Our Best Montana Sports Betting Offers

 

Can I Bet on Sports Online in Montana?

 

Yes - but with important limitations.

Montana’s only legal online sports betting platform is Sports Bet Montana, which is operated by the Montana Lottery. However, while the platform has online features, actual wagers must be placed in person at an authorized location. There are no competing sportsbook promos apps in the state offering traditional statewide mobile betting or online promos.

The Montana Lottery explains the restrictions in its FAQ:

“You can only register, log in, upload documents, browse the site, deposit, prepare wagers on your betslip, withdraw funds, set your personal limits, [and] change your personal details when you are at home. You cannot place bets through your personal computer or mobile phone while at home. You can only place wagers in an authorized Sports Bet Montana location.”

In short, you can complete nearly every step of the betting process online - except actually placing the wager. To place a bet, you must be physically present at an approved Sports Bet Montana retail location.

 

 

How Online Sports Betting Works in Montana

 

Sports betting became legal in Montana in April 2019 with the passage of HB 725. Gov. Steve Bullock signed the bill into law, officially authorizing sports wagering in the state.

 

Unlike many states that operate competitive sportsbook markets, Montana chose a government-run model. The Montana Lottery serves as both the regulator and operator of sports betting. As a result, all sports betting products in the state - retail and online - operate under the Sports Bet Montana brand as extensions of the lottery.

 

 

Limited Online Functionality

 

One of the most notable features of Montana’s law is its restriction on online wagering.

 

Although Sports Bet Montana offers a mobile app and website, bettors cannot place wagers unless they are physically located at an authorized sportsbook location. The app allows users to:

 

• Register

• Deposit funds

• Browse odds

• Build bet slips

• Manage account settings

 

However, the final step - placing the wager - must occur on-site at a licensed retailer.

 

 

Extensive Retail Access

 

While the in-person requirement may feel restrictive, Montana compensates by allowing a large number of retail locations. Any approved lottery retailer can host sports betting kiosks, meaning bars, taverns, and other licensed establishments throughout the state may offer wagering.

 

This structure makes Montana one of the states with the widest retail sportsbook distribution, even without true statewide mobile betting.

 

 

Betting Limits

 

Montana Lottery rules also impose wagering limits:

 

• In-person wagers: Maximum of $250 per bet

• Online (app-based) wagers placed on-site: Maximum of $1,000 per bet

 

Interestingly, bettors using the app at an authorized location can place wagers four times larger than those made directly at retail kiosks.

 

 

College Betting and DFS

 

Montana law does not broadly prohibit betting on college sports. In fact, in 2024, the Montana Lottery declined a request from the NCAA to ban player prop bets on college athletes.

 

However, because the state’s primary programs - the University of Montana and Montana State - compete in the FCS subdivision in several sports, including football, wagering markets on those teams may be limited depending on availability.

 

Finally, the law explicitly prohibits certain types of fantasy sports wagering. In line with Montana’s historically strict stance on daily fantasy sports (DFS), HB 725 bans fantasy contests that meet specific gambling criteria.

 

 

Popular Sports to Bet on in Montana

 

Montana does not have any major professional sports franchises. With a population of around 1 million residents, the state does not offer a large enough market to attract NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL teams. Still, Montanans follow and bet on several nearby or regionally popular teams.

 

 

NFL

 

The NFL is the most popular sport for bettors nationwide, and that trend holds true in Montana.

 

Because the state does not have its own franchise, many fans support nearby teams such as:

 

• Seattle Seahawks

• Denver Broncos

 

Both teams are among the closest NFL franchises geographically and draw strong regional interest.

 

 

NBA

 

The NBA is another popular betting option in Montana. While there is no in-state team, regional proximity and western U.S. loyalties influence fan preferences.

 

Commonly followed teams include:

 

• Utah Jazz

• Los Angeles Lakers

 

The Lakers, in particular, have long served as a popular team throughout the western United States.

 

 

MLB

 

Major League Baseball allegiances in Montana are more varied.

 

Some fans follow teams like:

 

• Colorado Rockies

• Seattle Mariners

 

Both are among the closest MLB franchises to the state.

 

Additionally, historical relationships between Montana-based minor league teams and MLB organizations have created pockets of support for clubs such as:

 

• Cincinnati Reds

• Chicago White Sox

• Arizona Diamondbacks

 

Montana is home to the Pioneer League, an independent professional baseball league. While it is no longer directly affiliated with Major League Baseball, it remains an important part of the state’s baseball culture.

 

 

NHL

 

Montana’s northern location and colder climate contribute to steady interest in hockey.

 

Fan loyalties vary widely, but commonly followed teams include:

 

• Vegas Golden Knights

• Seattle Kraken

• Colorado Avalanche

 

Interestingly, many Montanans consider the Golden Knights their team despite the significant distance from Las Vegas.

 

 

NCAA

 

At the college level, Montana’s two flagship universities draw the strongest local support:

 

• Montana Grizzlies (University of Montana)

• Montana State Bobcats (Montana State University)

 

Both schools compete in NCAA Division I athletics, although their football programs play in the FCS subdivision.

 

Unlike some states, Montana law does not prohibit betting on in-state college teams. As a result, bettors can legally wager on the Grizzlies, Bobcats, and other college programs.

 

Other Types of Legal Gambling in Montana

 

Sports betting is not the only legal gambling option in Montana. While the state has numerous establishments labeled as “casinos,” gambling laws are more restrictive than the name might suggest. Certain forms of traditional casino gaming are explicitly prohibited under state law.

 

 

Casino Gambling

 

Montana has more than 100 casino-style locations throughout the state. However, state law does not permit traditional house-banked table games. As a result, games such as:

 

• Blackjack

• Craps

• Roulette

 

are not legally available. True slot machines are also prohibited under the Montana Code Annotated.

 

Instead, licensed casino locations are limited to offering:

 

• Video poker

• Video keno

• Video bingo

• Other electronic gaming devices classified as “video line machines”

 

In addition, some venues may offer:

 

• Live poker

• Bingo

• Raffles

• Sports pools

 

Casinos in Montana may be operated by either commercial entities or federally recognized tribal groups. Because commercial locations are so widespread, it is difficult to list them all. However, the following tribal casinos offer gaming in the state:

 

• Charging Horse Casino & Bingo - Lame Deer

• Fort Belknap Casino - Harlem

• Glacier Peaks Hotel & Casino - Browning

• Gray Wolf Peak Casino - Missoula

• KwaTaqNuk Resort Casino - Polson

• Northern Winz Hotel & Casino - Box Elder

• Silverwolf Casino - Wolf Point

 

 

Horse Betting

 

Horse racing has long been part of Montana’s culture, and betting on races is legal through multiple channels.

 

 

Live Racing

 

Montana hosts seasonal live racing events, often tied to fair-style meets rather than full-time commercial tracks. Bettors can place wagers at:

 

• Great Falls Turf Club - Great Falls

• Miles City Bucking Horse Sale - Miles City

 

 

Online Horse Betting

 

Unlike most forms of online gambling, advance deposit wagering (ADW) on horse racing is permitted in Montana. Licensed platforms allow residents to fund accounts and place bets remotely.

 

FanDuel Racing launched in the state in 2024, joining other approved providers such as:

 

• AmWest Entertainment

• Day at the Track

• eBet Technologies (Sportech Group)

• Game Play Network Inc.

• Lien Games Racing

• NYRA Bets (a Caesars partner)

• TVG

• TwinSpires

• Xpressbet

 

These platforms allow Montana bettors to wager on major events, including the Kentucky Derby and other Triple Crown races.

 

 

Daily Fantasy Sports

 

Montana is one of the few states that explicitly prohibits daily fantasy sports (DFS).

 

Montana Code Annotated 23-5-802 states:

 

“It is lawful to conduct or participate in a fantasy sports league… It is unlawful to wager on a fantasy sports league by telephone or by the internet.”

 

In practical terms, this means informal, in-person fantasy leagues are allowed. However, placing fantasy sports wagers online or by phone is illegal.

 

Major DFS operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel do not offer contests to players located in Montana.