Gambling Age in Idaho The gambling age in Idaho is 18+. Those 18 years of age and older can participate in the state and national lotteries, tribal casino games, charity bingo, as well as pari-mutuel racing bets. The legal drinking age in the state is 21 years of age but was once 19. Type of gambling Minimum age Relevant sections of the Act Gambling in casinos or other licensed gambling premises It is illegal to permit any person under the age of 18 to enter a licensed gambling premises. The only exception is licensed family entertainment centres. 18: 46, 47, 48 and 49 Gaming machine (Machine category: A, B1, B2, B3, B3A. Depending on which state you’re in, you could get into a casino as early as 18 years old, or you might have to wait until you’re 21. The minimum age for gambling in the US varies between 18 and 21.
Idaho gambling is quite active in the state. There are seven tribal Idaho casinos that offer slots and video poker. A state lottery sells scratch-offs and lotto tickets. The horse racing industry continues to enjoy popularity; compared to other states. Charities may offer games of chance when the beneficiary is solely a nonprofit organization.
You will find a good selection of Idaho casinos and racetracks spread throughout the state, but if you are looking for casino card games like Blackjack or Poker, you are out of luck. Idaho only allows slot machines and video poker to be played, even at the Indian casinos.
Horse Racing rejected during the midterm elections. 54% of voters in Idaho rejected an initiative that would allow horse racing to take place in the state.
The only form of online gambling in Idaho is off-track betting on horses. TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica all accept horseracing bets from Idaho residents. As of now, online casino gambling is not legal in Idaho.
Daily fantasy sports contests appear to be legal in Idaho. The companies that provide this service to Idaho players assert that it is a skill game. There is no reason to doubt this. Idaho officials have not provided any reason to believe otherwise. FanDuel, DraftKings, Yahoo! and CBS Sports are among the major operators that accept players from Idaho.
There are two forms of legalized gambling at live venues in Idaho. Horseracing was the first form of regulated Idaho gambling. This includes live and off-track betting. The other version of live gambling are Native American casinos spread throughout the state. Slot machines and video poker are permitted. Table games and poker rooms are not legal at Idaho casinos.
There is also a state lottery. Standard scratch-off and lotto tickets are sold. This includes interstate drawings like Powerball and Mega Millions.
Idaho is very strict when it comes to gambling, as its gambling laws clearly reflect. However, there is a fun fact about slot machines and their legality. They were banned by popular vote in 1948, so how can the Idaho casinos still operate and offer slot machines to their visitors? There was a certain law that allowed these Native American casinos in Idaho to offer antique slot machines. The tribal casinos fought the state and won, by saying they were not slot machines, but rather lottery terminals. The state has not bothered them since, so players can enjoy these old, but still fully functioning slot machines.
Idaho gambling laws prohibit all forms of gambling, except:
A state lottery which is authorized by the state if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation.
Pari-mutuel betting if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation
Bingo and raffle games that are operated by qualified charitable organizations in the pursuit of charitable purposes if conducted in conformity with enabling legislation.
The only exception to this is gambling on tribal land. Slots and video poker are permitted at Idaho casinos located on reservations. Blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, baccarat and electronic versions of these games are illegal, even when operated by Native American casinos in Idaho.
There are two types of Idaho gambling establishments. One is racetracks and are the oldest form of gambling in Idaho. The other is tribal casinos, where players enjoy slots and video poker. You will find a detailed list of Idaho casino locations and websites below. You can also use our Idaho casinos map to help guide you to the nearest location. There is also a list of Idaho racetracks.
Casino | Size | Address | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Bannock Peak Casino | 60 Slot Machines | 1707 W. County Rd. | www.shobangaming.com |
Clearwater River Casino | 400 Slot Machines | 17500 Nez Perce Highway | www.crcasino.com |
Coeur D’Alene Casino | 1,600 Slot Machines | 37914 South Nukwalqw | www.cdacasino.com |
Fort Hall Casino | 900 Slot Machines | 1-15 Exit 80 – Simplot Road | www.shobanhotel.com |
It’se Ye-Ye Casino | 110 Slot Machines | 419 Third Street | www.crcasino.com |
Kootenai River Inn Casino | 500 Slot Machines | 7169 Plaza St. | www.kootenairiverinn.com |
Sage Hill Travel Center | 100 Slot Machines | I-15 exit 80 | www.shobangaming.com |
The Idaho Constitution forbids most forms of gambling. The only exemptions are charitable gaming, horse racing, and the state lottery.
Slot machines were legal between 1947 and 1953. These devices overflowed from Nevada during this era. The state legislature fought back and closed the loophole these devices briefly enjoyed. The games were forced back south into Nevada or were destroyed.
Idaho legalized horse racing in 1963. Off-track betting was added in the 1970’s. Racing revenues dropped after Idaho tribes were permitted to offer slots and video poker. The state legalized historical racing machines in 2013 to help the tracks survive this loss in action. State lawmakers repealed historical racing in 2015.
Greyhound racing was legalized at the same time as horses. The last track closed in 1995. Idaho banned greyhound racing when the last track shuttered. Off-track betting on greyhounds ceased on July 1, 1999.
Coeur D’Alene Casino opened a live poker room in 2014. Idaho officials challenged the tribe’s position that poker was legal through the state’s pari-mutuel laws. The state contended that poker was expressly illegal under the state constitution. The state prevailed when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with it in July 2015. Coeur D’Alene Casino was forced to shut down its poker room in 2015.
The only form of legalized online gambling is off-track betting. Online poker, casino games and sports betting are all illegal in Idaho.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that live poker rooms are illegal in 2015.
The last greyhound track in Idaho closed in 1995. The Idaho Legislature quickly repealed the state’s greyhound racing laws. Off-track betting was permitted until July 1, 1999.
The Idaho Lottery was created in 1988. Instant and lotto tickets are sold.
Yes. Casinos in Idaho are legal and are permitted to offer slots and video poker.
There are currently seven Native American casinos in Idaho spread throughout the state.
The minimum Idaho gambling age is 21 for casinos and racing bets, and 18 for the lottery and bingo.
The Idaho Legislature legalized instant racing machines in 2013 but the law was repealed two years later.
All Idaho casinos are affiliated with Native American tribes. There are currently seven Idaho Indian casinos which all offer electronic pull-tab machines and other video games. There are no Idaho casinos that offer live table games, only electronic versions of games such as: craps, baccarat, blackjack, and roulette. Some Idaho casinos also offer off-track betting, bingo, and poker.
Shown below is a list of all casinos in Idaho. Click on a casino name to see a page of detailed information about that particular casino.
Visit our Idaho casinos map page to see a detailed map showing all casinos in that state.
Idaho does not require its Native American casinos to provide minimum slot machine payback percentages to the public, nor do they make any information available on what the machines actually pay back to the public.
Unlike the casinos in Idaho, in many U.S. states the slot machine payback statistics for that particular state’s casinos are released as a matter of public record. Just click here to see a list of slot machine payback statistics for casinos in all U.S. states.
There are no casinos in the capital city of Boise, Idaho, nor in the major metropolitan city of Idaho Falls. Casinos in Idaho are typically in somewhat remote areas, though there are three Idaho casinos within a 60-mile drive south of Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Out of the seven casinos in Idaho, here are four casinos in Idaho that offer hotel lodging along with gambling. In Worley, Idaho, the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort is the largest casino in Idaho. It offers a 300-room hotel, seven restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, a spa, and a sprawling 100,000 square-foot casino.
The second largest casino in Idaho, Fort Hall Casino, is located in the southeast corner of the state, about 50 miles south of Idaho Falls. They offer a 156-room hotel, four restaurants, a casino with more then 900 video gaming machines, and five nights a week (Wednesday through Saturday) they host bingo.
All Idaho casinos are open 24 hours and the minimum gambling age at all casinos is 18. However, Clearwater casino is the one exception; their minimum gambling age is 21.
For more information on visiting Idaho casinos, or for general Idaho tourism information call (800) 635-7820 or visit: www.visitidaho.org
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TOP THINGS TO DO IN IDAHO
Idaho is among the top culturally inspiring states that you can explore in the U.S. because it combines outdoor recreation areas, mountain landscapes, along with friendly communities. You will be awed by the diverse landscapes – from the glacial lakes in the panhandle to the lunar-like landscapes on the southern border. The state is a great place to go if you are an outdoor enthusiast, or nature lover, and some of the best things to do in Idaho are listed below.
Sun Valley Resort
This resort in southern Idaho attracts skiing enthusiasts from all over the world with its stunning winter sports facilities. The highlight of the resort is Bald and Dollar Mountain which offers downhill skiing for all levels of ability. The resort is equipped with 13 chairlifts which service 2,000 acres of skiable terrain. The resort also features a Nordic Center for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Another popular activity is Heli-Skiing, which is downhill skiing or snowboarding, where instead of a ski lift, a helicopter is used to reach your starting point. If you happen to be here during the summer months, the resort offers many activities for hikers, mountain bikers, and other outdoor activity lovers.
The closest casino to this attraction is Sage Hill Travel Center & Casino.
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
This area comprises of 756,000 wildland acres in Sawtooth National Forest of central Idaho. There are 700 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, 40 peaks that are more than 10,000 feet high, and lots of alpine lakes to explore. The area also features about 50 established campgrounds where you can stay if you want to go camping with the family. Some other top activities to try here are fishing and mountain biking during the summer months while cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are popular during the winter months.
The closest casino to this attraction is Sage Hill Travel Center & Casino.
Hell Canyon National Recreation Area
This canyon can be found within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in northern Idaho and it is the deepest river gorge in North American. The canyon was carved out by the wild and scenic Snake River which spans 95 miles along the border of Washington and Oregon. The best ways to explore the Hell canyon include: hiking and horseback trails, rafting down the white-water rapids, and staying in the developed or primitive campgrounds. You can also come here during the winter months if you enjoy skiing and snowmobiling.
The closest casino to this attraction is It’Se-Ye-Ye Casino.
Shoshone Falls
These falls are also called the Niagara of the West and can be found on the northeastern edge of the city of Twin Falls. The falls are 212-foot-tall and were created by the turbulent forces of the Snake River. The waterfalls flow year-round and are at their peak between April and July. You can also explore the surrounding areas which include the adjacent Dierks Lake which is filled with swimming spots, hiking trails, and scenic overlooks. Picnicking areas are also popular and provide stunning views of the falls.
The closest casino to this attraction is Bannock Peak Casino.
City of Rocks National Reserve
This is a famous attraction among climbing enthusiasts. Located in southern Idaho, it is also known as the City of Rocks. The pioneers along the historic California Trail noticed this magnificent feature and the Shoshone, historically made camp among the huge spires and boulders. The city of rocks is a popular place to go for hikers, birders, mountain bikers, and photographers. The attraction also features a campground for tourists with 64 camp sites.
The closest casino to this attraction is Bannock Peak Casino.
Craters of the Moon National Monument
This is a lunar-like landscape that was created by volcanic eruptions between 15,000 and 20,000 years ago. The crater is located in southeastern Idaho and you can explore the region of lava flows on the sign-posted circular routes. The area is still geologically active and features five caves you can explore, but before you can explore this area, there is a need for permits which you can easily obtain at the Monument entrance station.
The closest casino to this attraction is Sage Hill Travel Center & Casino.
Thousand Springs
This is a large area of land surrounded by the clearest, cleanest rivers and springs that you will ever see. Some of the best activities here are to hike through the Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve or you can try your hand at stand-up paddle boarding or canoeing along the rivers.
The closest casino to this attraction is Bannock Peak Casino.
There are currently 7 casinos located in Idaho. There are currently 7 casinos located in Idaho. • Bannock Peak Casino • Clearwater River Casino and Lodge • Coeur D’Alene Casino Resort Hotel • Fort Hall Casino • It’Se-Ye-Ye Casino • Kootenai River Inn Casino and Spa • Sage Hill Casino
In Idaho, the minimum gambling age at all casinos is 18. However, Clearwater casino is the one exception; their minimum gambling age is 21.