North Dakota Online Casinos 2024 – Which One to Pick?
Do you want to play at a North Dakota online casino? First, it’s essential to verify if such platforms are allowed to operate. To do that, we will have to review the gambling laws in North Dakota. That said, you can also play at online sweepstakes gaming sites.
While ND has rather strict gambling regulations, the law still permits real money betting on tribal lands. So, there are also land-based casinos you can visit.
Continue reading, as we’ll cover all these details and more in this comprehensive guide about gambling in North Dakota.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Get to know the most reliable ND sweepstakes online casinos.
- Learn how to declare your taxes if you win at casinos in North Dakota.
- Understand the position of North Dakota lawmakers regarding real money online casinos.
Are Real Money Online Casinos Legal in North Dakota?
One popular question we come across is, “Can residents of North Dakota gamble at an online casino for real money?” Well, North Dakota is quite an unfriendly state when it comes to gambling. So, real money online casinos are not legal in the region.
Here’s a communiqué from Drew H. Wrigley, the North Dakota Attorney General:
State law prohibits even a licensed organization from conducting online gaming or hosting a raffle online.
Drew H. Wrigley, the ND Attorney General
To put it simply, it’s best to steer clear of any regular real money casino site if you’re in North Dakota to avoid getting into problems with the law. Let’s see what your other legal options are!
Our Top 5 Sweepstakes Online Casinos in North Dakota
Sweepstakes casinos are the best alternatives you have for online gaming in North Dakota. Here’s our guide on the best US sweepstakes online casinos to review and learn more about how these platforms work. Basically, you play using virtual coins and not actual money, but you can redeem real cash prizes if you win.
Many sweepstakes gaming sites are available in North Dakota, but here are the best five based on my first-hand experience.
Sweeptastic in North Dakota
Sweeptastic may be new, but it already ranks among the best North Dakota online casino sites for sweepstakes gaming. If you sign up with the platform, you can start playing for free with 10,000 Lucky Coins and 4 Sweeps Coins. Impressively, Sweepstastic features 400+ games, including slots, card games, Originals, and roulette.
Another feature to love about Sweeptastic is the Player’s Club, a detailed loyalty program with over 22 levels. You can land more free coins as you continue playing when you join the program.
→ While testing the casino, I played Triple Cash or Crash, an in-house title, and I would really recommend it. It’s straightforward, and the crash mechanic makes it unique from other casino games.
Vegas Gems in North Dakota
With Vegas Gems, you get a sweepstakes casino that uses Provably Fair technology. What does that mean? Well, it implies all games are verified using cryptography to be 100% fair. After signing up, the casino gives you a chance to spin a wheel and get up to 1,000 Gems as a welcome bonus.
When it comes to games, Vegas Gems has more than 400 titles. That’s an impressive count, but the quality is even more outstanding. You can play jackpots, classics, hold and win, Megaways, and Provably Fair options.
→ My favorite game at Vegas Gems is The Dog House Megaways by Pragmatic Play. In my opinion, it’s one of the best Megaways slots from the popular provider.
WOW Vegas in North Dakota
Registering with WOW Vegas gives you 250,000 Gold Coins and 5 Sweepstakes Coins. You won’t find many North Dakota online casino bonus offers better than that, and it’s one of the aspects that makes the site stand out.
WOW Vegas also doesn’t fall short in terms of games. As a player, you get no less than 900 online slots. Notably, WOW Vegas has something other top ND sweepstakes casinos on this list lack: a mobile app. You can install the platform’s application on your Android or iOS and play conveniently on the go.
→ Take the Bank by Betsoft is my top slot to play at WOW Vegas Casino. Why? The game features bombs on the reels that explode as you spin, and the animation is just mind-blowing.
Chumba Casino in North Dakota
Chumba Casino has been around since 2019, so it’s no surprise the platform is popular among North Dakota players. It’s another sweepstakes casino where you can get an outstanding welcome bonus as a new player. Specifically, Chumba Casino offers 2,000,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins.
Notably, the game collection on the site is not as vast as others. There are only about 150 titles, but the categories include slots, Slingo, and table games. As a result, you can still have a spell at Chumba Casino.
→ If you want a recommendation, Vicky Ventura by Red Tiger Gaming is a fun Chumba Casino game. It features 243 winning ways with expanding reels, and both features guarantee rich gameplay.
LuckyLand Slots in North Dakota
Fifth on this list of North Dakota sweepstakes casinos is LuckyLand Slots. The platform is pretty straightforward, and creating an account gets you 7,777 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins. With these free coins, you can play 120+ slots and a blackjack game.
In addition, LuckyLand Slots has a daily bonus you can claim every day you log into your account. That way, you won’t run out of free coins to play your favorite games.
→ During my review of LuckyLand Slots Casino, the game I played most was Snow Queen by KA Gaming. I loved the Free Spins bonus rounds and the cascading reels.
Want to Bet Real Money? The Top 3 Land-Based Casinos in North Dakota
Another great option for real money online casino North Dakota players is using land-based gambling houses. According to the state laws, they’re 100% legal and classified as “Tribal Gaming” following different compacts.
Here are the top 3 ND land-based casinos to visit in the Flickertail State.
Prairie Knights Casino and Resort in Fort Yates
Prairie Knights boasts of being the best casino house in North Dakota. On the floor, you’ll find over 600 slot machines, video poker, and table games, which is impressive.
Another reason Prairie Knights Casino ranks highly is its vibrant entertainment options. The casino includes a resort with 200 guest rooms and suites, two restaurants, and live music offerings.
We’ve been to casinos in a dozen states, and this place ranks high among them. We enjoyed about six hours on the floor and ending up $ ahead.
Wendy Draeger, from Google Review
- Address: 7932 ND-24, Fort Yates, ND 58538
- Phone Number: (800) 425-8277
- Website: prairieknights.com
- Opening Hours: 24/7
- Review on Google: 4.0/5
Spirit Lake Casino in Fort Totten
When in Devils Lake, ND, you don’t want to miss visiting Spirit Lake if you’re a casino fan. This premier gaming location is home to 650+ reel and video slots. That’s impressive, considering the fact that the floor isn’t that large.
Looking for table games? There are also top options at Spirit Lake. Plus, you can enjoy fine dining, entertainment, and promotions as a regular player.
This is an okay casino. They do have the old fashioned reel machines.
Michele Stroud, from Google Review
- Address: 7889 ND-57, St Michael, ND 58370
- Phone Number: (701) 766-4747
- Website: spiritlakecasino.com
- Opening Hours: 9 AM to 2 AM from Monday to Wednesday; 24 hours from Thursday to Sunday
- Review on Google: 3.9/5
Dakota Magic Casino & Hotel in Hankinson
Rest assured that you’ll feel the magic when you visit this casino in Hankinson. It has a larger collection of 700+ slots, with blackjack, poker, and craps as table gaming options. Notably, there are many jackpots for opportunities to win big.
Dakota Magic has its doors open round-the-clock, so you can visit to play your favorite games anytime.
The best part of our visit was all the slots we hadn’t played before, and we actually hit a jackpot!! Fun time.
Veronica Edmonds, from Google Review
- Address: 16849 102nd St SE, Hankinson, ND 58041
- Phone Number: (701) 634-3000
- Website: dakotamagic.com
- Opening Hours: 24/7
- Review on Google: 3.9/5
How to Declare Taxable Winnings in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, you’ll have to report your gambling winnings as income withholding tax using Form W-2G.
It’s a federal form, so the tax goes straight to the IRS. Moreover, you’ll file electronically via the official website of the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner. You must file your taxable winnings in ND before the due date after you get your payouts.
Fact: The fee for not filing taxable winnings can amount to $2,000 at the maximum.
Other Legal Gambling Activities in North Dakota
Casino games are not the only legal options to gamble on if you’re in North Dakota. Here are some others you may want to consider:
- Charitable gaming: The North Dakota Gaming Commission regulates charitable gaming in the state, and you can usually play poker and raffles at these events.
- Sports betting: Many tribal casinos in North Dakota also offer in-person sports betting options. The activity was legalized in 2021.
- Lottery: You can legally participate in lottery events organized by the North Dakota Lottery body. Options like 2BY2, Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lucky For Life.
History of Gambling in North Dakota
The recent legalization of sports betting in North Dakota adds up to a rather in-depth history of gambling in the state. It leaves the future to determine if North Dakota online casino real money sites will also get the legal green light.
However, below is a historical rundown of what the gambling situation has been in the past:
- 1976: Charitable gaming on games of chance is legit, marking the first form of legal gambling in North Dakota.
- 1987: Betting on parimutuel horse racing is legal, serving as a vital stepping stone for other forms of gambling.
- 1992: The first contracts with tribal casinos are signed, paving the way for the establishment of legal land-based casinos in North Dakota.
- 1992-2006: Significant progress is made towards legalizing various games of chance, including the legalization of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in land-based betting locations.
- 2018: The US Supreme Court grants states the power to regulate gambling within their borders.
- 2019: Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the North Dakota state legislature makes an unsuccessful attempt to pass a bill to legalize sports betting statewide.
- 2021: Three tribal casinos in North Dakota are licensed to organize legal sports betting within their physical establishments.
- 2022: Governor Doug Burgum signs an agreement with North Dakota’s American Indian tribes to lower the legal gambling age from 21 to 19 at tribal-owned casinos.
Fact: The Supreme Court ruling in 2018 prompted North Dakota to consider legalizing sports betting.
What’s Next for North Dakota Online Casinos?
Not much can be expected from North Dakota in the coming years in terms of real money online casino legalization. There’s been no recent news on whether discussions are ongoing among lawmakers. The last major event was in 2022 when Governor Doug Burgum signed an agreement to lower the legal gambling age from 21 to 19 at tribal-owned casinos.
While covering the event, APNews reported that:
The tribes initially requested the governor give exclusive rights to internet gambling and sports betting statewide.
That would allow North Dakota players and bettors to place bets on their mobile devices. To ensure there are no issues with existing state laws, all wagers will be processed through computer servers located on tribal land.
However, the proposal didn’t get any positive feedback from lawmakers. Here’s Governor Burgum’s response to the proposal:
A clear legal path does not exist for the governor to grant such a broad expansion of gaming.
So, Will You Bet From North Dakota Tonight?
If you’re a North Dakota gambler, your options include sweepstakes gaming sites or land-based casinos. So, technically, you have offline and online methods to play your favorite games.
That’s commendable, although real money North Dakota online casino sites are unavailable. Follow our recommended sites for the best gaming experience.
Meanwhile, since ND is out of the question, find out what states have online casino in the US with our complete guide.