Legal Poker For Montana Residents
Montana has a set of strict poker laws, which means that it is illegal for residents to play poker in unlicensed gambling facilities. Residents can legally play poker in licensed Indian casinos; besides, home poker games and charity poker events are also permitted. The state has not yet legalized online poker.
This page presents a brief overview of land poker laws in Montana; besides, it tells residents why it is legal for them to play real money poker at offshore online poker rooms. We have also presented a list of thoroughly researched online poker rooms that accept Montana residents.
Montana Poker Laws & Statutes
Montana’s poker laws are not as outdated as the poker laws in other US states; at the same time, it cannot be denied that Montana’s poker laws are rather strict. The state deals with all forms of unregulated gambling strictly. Residents can gamble only in environments regulated and licensed by the state otherwise they stand guilty of illegal gambling.
According to Section 23-5-112 (13) (a), the act of gambling is that of risking anything of value on an event, the outcome of which depends partly or wholly on luck. The state is quite clear on what forms of gambling are illegal. Section 23-5-151 states that all forms of lotteries, gift enterprises, and public gambling are prohibited until and unless authorized, legalized, and regulated by the state.
Illegal gambling penalties are rather strict both for operators and players, and anybody caught for illegal gambling will find him/herself facing a series of felony and misdemeanor charges. However, the penalties for players are lighter than those for operators. Fortunately, Montana permits home poker games, provided nobody makes a financial benefit out of them. Charity poker tournaments and poker games held as part of fund-raising events are also legal in Montana.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in Montana?
Montana has laws that address the issue of online gambling. According to Section 23-5-112 (21) (a), Internet gambling “includes but is not limited” to gambling through communications technology that permits gamblers to stake real money on the outcomes of games. Interestingly, the definition includes legal as well as illegal gambling, which makes the legality of online gambling rather confusing. Besides, the law is more directed toward illegal operators than toward players.
In brief, there is no law in Montana that clearly prohibits residents from playing online poker for real money. The state advises players against playing at real money online poker, but it is not only legal, but also safe for players to play at offshore online poker rooms, such as the ones we have listed on this page.
Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker Montana?
Residents will not get into trouble for playing real money online poker in Montana for a number of reasons as follows. First, the state does not have any laws specifically preventing residents from playing online poker at offshore poker sites licensed and regulated by remote gambling jurisdictions. The state cannot prosecute residents for breaking a law that just does not exist. Second, the state cannot prosecute offshore online poker rooms that accept Montana residents because they are not operating from Montana. These offshore online poker rooms are based in foreign countries and have nothing to do with Montana gambling laws. They do not violate Montana’s gambling laws in any way.
It is perfectly safe and legal for Montana residents to play real money poker at offshore online poker sites, such as the ones have listed here. These online poker rooms are licensed and regulated and give top priority to customer satisfaction, fair play, and responsible gambling. They offer a wide range of lucrative cash games and tournaments, including multi-table tournaments and qualifiers to live poker events.
Legal Poker Sites That Accept Montana Players
Currently there is a huge spike in the number of online players in the United States. Any resident of Montana that has been curious about online poker is urged to check out the legal sites listed below so they can see what they have been missing all their life.
Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For Montana
There is no better site on the web for Montana residents to begin betting with than Bovada. Bovada is easy to sign up with and even easier to deposit with. They make sure that their clients can get to playing poker as soon as possible and they have also made sure that playing with them is as profitable if not more so than any other site on the web.
One of the reasons Bovada poker is so popular is because they offer more guaranteed tournaments than any other site in the U.S. A player would be hard pressed to find any other site that not only has daily guaranteed money tournaments but also ends the week with one of the biggest guaranteed tournaments on the web. Every Sunday a $100,000 dollar guaranteed tournament is held for all the users of Bovada. Any user who wants to really win big quick goes to Bovada.
SportsBetting Poker - All Montana Players 18+ Welcome Here
SportsBetting believe it or not is one of the best poker sites in the entire world. They pull out all the stops so that users of their poker rooms know they are playing on the best site available anywhere. It isn’t often that a site offers as much money in guaranteed tournaments as SportsBetting does and still has the biggest welcome bonus many new players will ever see.
First things first, when a new player signs up with SportsBetting poker they are able to get 200% of their first deposit back, absolutely free. As a player bets money and contributes to large pots, new levels of the bonus are unlocked based on the percentage of the initial deposit that has been won. In the end, double of what was put into the site is given back to the user in the form of bonus money to use anywhere in the poker room. On top of that, players are guaranteed at least $250,000 in guaranteed tournaments, so don’t miss out on SportsBetting because this level of quality and customer appreciation is rare.
| Legal Montana Poker Sites | Welcome Bonus | What To Play | Site Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up | $1,000 FREE - 100% Match | Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo |  |
| BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up | Maximum $1K: 200% Rate | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| SportsBetting Play / Sign Up | 200% Match / $1,000 Max | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| 5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up | Vary Weekly - Check Website | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo |  |
Does Montana Have Legal Land-Based Poker?
Playing poker for real money is perfectly legal in Montana provided it is done at gambling facilities approved, licensed, and regulated by the state. Poker players can play real money poker at licensed Indian casinos. It is also legal for Montana residents to play charity poker games, organized as part of casino nights. Low-stakes home poker games, in which the house does not receive any commission, are also legal. Playing poker for real money under any other circumstances is illegal in Montana.
Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For Montana Players
Most of the licensed live casinos in Montana have poker rooms. Two of the best examples for casinos offering real money poker games in Montana are Glaciers Peaks Casino and Kings Korner Billiards and Casino. Since Montana residents are fond of playing poker, a number of them run home poker games.
Montana residents can also play poker at offshore online poker rooms that accept Montana residents. Offshore online poker rooms are not based in Montana, but are licensed and regulated in remote foreign gambling jurisdictions. They give top priority to customer satisfaction and protection and run exciting cash games and online poker rooms. Besides, they welcome players with attractive poker bonuses and reward player loyalty generously.
Future of Poker/Online Poker in Montana
Online poker does not have any future in Montana. The state appears least interested in online poker legalization. The state’s lawmakers have neither voiced their opinion about the issue nor passed any online poker bill. Besides, Montana is one of the few US states that actually has laws that specifically prohibit online gambling, although the law is vague and unclear and does not appear to apply to players. Besides, Montana has too low a population for any online poker room to be successful, and Indian tribes in Montana are against legalizing any form of online gambling. Montana residents, therefore, have no other option, but that of signing up at offshore online poker rooms.
