Best Montana Online Casinos

Montana has an exceptionally long history of gambling regulation. Laws previously prohibited all forms of gambling for many years, but regulations have been loosened, and some gambling venues now exist across the state. Below, we’ll show you how to find Montana’s best online casino sites.

Gambling Laws in Montana

Gambling and betting are forbidden under Montana laws unless licensed under the appropriate authority. Therefore, operators within the state must have a valid license to offer gambling services. In terms of general law, the state of Montana allows betting on sports, poker, lotteries, and horse racing. Moreover, video gambling and other casino games are permitted within licensed casinos.

Class III gaming licenses allow tribal casinos to operate slot machines, roulette, blackjack, craps, and other games on their premises. Comparatively to Class II, where operators can only offer bingo-style and slot-like games.

For some time, land-based casinos in Montana had fewer restrictions; however, they had strict online gambling laws. Here are some historic highlights:

• In 1889, all forms of gambling were prohibited in Montana.
• Repeal of prohibition led to the re-opening of bars, which increased illegal gambling throughout the US in 1933.
• In 1937, a bill called the Hickey Act was passed, and a few casino table games were legalized at specific locations licensed by the jurisdictions involved.
• The Card Game, Bingo, Raffles, and Sports Pool Act was passed in 1973, making these games legal.
• Video keno was made legal as a part of live bingo by the Montana Supreme Court in 1976.
• With the passage of the Video Poker Machine Act in 1985, operators were permitted as many as five poker machines on their liquor license.
• The Senate Bill 431, which consolidates gambling laws in Montana, was passed in 1989. Montana casino laws were then regulated and enforced by the Department of Justice.
• In 1991, liquor licenses allowed a maximum of 20 video poker machines in an establishment.
• In 2005, the Montana Legislature explicitly made internet gambling illegal.
• Sports betting became legal in Montana in 2019.
• In 2020, Montana’s lottery launched sports betting.

Online Gambling in Montana

In some states, online gambling is legalized, and operators are provided with licenses; however, Montana isn’t one of them. Since online gambling isn’t licensed and regulated within the state, it’s illegal, according to the Montana Code Annotated 2019. The only legal way to conduct online gambling in Montana is through social casinos.

There’s good news, though: It’s possible to access offshore casino sites relatively easily without breaking any laws. Operators with licenses in jurisdictions like Curacao and Cyprus can offer a full range of betting products. As a result, you have a wide variety of online and mobile casinos to choose from.

Online Casinos in Montana

You can play at reputable real money casinos in Montana via two different channels. If you want to get all your bets down, you can go to a land-based casino. Alternatively, you can play at foreign sites.

Online Casino Games

There’s no shortage of fantastic foreign casinos available to residents of Montana. Naturally, the types of games available at these online casinos vary.

Here are some of the most popular ones:

Online Blackjack

There are online blackjack options at nearly all casinos, even the smaller ones. It’s easy to learn to play this game online.

Online Slots

It’s unlikely you’ll find an online slot that’s boring. These days, online casinos offer a wide variety of fantastic slot games. Many of them have excellent graphics and are highly complex. If you’re a fan of slots, you’re going to love playing these games at online casinos. 

Video Poker

Online poker is one of the most popular casino games that you will find. Online gambling apps offer you a wide variety of video poker options so that you’ll feel right at home. You can even take part in video poker tournaments at some online casinos.

Online Roulette

Playing online roulette can occasionally offer huge payouts. The online and offline versions are mostly the same. Take a shot at playing this game to see how lucky you are.

Land-based Gambling Venues in Montana

The Treasure State is home to several licensed casinos, bars, gas stations, taverns, cafes, convenience stores, and other gambling venues. Racetracks also operate in Montana. The gambling facility must possess the appropriate license to legally operate.

The maximum number of video gaming machines in a bar or tavern is 20. Rather than paying you straight in cash, these machines print out receipts. The maximum wager on video poker or video keno machines is $2, and the biggest jackpot is $800.

Native American tribes operate casinos in Montana, resulting from state-level agreements. Most of them provide games of the Class II variety. The minimum age to gamble in Montana is 18.

How We Chose the Best Online Casino

If you’ve never gambled online before, choosing the right casino can be a bit of a challenge. The state of Montana has access to some great foreign casinos, offering a wide selection of games and promotions. 

Most new online casinos should have some basic features to look out for. There are many different types of online casinos that we review and recommend. Analyzing them helps us determine the best from the bad ones so you don’t need to go through that hassle.

When it comes to evaluating and selecting top casino websites, we look at the following factors:

Simple and Secure Payment System

We ensure that the payment system is safe when choosing an online casino. It would be best if you only played at online casinos that guarantee the safety of your funds. Finding a site that offers this feature isn’t a problem.

Good online casinos list their payment methods clearly on their websites. We go to several sites to see what payment options they offer and how long it takes to complete a transaction. We also read gambling site reviews, which is always a good idea.

User Interface and Modern Design

From an outside perspective, website design seems insignificant. The way a site is designed has a profound effect on your game’s performance. When reviewing online casinos, we ensure they are easy to navigate and offer a modern design. A clean and easy-to-use design is essential when searching for an online casino. 

Compatibility

Players can now access online casinos from all devices through a web browser. You can play on your phone, tablet, or computer; at home or while traveling. There are also mobile applications offered by the best online casinos, found on Google Play or the Apple App Store.

For online casinos to run smoothly and load quickly, HTML5 features should also be used. Players can easily and quickly find games using navigation bars and search tabs to access special offers. Being able to play at a mobile casino site on the go is a huge advantage to those that have the compatibility to do so.

Wide Selection of Games

A wider selection is always better. There should be a large variety of games available, including classic and modern slots, jackpots, live casino games, and RNG table and card games.

Promotions and Bonuses

A good online casino should offer a welcome bonus and other promotions. We made sure to look at their loyalty programs, too. The more you play, the more benefits and rewards you should receive. Playing with casino bonuses is often one of the most exciting parts of your time with an online casino.

Licenses

When exploring a casino in-depth, we need to verify its license. The footer of the website usually includes a badge from the relevant authority. Ideally, the gaming website should be licensed by a reputable jurisdiction such as the UKGC or MGA. Curacao and Alderney licenses count as well.

Security

Players often avoid online casinos due to security concerns. That’s understandable. The Internet is filled with scam sites where your personal and financial information is at risk.

It’s our responsibility to ensure that the casinos provide SSL certificates. Your personal information is kept on secure servers, preventing prying eyes from seeing your transactions. New casinos also employ firewalls for security against unauthorized access.

Reputation

Reality may be different from the picture painted by a casino. Checking a casino review site and looking at what players are saying helps us make an informed decision. A casino’s reputation can tell you a lot. We ensure that the reviews are equally stellar before making our decision.

Customer Service

When looking for a legit online casino, many players overlook customer service. For most people, it isn’t even something they consider until they need it.

Therefore, we promote sites that are always available to help you. Live chat is currently available at many online casinos. Furthermore, a direct telephone number might be provided to you, thus making your life easier.

Banking Options

The following methods are currently available to deposit and withdraw money at most of the casinos we recommend:

• PayNearMe at 7-Eleven
• Online bank transfer
• Visa and MasterCard
• ACH/Echeck
• PayPal

Payment methods such as PayPal offer instant deposits and are one of the most widely-used ways to make online payments. Withdrawal times can vary depending on which payment method you select.

Casinos in Montana: How to Play

Online casinos make it very simple to sign up for a new account and get started immediately. You won’t have to spend much time on it at all, as we explain all the steps.

1. Press “Join Now.”
2. Complete the personal information form.
3. Once you’ve filled out those boxes, select “Create Account.”
4. Verify your account with a verification email and activation link.
5. Start betting and win. Choose from various slot machines and other games online to start betting immediately.

Conclusion

Montana offers limited gambling options. Video gambling machines are available at many bars, but there isn’t much variety to choose from. The sports betting industry only started in 2020, so it’s still in its infancy.

It’s good to know that you can find foreign casinos in Montana that offer everything you need. There are also sportsbooks, racebooks, poker rooms, and many other games offered by some of the featured online casinos. Pick your favorite and enjoy it.