Alaska sports fans don’t live near any sports teams, which is as much of a blessing as it is a curse. Although season tickets for any major events are probably out of the question, sports fans out in Alaska do have one benefit: free from the ties of a sports town, they can freely pick from the lot when it comes time to find a favorite team. This has served Alaska players well in sports betting especially, and has unsurprisingly led to an emergence of the hobby all throughout the state. The problem is that many Alaska residents don’t know where to get started. We designed this page to serve as a resource not only to guide prospective bettors towards some of the very best legal online sportsbooks for Alaska residents, but also to answer some of the most nagging questions in relation to the hobby that most can come up with.
The first thing that most any Alaska resident wants to know before diving headfirst into a sports betting hobby is whether it’s legal to participate in or not. Luckily, the answer for interested parties is yes. While there are several federal and state laws that touch on sports betting, none of them target the players, there merely make it illegal for one to set up a sports betting operation, land based, web based or otherwise, anywhere in the state of Alaska.
Still, this seems only to present a new problem. How can Alaska residents bet safely and legally if no one can legally allow them to bet? Happily, the internet has made the world a much smaller place. Legal online sportsbooks that accept Alaska residents may operate freely in other countries where the laws towards betting are more lax, and since no federal or state laws target Alaska players, they may legally take part in betting with these businesses.
Read More: Is It Legal To Gamble Online In Alaska?
Just because there are many legal Alaska sports betting sites does not mean that they will all offer the same levels of quality and security for their members. In an industry full of pretenders, it’s important to develop solid criteria that the favorites for the crown all must meet. However, judging which sites will or will not result in a fraud is tough to judge, luckily, there is an easy way to tell which sites are the most beloved and secure, longevity. The safest initial bet that an Alaska player can make is on a sports wagering site that has been in operation for a long time, as sites that are unreliable when it comes to paying out their players do not last long in an industry this competitive. The following sportsbooks have all been around for a decade or more, and have specialized in service to Alaska residents for just as long.
No matter your sport, or even if you’re more of a race fan, the Bovada online sportsbook has you covered. It boasts one of the most secure financial systems in the entire world, rivaling that even of major retail outlets like Amazon or eBay when it comes to financial security. Beyond that, you can rest assured that when you sign up with this Alaska sports betting site, you can bet on all the lines that matter most to you. Bovada even posts odds on yearly dog sledding races, ensuring that Alaska residents can bet on events that are close to home.
The best part about signing up with Bovada is the access you have to one of the world’s best customer service departments. Anytime you have an issue with your account or an issue placing your bet, you can get these guys on the phone, day or night. Without as much as a touch-tone menu, you’ll be on the line with a live human being within a couple of seconds. Forget just sports betting, have you received that kind of dedication from any service you’ve signed up for? We’ll wait here while you try to think of one.
After over a decade of service to Alaska residents, it’s strange that we still think of SportsBetting as one of the new guys. Maybe now that they’ve officially partnered with the likes of ESPN and FOX Sports, we can finally stop thinking of them like that. The bookmakers at this Alaska sports betting site get their betting lines out to the public faster than anyone can even blink at, and they all show up with expertly balanced spreads and moneylines. For real betting junkies and casual sports fans alike, this site provides an excellent home for all sports betting needs.
If you don’t believe us, we urge you to sign up with SportsBetting now and take advantage of their industry-famed welcome bonus. This can net you a full 50% of your initial deposit all the way up to $1000, which can be the perfect boost to get your sports betting account off on the right foot. With SportsBetting, you can thoroughly explore your new sportsbook without putting a dime of your initial bankroll at risk.
| Sportsbook | Bonus | Alaska Welcome? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Up To $250 First Deposit | Yes | Visit |
| SportsBetting | 50% Match On First Deposit | Yes | Visit |
| BetOnline Sportsbook | $1,000 On All Deposits - 25% | Yes | Visit |
| 5Dimes Sportsbook | 50% To $200 Then 20% To $500 | Yes | Visit |
Due to constraints from federal law, the state of Alaska is unable to sanction any land based sports betting facilities. We’re not saying that you can’t find a bookie down the road who WILL place a bet for you… we’re just saying you can’t find one who will do so legally. It’s a good thing that sports betting sites for Alaska players offer such comprehensive and preferable options, because for Alaska players, they’re the only option.
We’ve established that sports betting in Alaska can be done legally. Unfortunately, there is a catch, but one that shouldn’t provide too much of a problem. In order to use online sportsbooks legally, Alaska residents must be 21 years of age. Overall, this is a small obstacle to work around, and waiting it out is a preferable alternative to the potential penalties like steep fines and even jail time the state hand out to those who violate this policy.
Despite popular rumor to the contrary, legal Alaska gambling is here, and residents may bet on sports legally. Even though they may not be able to find any land based sportsbooks or bookmakers, there are many legal online sportsbooks for Alaska residents that they may take advantage of. If betting on the outcome of games has become a bore, remember that daily fantasy sites are also a great way to earn cash from your sports know how, and watch the games in a completely different way.