North Dakota Sports Betting: Latest News & Updates (2026)
TL;DR
Sports betting in North Dakota is legal only in-person at tribal casinos as of 2026. No statewide online or mobile sportsbooks are available. Attempts to expand sports betting through ballot measures or legislation have repeatedly failed, and lawmakers rejected a proposal to send an online sports betting legalization question to voters for the 2026 ballot. Residents 19 or older (tribal age may be 21) can place retail bets at authorized tribal casinos, and players in the state can also participate in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and prediction markets like Novig.
The Current State of Sports Betting in North Dakota
As of 2026, North Dakota’s sports betting environment remains limited and retail-only. While regulated and legal at certain tribal casino locations, there are no licensed mobile or online sportsbooks anywhere else in the state.
North Dakota residents can legally:
- Bet on sports in-person at tribal casinos that have opened sportsbooks
- Trade sports outcomes on prediction markets such as Novig
- Play Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) contests on major platforms
Below is a breakdown of what’s allowed today, what’s not, and how past legislative efforts have tried and failed to expand sports betting in the state.
Where North Dakota Sports Betting Legislation Stands (2018-2026)
North Dakota has a unique sports betting landscape where it is legal through tribal casinos but blocked statewide otherwise.
It Didn’t Expand After PASPA
When the federal sports betting ban (PASPA) was overturned in 2018, many states moved fast to authorize statewide sports wagering. North Dakota did not follow suit. Instead, sports betting pulled ahead only through tribal-state gaming compacts, which allowed tribal casinos to offer retail sportsbooks beginning in late 2021 under Class III gaming agreements. These compacts let the tribes operate in-person sportsbooks on their land without a formal statewide law.
Outside of those tribal casinos, sports betting remains illegal under North Dakota law. Any effort to legalize retail or statewide online sports wagering still needs action from the legislature or a constitutional change.
The Bills Keep Stalling
Over the years, lawmakers have repeatedly tried to expand sports betting beyond tribal land. In 2023, lawmakers introduced a resolution called the House Concurrent Resolution 3002. This would have amended the state constitution to allow sports betting and put the question to voters statewide. That measure failed to pass the Senate after passing the House, which left legalization stalled.
In early 2025, legislators revived the same resolution for the 2026 ballot. The North Dakota House of Representatives ultimately voted down the proposal, with opponents citing concerns ranging from gambling addiction to impacts on charitable gaming.
Since the legislature meets only in odd-numbered years under North Dakota’s schedule, the next chance to either amend the constitution or pass a new legalization bill won’t be until 2027 at the earliest. This means that a statewide ballot question wouldn’t appear until at least 2028.
Constitutional Issues and Roadblocks
A major challenge in North Dakota is that expanding gambling beyond existing tribal compacts may require a constitutional amendment. Multiple proposals have suggested amending the state constitution to explicitly permit sports betting statewide, but none have made it to voters. Until those hurdles are cleared, North Dakota remains firmly retail-only, limited to the tribal casinos.
What’s Legal to Bet on in North Dakota
Due to the fact that North Dakota doesn’t currently have a statewide sportsbook market, there isn’t an official menu of legal bets like you’d see in other legalized states. However, in-person sports betting at tribal casinos still does offer a variety of options.
At authorized tribal sportsbooks, bettors can typically wager on:
- Major professional sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL
- College sports
- Moneylines, spreads, and totals
- Parlays and futures
Specific markets and props may vary by casino, so players should confirm availability before placing a bet. The age requirement for sports wagering set by tribal casinos is typically 19 or older, but some tribal properties may require bettors to be 21.
Where You Can Legally Bet in North Dakota
As mentioned earlier, retail sportsbooks operate at select tribal casinos under tribal-state gaming compacts. Outside of those properties, traditional sports betting remains prohibited. The state does not allow commercial online sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM to operate statewide. There are no legal mobile betting sportsbooks available for use inside North Dakota.
For many residents, tribal casinos may not be nearby or convenient. When betting requires physically traveling to a casino property and placing wagers on-site, many interested users may not be able to participate due to lack of time to physically be there. Nonetheless, there are still ways for North Dakota residents to participate in sports outcomes from home. Two of the most practical and widely used alternatives are sports prediction markets and Daily Fantasy Sports platforms.
Sports Prediction Markets
Sports prediction markets, such as Novig, allow users to trade sports outcomes instead of placing traditional bets against a sportsbook. Rather than a house setting odds and building in a margin, prediction markets operate peer-to-peer. Prices are often tighter because they are driven by supply and demand between users rather than fixed sportsbook lines.
Due to the fact that prediction markets are not structured as traditional sportsbooks, they operate independently of North Dakota’s retail-only sports betting framework. That makes them accessible to players who want to participate without driving to a casino.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
Daily Fantasy Sports platforms offer another widely available option in North Dakota. DFS contests typically include games with structured rules such as contests like:
- Draft-style competitions
- Pick’em formats
- Salary-cap games
- Best ball contests
DFS is not regulated as traditional sports betting in North Dakota, and major platforms continue to operate in the state. While it’s not the same as placing a straight bet on a game, it gives players another structured way to engage with sports outcomes.
Why Novig Makes Sense for North Dakota Players
North Dakota’s sports betting rules create a big limitation. While in-person betting at tribal casinos is legal, it isn’t always convenient. Many residents would need to travel significant distances, and once there, they’re limited to whatever pricing and markets the on-site sportsbook offers.
Novig offers a more flexible alternative. As a peer-to-peer sports prediction market, Novig allows users to trade sports outcomes from home. There is no house setting lines, and there is no built-in vig baked into each market. Instead, prices move naturally based on user activity. This structure can lead to tighter pricing and more flexibility compared to traditional retail sportsbooks.
For North Dakota players who want legal access, competitive pricing, and the ability to participate without making a casino trip, prediction markets like Novig fit cleanly within the state’s current legal landscape.
FAQs
Is sports betting legal in North Dakota?
Yes, but only in-person at certain tribal casinos.
Can you bet on sports online in North Dakota?
No. North Dakota does not allow statewide online or mobile sports betting through traditional sportsbooks.
Where can you legally place a sports trade in North Dakota?
Traditional sports bets can only be placed in-person at approved tribal casino sportsbooks. Sports trades can also be placed on prediction markets like Novig.
How old do you have to be to bet on sports in North Dakota?
The minimum age is generally 19 at tribal casinos, though some properties may require bettors to be 21.
Are DraftKings or FanDuel legal in North Dakota?
No. Commercial sportsbook apps are not authorized to operate statewide.
Is Novig legal in North Dakota?
Novig operates as a prediction market rather than a licensed sportsbook. Always review in-app eligibility requirements and platform terms.
