third Streetwww.crcasino.com
Kootenai River Inn Casino500 Slot Machines7169 Plaza St.www.kootenairiverinn.com
Sage Hill Travel Center100 Slot MachinesI-15 exit 80www.shobangaming.com

Idaho Racetracks

  • Gem County Fairgrounds
  • Les Bois Park (includes off-track betting)
  • Pocatello Downs
  • Intermountain Racing
  • Rupert Downs
  • Jerome Horseracing
  • Oneida County Fairgrounds
  • Cassia County Fairgrounds
  • Eastern Idaho Fairgrounds
  • Sandy Downs (includes off-track betting)

History of Idaho Gambling

The Idaho Constitution forbids most forms of gambling. The only exemptions are charitable gaming, horse racing, and the state lottery.

Slot machines were legal between 1947 and 1953. These devices overflowed from Nevada during this era. The state legislature fought back and closed the loophole these devices briefly enjoyed. The games were forced back south into Nevada or were destroyed.

Idaho legalized horse racing in 1963. Off-track betting was added in the 1970’s. Racing revenues dropped after Idaho tribes were permitted to offer slots and video poker. The state legalized historical racing machines in 2013 to help the tracks survive this loss in action. State lawmakers repealed historical racing in 2015.

Greyhound racing was legalized at the same time as horses. The last track closed in 1995. Idaho banned greyhound racing when the last track shuttered. Off-track betting on greyhounds ceased on July 1, 1999.

Coeur D’Alene Casino opened a live poker room in 2014. Idaho officials challenged the tribe’s position that poker was legal through the state’s pari-mutuel laws. The state contended that poker was expressly illegal under the state constitution. The state prevailed when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with it in July 2015. Coeur D’Alene Casino was forced to shut down its poker room in 2015.

Idaho Casinos & Gambling FAQ

Is horseracing legal in Idaho?

What types of legal Idaho online gambling is there?

The only form of legalized online gambling is off-track betting. Online poker, casino games and sports betting are all illegal in Idaho.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that live poker rooms are illegal in 2015.

The last greyhound track in Idaho closed in 1995. The Idaho Legislature quickly repealed the state’s greyhound racing laws. Off-track betting was permitted until July 1, 1999.

The Idaho Lottery was created in 1988. Instant and lotto tickets are sold.

Yes. Casinos in Idaho are legal and are permitted to offer slots and video poker.

Idaho Casino Gambling Age

There are currently seven Native American casinos in Idaho spread throughout the state.

The minimum Idaho gambling age is 21 for casinos and racing bets, and 18 for the lottery and bingo.

The Idaho Legislature legalized instant racing machines in 2013 but the law was repealed two years later.

Idaho Gambling Statutes

TITLE 18 CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS CHAPTER 38 GAMING

Section 18-3801

GAMBLING DEFINED -

'Gambling' means risking any money, credit, deposit or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, the operation of casino gambling including, but not limited to, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, bacarrat [baccarat] or keno, but does not include:

(1) Bona fide contests of skill, speed, strength or endurance in which awards are made only to entrants or the owners of entrants; or

(2) Bona fide business transactions which are valid under the law of contracts; or

(3) Games that award only additional play; or

(4) Merchant promotional contests and drawings conducted incidentally to bona fide nongaming business operations, if prizes are awarded without consideration being charged to participants; or

(5) Other acts or transactions now or hereafter expressly authorized by law.

Section 18-3802

GAMBLING PROHIBITED -

(1) A person is guilty of gambling if he:

(a) Participates in gambling; or

(b) Knowingly permits any gambling to be played, conducted or dealt upon or in any real or personal property owned, rented, or under the control of the actor, whether in whole or in part.

(2) Gambling is a misdemeanor.

Section 18-3809

BOOKMAKING AND POOL SELLING -

Any person who for gain, hire or profit engages in pool selling or bookmaking at any time or place within this state; or any person who keeps or occupies any room, shed, tenement, tent, booth or building, float or vessel, or any part thereof, or who occupies any place or stand of any kind, upon any public or private grounds within this state, with books, papers, paraphernalia, or mechanical device, for the purpose of engaging in pool selling or bookmaking, or recording or registering bets or wagers; or who sells pools or makes books upon the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed or power of endurance of man or beast for gain, hire or reward; or any person who, for gain, hire or reward, receives, registers, records and forwards to any other place, within or without this state, any money, consideration or thing of value for the purpose of having it there bet or wagered by or for any person, who at such place sells pools or makes books upon any such event, or any person who, being the owner, lessee or occupant of any such room, shed, tenement, tent, booth or building, float or vessel, or part thereof, or any grounds within this state, knowingly and willfully permits the same to be occupied and used for any of the purposes aforesaid, unless unable to legally prevent the same; or any person who aids, assists or abets in any manner in any of said acts which are hereby forbidden, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than six (6) months or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Section18-3810

SLOT MACHINES - POSSESSION UNLAWFUL - EXCEPTION -

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to use, possess, operate, keep, sell, or maintain for use or operation or otherwise, anywhere within the state of Idaho, any slot machine of any sort or kind whatsoever.

(2) The provisions of section 18-3804, Idaho Code, shall not apply to antique slot machines. For the purpose of this section, an antique slot machine is a slot machine manufactured prior to 1950, the operation of which is exclusively mechanical in nature and is not aided in whole or in part by any electronic means.

(3) Antique slot machines may be sold, possessed or located for purposes of display only and not for operation.

(4) An antique slot machine may not be operated for any purpose.

Section 20 of the Idaho Constitution

GAMBLING PROHIBITED -

(1) Gambling is contrary to public policy and is strictly prohibited except for the following:

a. A state lottery which is authorized by the state if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation; and

b. Pari-mutuel betting if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation; and

c. Bingo and raffle games that are operated by qualified charitable organizations in the pursuit of charitable purposes if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation.

(2) No activities permitted by subsection (1) shall employ any form of casino gambling including, but not limited to, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, bacarrat, keno and slot machines, or employ any electronic or electromechanical imitation or simulation of any form of casino gambling.

Idaho Casino Gambling Age

(3) The legislature shall provide by law penalties for violations of this section.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following are not gambling and are not prohibited by this section:

Idaho Casino Gambling Agency

a. Merchant promotional contests and drawings conducted incidentally to bona fide nongaming business operations, if prizes are awarded without consideration being charged to participants; and

b. Games that award only additional play.

Idaho Gambling Laws courtesy of: http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/IC/ArtIIISect20.htm