Alaska Online Sports Betting Guide 2024

Are you looking for Alaska sports betting opportunities? Maybe you’re visiting the state and want to place sports bets. It’s not always easy to find these details out!

In this guide, we answer the question “Is sports betting legal in Alaska?” and take you through the options and choices you have available as a bettor.

By the end of this article, you’ll be clearer than ever on Alaska sports betting legislation and what that means for your sportsbook activities.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Learn what sports betting options are legal in Alaska.
• Discover if there will be an Alaska sports betting launch in the future.
• Explore the history of Alaska sports betting legislation.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Alaska?

Real cash sports betting is illegal in Alaska. This means there are no legal Alaska sports betting sites, and there is no way for you to place sports bets in person either.

Back in 2022, there were challenges to Alaska sports betting laws. The Alaska sports betting bill introduced by Republican Adam Wool tried to get betting authorized and regulated online. However, there’s been little to no movement on House Bill 385 since its introduction.

When will sports betting be legal in Alaska? No one’s sure when or if betting will ever be allowed in the state. It’s thought that Alaska’s sparse landscape and population are partly to blame for sportsbooks failing to capture local interest. Many operators simply wouldn’t profit from setting up here!

Take a look at some states where sports betting is legal if you want to travel and place bets elsewhere in the US!

Fun fact: There are no rules regarding the official Alaska sports betting age, and Alaska sports betting revenue is non-existent.

Our Alternative to Online Sportsbooks in Alaska: Sweepstakes Bookmakers

Can you use Alaska sports betting apps? Yes, but only use sweepstakes sportsbooks. Sweepstakes bookmakers and casinos allow people to place bets legally without having to pay a penny. That’s because you are technically taking part in prize draws and there’s no purchase necessary.

Check out our complete guide to sports sweepstakes for more information. Meanwhile, here are two Alaskan sweepstakes sites we personally recommend for 2024.

Fliff

Fliff is one of the best play-for-fun betting sites available for mobile users in the US. In Alaska, this fantastic app is particularly welcome thanks to its broad range of sports and high-value token system.

Fliff’s intuitive app interface and features let you place bets using tokens on sports and compete against others in a social competition. The app lets you track your progress on various leaderboards, and you can claim loyalty prizes and virtual badges.

If you like betting and don’t mind playing for fun, Fliff is a great choice if you’re in Alaska and stuck for options. As far as mobile sports betting Alaska goes, I think this is your best option.

Rebet

Rebet is another sweeps bookmaker that focuses heavily on the social side of betting. The app sets up a networking style interface where you can play against others to see who will make the best choice from game to game.

Soccer, basketball, golf, you name it — there are tons of markets and options available through Rebet. Best of all, you don’t have to deposit any real cash to take part, which helps to make the app legal in Alaska!

How to Bet on Sports in Alaska?

Unfortunately, this section is going to be pretty short! Unless you’re using a sweepstakes betting site, there’s no legal way for you to bet on sports in Alaska. Even then, betting on sports in Alaska can differ from one sweepstakes app to another.

So, if you’re an Alaskan native, and you’d like to start placing bets for real, I recommend looking at other states you can travel to and legally bet from. Alaska also happens to be just one of two states in the US without any neighboring states, with the other one being Hawaii.

Popular Sports and Teams in the Alaska Betting Scene

Here’s where things get even stranger, and probably even more frustrating for sports fans and bettors in Alaska. The state doesn’t have any professional sports teams, so its sporting scene is quite sparse. You can probably thank the landscape and the small population for that!

Local Teams

There are some local teams that Alaskans enjoy watching even if they are unable to bet on them! For example, in minor league baseball, teams include the Anchorage Bucs and the Anchorage Glacier Pilots. 

In the ice hockey world, the Alaska Aces are one of the biggest representatives with three Kelly Cup championships under their belt. These teams might not be major league or pro level, but that doesn’t mean they can’t put on an entertaining show.

College Sports

If you prefer, there are also college sports played across Alaska. One of the most popular college teams playing out of the state is the Anchorage Seawolves who are the main team representing students at the University of Alaska!

There are also a few tournaments and leagues for the non-pro scene in Alaska. For example, there’s the Great Alaska Shootout — where teams across the US come together to play at the University of Anchorage around Thanksgiving.

Supporting Teams Outside Alaska

Otherwise, sports teams followed by Alaskans really vary depending on the area and who you speak to! Some sports fans across the state bet on teams based in Seattle or Portland, such as the Seahawks in the NFL, and the Mariners in major league baseball. 

In fact, many of the closest teams participating in major leagues close to Alaska are actually based in Canada. That means it’s not unheard of for you to find fans of the Vancouver Canucks in the state.

Unfortunately, unless they are placing bets at sweeps bookmakers, there are no legal ways for sports fans in Alaska to show their support via sportsbooks. At least for now.

The Impact of Local Teams on Sports Betting

Since AK’s betting scene is non-existent outside of sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks, there’s no reliable data available when it comes to who generates the most local interest.

Sweepstakes bookmakers are becoming more popular with Alaskans as the ban on real cash betting continues, but there are no clear trends to suggest who people bet on the most. Given that Alaska has no US neighbors, it’s wise to assume bettors tend to pick a wide range of national and international teams!

Upcoming Events

Are you interested in learning more about sporting events in Alaska? You won’t be able to place real cash bets on them, but if you’d like to watch them in person or via live stream, it’s best to keep track of Alaska sports betting news. 

We will also update you if there are any changes to state laws too! Bookmark us and check back for an Alaska sports betting update.

Are There More Gambling Options in Alaska?

We don’t have an Alaska sports betting locations map to share with you, nor do we have a list of real cash sites. However, there are a couple of ways you can gamble legally in AK.

• Sweeps Sportsbooks: As mentioned earlier, sweepstakes betting lets you place bets on real-life sports events without having to use real cash. These sportsbooks are legal because there’s no obligation for you to deposit!
• Casino Gaming: The casino scene in Alaska is rather confusing as there are some casinos on tribal reservations, but in general, devices that allow gambling for real money are prohibited in Alaska. 
• Bingo: You can play bingo at halls within the state, but these are few and far between due to the size and sparseness of the state.

Fun fact: Another available alternative to sports betting is fantasy sports, which is perfectly legal in Alaska!

Maximizing Your Bets

Okay, let’s assume you’re betting at a sweepstakes bookmaker in Alaska. Here are some top tips you should keep in mind when placing bets.

Tips and Strategies for Alaska Bettors

Everyone has to start somewhere! Here are some betting tips I found helpful when I was first getting started with sportsbooks and wagers. Be sure to read our complete guide to how to be better at sports betting for more tips and tricks.

Firstly, keep track of your bankroll. When betting in Alaska, you won’t have to worry about keeping an eye on real cash. However, it still pays to set healthy limits! Make sure to set high and low betting limits on your tokens when playing at sweepstakes bookmakers.

This will help ensure your credits travel a little bit further, and you can explore more markets and odds. Don’t throw all your credits at a bookmaker at once!

Get into the betting mindset. The best bettors don’t just pick markets and events at random! They consider different sports and teams that appeal to them, but delve deep into statistics and form too.

By studying the past form of players and teams you bet on, you can use precedents to decide how they will perform in future matchups. This isn’t always going to give you guaranteed insight into how matches will go, but statistics can help give you confidence.

Understanding Taxes and Payouts

For a general overview of betting and the IRS, I suggest you take a look at our complete guide to taxes on sports betting.

Of course, in Alaska because real cash betting on sports is illegal, paying taxes on anything you make on gambling winnings is rather a moot point. There’s no official Alaska sports betting tax rate.

However, some taxation does apply when it comes to gaming operators, such as those on large vessels in the area. Alaska statutes claim that a 33% tax on the adjusted gross income of gambling operators can apply.

If you’re worried about taxation and gambling when playing games anywhere in the US, I recommend speaking to a financial advisor.

So, Will You Bet from Alaska Tonight?

Now, you know how to place sports bets in Alaska, which means heading to sweepstakes bookmakers because sports betting remains illegal within the state. At least you can start downloading an app or two and checking out some social challenges.

However, what if you’re planning to travel or move across the country to use other betting sites? You’ll want to read up on the best options using our collection of online sportsbook reviews.