Legislator in Alaska Proposes Online Sports Wagering Legislation
In the heart of Alaska, the Native Village of Eklutna (NVE) recently opened a bingo hall, marking a small step towards gambling expansion in the state. However, a more significant leap is underway with the introduction of House Bill 145 (HB 145), aiming to legalize internet sports wagering in Alaska.
Filed on March 26, 2025, by Rep. Davis Nelson (R-18), HB 145 seeks to establish a regulated industry for online sports betting. If passed, the bill would allow up to 10 sportsbook operators to offer their services in Alaska, with a proposed annual license fee of $100,000 and a 20% tax on adjusted gross revenue. The effective date for the bill is set as January 1, 2026.
Alaska's sports betting landscape has been relatively barren so far, with no legal retail sportsbooks or horse racing betting. The state also lacks a gambling regulator, leaving a legal grey area for offshore sportsbooks that accept bets from Alaskans.
Prior attempts to legalize sports betting, such as House Bill 385 introduced in February 2022, have stalled and remained in committee without making further progress in the legislature. However, HB 145 represents the most significant recent effort to regulate and legalize online sports betting in Alaska.
If approved, Alaska would join North and South Dakota, two of the smallest 10 states, and eight of the smallest 10 by population, in permitting online sports betting. Conversely, California, the population king, does not have sports betting and it's unlikely to change anytime soon. Florida, the third-largest state, has mobile sports betting, but it's a monopoly controlled by Hard Rock International.
The bill also addresses concerns about college sports and the Olympics, allowing for wagering on these events. However, it does not have regulations specific to daily fantasy sports.
As of mid-2025, internet sports wagering is not yet legal in Alaska. If HB 145 is passed, it could pave the way for a more traditional casino industry in the state, following the NVE's bingo hall opening. Until then, Alaskans rely on offshore sportsbooks for online betting.
- The recent introduction of House Bill 145 (HB 145) aims to legalize internet sports wagering in Alaska, establishing a new industry for sports-betting.
- The bill proposes an annual license fee of $100,000 and a 20% tax on adjusted gross revenue for up to 10 sportsbook operators in Alaska.
- If approved, Alaska could join North and South Dakota, and eight of the smallest 10 states by population, in permitting online sports betting, while California, the population king, has yet to legalize it.
- The bill also allows for wagering on college sports and the Olympics, but it does not have regulations specific to daily fantasy sports, leaving that aspect of the gambling industry unregulated in Alaska.
