How Does Montana Online Sports Betting Actually Work?

Is Montana online sports betting legal?

It’s a question that gets asked a lot. In fact, that’s been the case ever since sports betting in Montana was first legalized, roughly a half-decade ago.

The answer to this question remains complicated. And that’s fitting. Because the laws for sports gambling in Big Sky Country are unique. Unlike other states, Montana chooses to run sports betting entirely through a government property. This model effectively prohibits your usual top online sportsbooks in the United States from entering the market. 

And yet, at the same time, this doesn’t necessarily mean online sports betting in The Treasure State is entirely illegal. It’s not. On the contrary, there is even a Monta online sports betting app through which residents can process transactions. 

Of course, you might notice we said app—as in, singular. It is here that Montana online sports betting laws are truly unique. Allow us to explain further.

Is Montana Online Sports Betting Legal?  

This inquiry has a twofold answer: Yes, Montana online sports betting is legal. But only under a very specific set of circumstances. 

Right now there is just one Montana online sports betting site operating in the region. It is run by the state lottery and called Sports Bet Montana. What’s more, its use is incredibly restrictive. Bart Shirley outlined how it works over at Legal Sports Report:

“Montana established sports betting as a government-run entity rather than a competitive market. The Montana Lottery is both the regulator and the purveyor of sports betting in the state. Thus, all of the sports betting products that you can find in Montana, whether retail or online, are extensions of the lottery. Perhaps the most significant part of the law is its restriction on online sports betting. Although the lone legal sports betting app, Sports Bet Montana, is part of a state agency, bettors cannot place wagers outside of the premises of one of the many sportsbook locations in the state. The app allows registrations, deposits, and the like without a visit to a legal sports betting location, but the final step to secure your wager requires you to be at one.”

At first glance, this isn’t much different from how other states with on-site-only sports betting run their operations. Take sports betting in Wisconsin. They only allow wagering at brick-and-mortar locations, and you cannot use a Wisconsin online sports betting app to submit transactions without being on-site.

However, in Wisconsin and many states with similar laws, gambling services aren’t operated by the government. Generally speaking, they run through federally recognized tribes. And in most cases, because more than one tribe offers sports betting, you get more than one sports betting app.

Additional Restrictions to Sports Betting Operations in Montana

Extremely limited Montana online sports betting options isn’t the only restriction put in place by Big Sky Country. According to Shirley, they also have a cap on how much you can bet per transaction.

On the bright side, if you’re able to use the lone Montana online sports betting app, your limit is apparently higher. Shirley writes that Montana online sports betting site users can wager up to $1,000.

That number apparently drops precipitously when betting in-person. The reported max at this writing is $250. Now, this limit could have changed. But if it has, it’s not widely publicized. 

Many are no doubt wondering whether there’s any standout upside to betting on sports in Montana. We understand any skepticism given the extremely truncated gambling model.

Aside from the finite online sports betting operators in Montana, though, the process isn’t much different compared to others. You can still wager on a wide variety of sports and events, and The Treasure State isn’t too limiting when it comes to prop betting markets.

On top of that, while the in-person rules may not be convenient for such a large state, residents typically needn’t travel far to find a sportsbook in Montana. They have more retail sportsbooks than almost any other state. According to the Montana Department of Justice, Big Sky Country is home to more than 1,400 licensed sports betting operators as of August 2024.

Will Online Sports Betting Laws in The Treasure State Ever Loosen Up?

This is a question we have tackled in this exact space on numerous occasions. Over the years, our answer has never changed. And it’s not about to shift now.

We don’t anticipate Montana online sports betting expansion any time in the near future. For starters, there must be interest in making The Treasure State into a competitive market rather than a government-regulated and -operated silo. As far as we can tell, state officials have to clamor for such a major change.

Maybe sentiment will shift in the coming years. In all honesty, though, we would not count on it. The market isn’t big enough for the state to go through all the logistical hurdles. 

Montana’s population sits a hair over 1.1 million people, according to StatsAmerica.org. That makes them the 43rd largest market in the United States. While there will be some financial incentive to expand Montana online sports betting laws, it won’t be much. The best online sportsbooks in the USA won’t be tripping over themselves to enter a market that’s neither teaming with pro sports teams nor potential clientele.

This isn’t to say big-time operators wouldn’t set up shop in Montana if given the chance. They would. Perhaps one day they will. As of now, though, the expansion of Montana online sports betting doesn’t profile as a priority for operators or the state itself.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: