Top Online Casinos for Montana
The 4th-largest state in the USA encompasses the Northwest region, bordering North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, Idaho to the west, and Canada to the north.
Since achieving its statehood in 1889, Big Sky Country became famous for many absorbing facts: Abundant mountain ranges and mammals variety that precedes any other state in America, the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park, the biggest snowflake ever fallen on Earth (measured fifteen inches), the first woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress, the largest freshwater lake east of the Mississippi River, one of the most massive virtually intact T-Rex skeletons ever found — to name only a few.
The state economy is based on mining, agriculture, farming, ranching, oil/coal/gas resources, financial/business services, health verticals, and the government sector. These economic agents contributed to a gross product bit over $47 billion in 2019, close to 0.4 of the United States’ annual GDP.
Gambling has played different market roles since Montana’s Constitution entered into force, making it the 41st state admitted to the Union.
As of 2020…
…you can legally play poker in card houses or indulge in video poker. You can visit four land-based casinos on Indian territories only or enjoy sportsbetting.
But you cannot exercise interactive gambling — except online poker, limited to state residents.
Legal Framework
Throughout history, state regulations alternated between prohibitive laws and legalization acts concerning institutionalized gaming.
Constitutionally banned until 1933, gambling resurfaced with the Hickey Act, which legalized limited table games. Almost twenty years later, the Montana Supreme Court ruled punch boards and slot machines illegal while voters overwhelmingly rejected a bill to allow land-based casinos.
In 1965, horseracing was legalized after a 50-year absence. The law created the Montana Board of Horse Racing, in charge of regulating the pari-mutuel racing system.
In 1973, the legislature passed the Card Game, Bingo, Raffles, and Sports Pool Act, allowing charitable and social gaming. This gambling expansion paved the way for poker table games and ensuing card houses.
In 1985, the Video Poker Machine Act made video poker legal. In years to come, payouts and the volume of allowed devices per establishment increased by other laws.
In 1986, voters approved the lottery, including keno and bingo.
In 1994, the legislature approved brick-and-mortar establishments on tribal groups’ territories. To this day, they can operate Class II bingo machines or Class III casinos provided the controlling tribe signed a gaming compact with the state.
No other form of organized land-based establishments is allowed, except for tribal gambling authorized by federal law, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
In 2005, Montana introduced legislation that bans online gambling. No additional legal initiatives have been considered since.
In 2017, the state’s House of Representatives voted against a proposed law to legalize blackjack.
Finally…
…with the SCOTUS repulsion of the PASPA — even though Montana received an exemption from this law on a grandfathered basis — the state legislators authorized online and offline sports wagering in 2019, run by the state lottery.
The same year, dice game Cee-lo was authorized, and the state Senate defeated yet another initiative for blackjack legalization.
Considering multiple state laws that govern gambling activities, players and online pundits can introduce themselves better with governing rules in the 2019 Montana Code Annotated document, issued by the stated Department of Justice.
And…
…since poker plays the most prominent role on the gambling stage, the best place to learn more about available variants, pot limits, and other regulatory particulars is the Official Montana Poker Rule Book, also issued by the state DoJ.
The legal age for all gambling is 18, excluding raffles organized by charitable and nonprofit organizations.
Licensing
The Gambling Control Division of the state DoJ is the main regulatory body responsible for all gambling activities, excluding the Montana Lottery and horse racing.
The GCD has the mandate to maintain a uniform gaming environment that enables fair play framework, free of corrupt influences. It is responsible for collecting all gambling revenue for the state and local governments and serves as a reference point for all licensees.
All interested parties and applicants may submit for myriad available licenses and permits with variable annual fees.
There are eleven available licenses, depending on the nature of the operator, vendor, distributor, manufacturer, or employee’s position.
Additionally…
…there are eight different permits based on the type of game, event, or machine a venue interested in hosting gambling activities seeks.
As of 2020, more than 1,400 licensed operators are offering 16,000+ video gambling machines.
Players’ Protection
The GCD’s policies ensure players can address grievances following the state laws and the American Gaming Association’s policies and guidelines.
Montana has several all-encompassing initiatives that offer thorough assistance to problem gambling issues.
There is a couple of designated helplines on state and county level, in addition to Gamblers Anonymous, Public Opinion on Problem Gambling, and Montana Council on Problem Gambling, which offers many resources and treatments.
March is the official Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
Since the majority of gaming activities involve table- and video-poker, Montana seems to possess a well-balanced and healthy market.
However…
…the state remains vigilant in raising awareness, changing the view of problem gambling, and early recognition of gambling addiction signs.
Final Notes
In a way, Montana is more kind of a card house state than anything else.
If you happen to prefer Texas Hold’Em, Draw Poker, Omaha, Seven Card Stud, and their variations, you’ll find plenty of action in Big Sky Country.
Although sportsbetting activities are on the rise and the American regulations landscape is rapidly changing, online gambling remains a wish too far.
Be it as it is…
…if you wind up in The Treasure State and decide to treat yourself with prudent gaming action in a responsible manner, we wish you good luck, great time, and plenty of fun, which is what gambling is all about.
Further Reading
Casinos found: 233
If we have jumped the gun, you can remove that filter by clicking here.
$20
No Deposit - EXCLUSIVE
$20
No Deposit - EXCLUSIVE
$20
No Deposit - EXCLUSIVE
$20
No Deposit - EXCLUSIVE
$20
No Deposit - EXCLUSIVE
$20
No Deposit - Exclusive
$35
No Deposit - Exclusive
500% up to $2500
Sign Up Bonus
$69
No Deposit - EXCLUSIVE
$44
No Deposit - Exclusive
$100
No Deposit - Exclusive
250% up to $250
Sign Up Bonus - EXCLUSIVE
Examples of deposits:
Bitcoin$68
No Deposit Bonus - EXCLUSIVE
100% up to $1000
Sign Up Bonus
100 Spins
No Deposit Bonus - Exclusive
$77
No Deposit Bonus - Exclusive
AU$/$18
No Deposit Bonus - EXCLUSIVE
$15
No Deposit Bonus - Exclusive
AU$/$18
No Deposit Bonus - EXCLUSIVE
$15
No Deposit Bonus - Exclusive
AU$/€/$77
No Deposit - EXCLUSIVE
$40
No Deposit - Exclusive
$30
No Deposit
150% up to $1500
Sign Up Bonus
$40
No Deposit - Exclusive
$30
No Deposit Bonus
$30
No Deposit Bonus
$40
No Deposit - Exclusive
127% up to $500
Sign Up Bonus - Exclusive
$44
No Deposit Bonus - EXCLUSIVE
$25
No Deposit Bonus - EXCLUSIVE
137% up to ₿1
Sign Up Bonus - Exclusive
335% up to $3350 + 175 Spins
Sign Up Bonus + 175 FS - EXCLUSIVE
177% up to $500
Sign Up Bonus - EXCLUSIVE
200% up to €/$3000
Sign Up Bonus
320% up to $2000
Sign Up Bonus - Live Dealer Exclusive
$36
No Deposit Bonus - EXCLUSIVE
275% up to $2000
Sign Up Bonus - Live Dealer Exclusive
100 Spins
Casino Spins - EXCLUSIVE
AU$15
No Deposit - Exclusive Bonus
$20
No Deposit - Exclusive
35 Spins
No Deposit Bonsu - Casino Spins
500% up to €/$2500 + 150 Spins
Sign Up Bonus
210% up to $2100 + 200 Spins
Sign Up Bonus - Exclusive
300% up to $300 + 100 Spins
Sign Up Bonus - Exclusive
300% up to $1000
Sign Up Bonus
$175
No Deposit - Exclusive
150% up to $150
Sign Up Bonus - Exclusive
100% up to $2000 + 20 Spins
Sign Up Bonus
lcb activities in the last 24 hours
Join today and start earning rewards
You will immediately get full access to our online casino forum/chat plus receive our newsletter with news & exclusive bonuses every month.