- An Alaska House of Representatives member has introduced an online sports betting bill
- The bill will allow for up to 10 sports betting licenses
- It sets the state’s sports betting tax rate at 20% of adjusted revenue
Sports betting in the Last Frontier?! Sure, why not!
Rep. Davis Nelson (R-18) recently introduced HB 145, a bill to legalize Alaska online sports betting. The legislation will allow for up to 10 sports betting licenses to be distributed to operators.
If approved, Alaska sports betting will be regulated by the state Department of Revenue.
Experience Wanted for Operators
Alaska currently allows games of chance and bingo, but does not allow full-scale casino gaming. Online sports betting operators would not be tethered to any brick-and-mortar gaming elements in the state.
The legislation allows the Department of Revenue to license up to 10 online sports betting operators. If more than 10 applicants are interested in acquiring a license, the Department of Revenue will award them based on projected gross revenues, relevant experience in other states, and projected tax revenues.
Additionally, operators may only apply for a license if they currently offer online sports betting in at least three other states.
If approved for a license, operators will have to pay a license fee of $100,000. Licenses are valid for one year.
Other bill details:
- Sets the minimum sports betting age at 21
- Allows betting on college sports
- Allows betting on the Olympics
- Does not regulate daily fantasy sports
- Allows user accounts to be funded through credit cards
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Is Alaska Serious About Sports Betting?
If approved, the law would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
But is Alaska actually serious about sports betting? Alaska currently has no casino gambling and has not been a major player in sports betting legislation before. This is the first bill introduced in several years to legalize online sports betting in the state and it’s unknown if there is the necessary support to see it across the finish line.
With no professional sports franchises, or Division I colleges, the Alaska sports betting market is likely to be fairly small. No other state in the U.S. with legalized sports betting is home to zero professional sports teams or Division I colleges.
It could be a big sports betting year for the 49th and 50th states, as both Alaska and Hawaii are debating legalization. The Hawaii House of Representatives recently approved a bill to legalize online sports betting in the Aloha State by a 35-10 vote.
The bill calls for at least four online sports betting licenses to be awarded to operators in the state.
Alaska lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would legalize online sports betting in the state. The bill, known as SB 188, aims to regulate and tax online sports betting in Alaska, potentially bringing in much-needed revenue for the state.
If passed, the bill would allow Alaskans to place bets on a wide range of sports events from the comfort of their own homes. This would be a major shift from the current laws, which prohibit any form of sports betting in the state.
Proponents of the bill argue that legalizing online sports betting would not only generate revenue for the state but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth. They also point to the fact that many Alaskans already participate in illegal sports betting, and that regulating the industry would provide better consumer protection.
Opponents of the bill, however, have raised concerns about the potential social costs of legalizing online sports betting. They argue that it could lead to an increase in problem gambling and addiction, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Despite these concerns, the bill has gained support from a bipartisan group of lawmakers who believe that legalizing online sports betting is a necessary step for Alaska. The bill is currently being reviewed by the state legislature, and its fate remains uncertain.
If the bill is passed, Alaska would join a growing number of states that have legalized online sports betting in recent years. This trend reflects a broader shift in attitudes towards gambling in the United States, as more states seek to capitalize on the popularity of sports betting and generate revenue for their coffers.
Overall, the introduction of SB 188 represents a significant development in the ongoing debate over online sports betting in Alaska. As lawmakers continue to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of legalization, it remains to be seen whether the bill will ultimately become law.
