Alaska’s geographical isolation from the lower 48 states has allowed the region to wade gracefully into the waters of legal sports betting.
AK is one of only a handful of states that doesn’t have domestic sportsbooks yet, and there is no rush to do so because it shares no borders with other states that allow sports betting.
Locals are not tempted to travel across the border into another state to bet on sports using their local sportsbooks.
When gamblers travel to other states, they spend their money there and contribute to local tax coffers, and lawmakers are often quick to make a change when they take notice of it happening.
This reality has been the catalyst for many sports betting states legalize domestic sportsbooks.
Despite this seclusion, legal Alaska sports betting is being considered in the state legislature.
House Bill 145 was introduced by Representative David Nelson (District 18) on March 21st. The bill, if passed, would make mobile sports betting legal in Alaska. The bill proposes the allowance of up to ten domestic sports betting apps to apply for licenses at a rate of $100,000.
These applications would be downloadable to smartphones and tablets and available to Alaskans and tourists. HB 145 would set the minimum age to bet on sports in AK to 21 years old.
The Alaska Department of Revenue will be the regulatory body of sports betting, issuing licenses to qualified applicants and ensuring fair gameplay across all sportsbook apps.
Any revenue that these apps collect from sports betting will be subject to a state tax of 20%.
The legislation has an active date of January 1, 2026, with the first bets accepted after three or more licenses are granted.
There has been no action on the bill since it was introduced in the Business and Industry Committee in March. Its next stop is a hearing in the House Labor & Commerce on May 16th.
The Alaska legislative session will conclude on May 21st. That leaves less than two weeks on the clock for AK lawmakers to make a move to legalize local sports betting.
While there seems to be no urgency by AK politicians to pass HB 145, perhaps there should be. The presence of offshore sportsbook sites in the state allows residents and tourists to bet on sports on the web right now, and these businesses will continue to thrive if domestic options are not approved.
Sources:
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