Starting Dec 1, Dakota Magic Casino Will Take ND Sports Bets

• In North Dakota, Sports Betting Launches Dec 1 at the Dakota Magic Casino
• If Regulatory Delays Exist, Launch Date Could be Pushed Back to January
• Despite Prior Opposition, North Dakota Sports Betting Market Could Thrive

In North Dakota, Sports Betting Launches Dec 1 at the Dakota Magic Casino

The idea of officially legalizing sports betting in North Dakota has faced many ups and downs in the past few years, but the American Gaming Association has listed the Peace Garden State as one of the states where gambling is live and legal.

Now, according to local media, sports betting in North Dakota will be open to the public starting December 1 at the Dakota Magic Casino (DMC), which is among North Dakota’s largest tribal casinos after partnering with International Game Technology PLC (IGT) this summer.

Interested bettors will have to show up in person since only retail wagers can be placed, although it is possible to bet online when on tribal land using the Dakota Nation Sportsbook, a convenience not available to residents once they leave the casino property.

Now interested sports bettors have another option to add to the others they have been using, including local bookies, offshore sportsbooks, and neighboring states where such activity has already been made legal.

Though Dec. 1 is the scheduled launch date for DMC, that could be pushed back.

If Regulatory Delays Exist, Launch Date Could be Pushed Back to January

The local media in North Dakota has reported that sports betting will begin at DMC on Wednesday, December 1, but if there are regulatory delays or other such hiccups that launch date could be pushed back to January.

Such a stall would not shock North Dakota gamblers since similar delays have hampered the legalization of sports betting in the Flickertail State, stalling past efforts to regulate and tax that market, an issue that has seen much debate there.

A 2019 sports betting bill was introduced but was defeated and earlier this year a proposal that would have allowed voters to weigh in on the subject advanced through the state House but was defeated in the Senate, so now sports betting is restricted to just tribal casinos.

Regardless of the pushback, legal sports betting market across all of North Dakota could thrive.

Despite Prior Opposition, North Dakota Sports Betting Market Could Thrive

The idea of legalizing in-person and online sports betting across the state of North Dakota has been staunchly opposed by many lawmakers, but industry experts project that market could bring in $7.2 million per biennium in tax revenue alone.

There would also be jobs created and the local economies would grow thanks to the added revenue so, despite the state’s low population number (770,026, ranked 48th), the potential handle and benefits to that area could be huge.

With three out of four of North Dakota’s neighbors already allowing legal sports betting to occur, (Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota) that money is being spent outside the state, but with localized sports betting made legal statewide as well as the mobile version eventually, all that existing revenue could be redirected back home.

Keep checking back for the latest news and updates on this ongoing story.