Montana Officially Bans Online Gambling

Any hope that Montana residents might soon be able to bet on sports and casino games of chance online was squashed. With the passing of Senate Bill 555, all forms of online gambling will officially be considered illegal and subject to felony charges for anyone who tries to operate or advertise an online gambling site within the state's borders. The penalties for such violations are punishable by a fine of up to $50K and a possible jail sentence of up to 10 years.

The passage and signing of the bill by Governor Greg Gianforte comes as state regulators have been battling Sweepstakes Casino sites and operators that offer access to online prediction markets. The new law was passed in April 2025 and formally went into effect on October 1, 2025.

The Remaining Gambling Options in Montana

The heavily regulated Montana gambling market still has much to offer. It just has to be done by residents in retail gambling environments, with everything being licensed and regulated by the Montana Lottery.

The available options include:

• Tribal-controlled retail casinos


• Electronic gaming machines


• Sports betting
  

The state does run one online sports betting app called "Sports Bet Montana." However, access is only granted to allow customers to prepare their betting slips and manage their wagering accounts. When the time comes for them to place wagers, they are required to do so through one of the state's retail sports betting outlets. At this time, there is no online access available for casino games, the Lottery, or poker.

The Battle Ensued

Senate Bill 555 was drawn up and passed with a sense of urgency. It was prompted by the escalating popularity of Sweepstakes casinos. While such casinos typically allow customers to play casino games for free, there is often a component that also allows them to invest real money to buy "sweeps coins" that can be wagered. Winnings can then be exchanged for real prizes. The list of potential prizes typically includes:

• Gift cards to major big box retail stores


• Luxurios vacation packages


• Merchandise such as electronic devices


• Cash or cash equivalents
  

According to lawmakers, it's the investment of cash for the chance to win something of value that constitutes online gambling. Often, these sites operate nationally without licensing and adherence to established regulations. There is no protection in place for customers.

It's worth noting that online prediction market sites fall under this same law. Said sites are reported to be taking bets on entertainment events like the Oscars and Grammys, as well as elections. When future odds wagering on sports was thrown into the mix, it became clear that the operators of these sites were trying to find loopholes in which they could operate within a given state.

On this question, Montana lawmakers have made clear they will not allow this on their watch. This ban aims to protect Montana residents from possible rogue gambling activities.