The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation have become the first Montana Indian tribe to receive approval for offering legal in-person sports betting.
This approval comes after the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) gave the green light to a compact agreement that allows the tribes to operate a sportsbook at their Silver Wolf Casino in Wolf Point.
The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes own five gaming properties in the northeastern part of Montana, near the Canadian and North Dakota borders. These properties, located approximately four-and-a-half hours northeast of Billings, are now poised to offer retail sports betting, thanks to the recently approved compact agreement. Although there is no official announcement regarding the opening date of the sportsbook, the tribes have the immediate go-ahead to add this new offering to their casino.
Montana is home to a total of eight federally recognized tribes, with seven of them already operating tribal casinos. However, none of the tribes have previously ventured into the sports betting domain. This recent approval of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes marks a significant step forward for the state’s tribal gaming industry.
Before the approval of the compact agreement, sports betting in Montana was exclusively operated by the state lottery. The Montana Lottery introduced sports betting in March 2020 through its SportsBet Montana platform. However, this offering was limited to kiosk and onsite mobile betting available only at participating taverns throughout the state.
While the Montana Lottery’s sports betting offering has received mixed reviews from consumers, it has provided an avenue for bettors to engage in legal sports wagering within the state. The introduction of retail sports betting by the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes adds a new dimension to Montana’s sports betting landscape, further diversifying the options available to bettors.
Sports betting in Montana was legalized in May 2019, following the repeal of the federal ban on sports wagering known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This opened the door for states to regulate and authorize sports betting within their jurisdictions. Since then, several states have embraced this opportunity, and Montana joined the ranks of legalized sports betting states.
In Montana, video poker and video keno machines are available in bars, restaurants, and convenience stores across the state. However, only tribal casinos have the authorization to offer slot machines and other Class III gaming options.
As the tribal casinos in Montana start offering in-person sports betting, it remains to be seen how this will impact the existing market and if it will spur further developments in the sports betting industry within the state. The expansion of sports betting options can potentially attract more bettors, increase revenue, and contribute to the overall growth of Montana’s gaming industry.
