Online Gambling in Alaska: What’s Legal and What’s Not

Online poker is not legal in Alaska. The state has never authorized real-money online card rooms, and there are no licensed platforms for poker cash games or tournaments.

Alaska is not part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), meaning there are no shared player pools with other states. As a result, popular formats such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, sit-and-gos, and multi-table tournaments are unavailable under state law.

Some residents use offshore poker sites, but these platforms are not regulated by Alaska or U.S. authorities, leaving players without protections if disputes or payout issues arise.

Alaska is one of the few states that has never established a state lottery. Proposals to introduce one have appeared multiple times in the legislature, but none have passed due to political opposition and concerns over revenue allocation.

This means there are no draw games, scratch-offs, or online lottery platforms available to residents. Alaskans who want to participate in national jackpots like Powerball or Mega Millions must purchase tickets in neighboring states.

Until lawmakers approve a constitutional amendment, Alaska will remain without a state lottery.

Bingo is one of the few legal forms of gambling in Alaska. Licensed charitable organizations are allowed to host bingo games as fundraising events, making it one of the state’s most common and socially accepted gambling activities. Players must be 18 or older to participate.

In addition to charity bingo, pull-tab games are widely available in bars, clubs, and nonprofit venues across Alaska. These instant-win tickets are regulated under state charitable gaming laws and generate significant revenue for local organizations.

However, online bingo is not legal. No state-regulated platforms exist, and all real-money digital bingo activity is prohibited.

Charitable gaming is the core of Alaska’s gambling industry. Nonprofit organizations with proper licenses can operate bingo, raffles, pull-tabs, and fish derbies as fundraising activities. These games are strictly regulated by the Alaska Department of Revenue, which sets rules on licensing, reporting, and prize limits.

Charity gambling is widespread across the state, with pull-tabs being particularly popular in local bars and clubs. All proceeds must go to approved nonprofit causes, and organizations are required to keep transparent records of revenue and expenses.

Players must be 18 or older to participate, and while these activities are small in scale compared to casinos or lotteries, they remain an important part of Alaska’s community gaming culture.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) operates in a legal gray area in Alaska. The state has not passed specific legislation to regulate or ban DFS contests, and platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel continue to accept players from Alaska.

Because DFS is not explicitly defined as gambling under Alaska law, it exists without direct oversight or consumer protections. Players can legally join contests, but there is no state agency monitoring fairness, payouts, or responsible play.

Participants must be 18 or older to create accounts and enter contests. While DFS is accessible, its unregulated status means players assume all risks when participating.

Social gambling is not explicitly legal in Alaska. State law does not carve out exceptions for private, non-commercial games such as home poker nights or informal betting pools. As a result, any real-money game played outside of licensed charitable settings can technically be considered illegal gambling.

That said, enforcement is rare for small-scale, non-profit home games. The main legal issue arises if a host takes a rake, charges an entry fee, or profits from running the game, which could lead to prosecution under Alaska’s gambling statutes.

Online social casinos that use virtual currency only (no cash-out) are accessible in Alaska, but real-money social gambling remains prohibited.

Alaska does not have commercial land-based casinos. The state constitution prohibits most forms of gambling, and no legislation has ever been passed to authorize casino-style gaming.

The only limited alternative is tribal gaming operations. However, because Alaska has not signed Class III compacts under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), tribes cannot offer full casino games such as slot machines, blackjack, or roulette. Instead, they may operate Class II bingo-style games and pull-tabs, which are much smaller in scale compared to traditional casinos.

As a result, residents looking for full-scale casino experiences must travel outside Alaska. Within the state, options remain restricted to charitable and tribal bingo halls.