Gambling Age In North Dakota

Minimum Age: 19

Details and Explanation

Legal Age Requirement: In North Dakota, the minimum legal age is 19 for tribal casinos, sports betting, and the state lottery, as set by the North Dakota Attorney General and North Dakota Century Code § 50-09-01. This reflects a tribal-focused gambling framework in a rural state.

Offline / Land-Based Gambling: Land-based gambling includes five tribal casinos offering Class III games, a state lottery, and sports betting (legal since 2021 via tribal compacts), generating a $200 million market. Casinos offer modest games, smaller than your 3,250+ slot interest. Cultural acceptance is low, driven by a $60 billion agricultural economy. No commercial casinos exist, and a 2024 sports betting bill stalled.

Online Gambling: Online gambling, including casinos, poker, and sports betting, is illegal under North Dakota Century Code § 12.1-28-01. A $30 million unregulated offshore market exists in 2024, driven by 75% smartphone penetration. Players face no prosecutions, and no website blocking is enforced. No online gambling bills were proposed in 2024, and 2025 legalization is unlikely due to a proposed Gaming Commission elimination.

Regulation and Oversight: The North Dakota Attorney General regulates lotteries and tribal gaming, but a 2025 bill (SB 2224) may shift oversight from the Gaming Commission to the Attorney General, impacting efficiency. No online gambling framework exists, unlike Kahnawake’s standards. North Dakota’s $250 million gambling economy is small, with no 2024 updates. 2025 will focus on regulatory restructuring.

Enforcement and Penalties: North Dakota enforces regulations moderately, with fines up to $10,000 or imprisonment for operators. Players face no prosecutions for offshore use. Rural enforcement is weak across the state’s prairies. The $30 million unregulated market is projected to grow 3% in 2025, driven by mobile access, but legalization faces legislative inertia.