North Dakota Resolution to Put Sports Betting on the 2026 Ballot Rejected

Online sports betting won’t be coming to North Dakota anytime soon.

The North Dakota House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to reject a resolution to put online sports betting on the 2026 ballot. Only 24 members voted in favor, leading to a lopsided victory for opponents and signaling that online sports betting is still a long way off. 

The driving concern for industry opponents is the impact on college athletics. NCAA President Charlie Baker has been begging for more regulations on college betting, and Eastern Michigan is currently being investigated for a potential scandal. Those factors confirmed fears over protecting college athletes among House members, leading many to reject the resolution.

Proponents of online sports betting continue to assert that North Dakota residents should decide the issue. They believe public support is strong but stifled by lawmakers' fears. While they will continue to push for legalization, they won’t have another chance to put the topic to a public vote until 2028.

North Dakota currently allows retail sports betting.

Should the People Decide?

North Dakota’s situation is a microcosm of the nationwide sports betting debate. Should residents have the choice to legalize the industry, or is it the duty of lawmakers to decide what is in the state’s best interest?

Missouri is another market that was in a similar situation not long ago. The state’s professional sports teams helped lead a ballot initiative to place sports betting on the November ballot. The initiative passed, allowing the Show-Me State to begin building its market.

While Missouri’s success shows a route to legalization, it's one that North Dakota doesn’t have the resources to follow. The state has no professional sports teams, meaning they don’t have the money to support a ballot initiative. While proponents could still try to push for a ballot initiative, they will run into opposition that will have far more resources.