Alaska plays its hand with new sports bill
Alaska might be vast in land, but it’s never rushed to embrace gambling. That could be about to change. A new bill, House Bill 145, is pushing to legalise mobile sports betting in America’s Last Frontier. Filed by Republican Rep. David Nelson, the bill could pave the way for up to ten online sportsbook licences. It’s an ambitious move in a state with no casinos, no pro sports teams, and no real history of regulated betting. Still, there’s a cautious optimism in the air.
A bill built for mobile
HB 145 would allow regulated operators to go live on 1 January 2026 if passed. Each operator would pay a hefty $100,000 annual licence fee. There may also be extra processing fees for those applying or renewing. That’s not small change — and Alaska clearly doesn’t want amateurs.
To qualify, operators must already be licensed in three other US states. It’s a deliberate filter to keep standards high. The Alaska Department of Revenue would take charge, with the commissioner overseeing licences, rules, and regulatory compliance.
Strict rules and safer play
This isn’t a free-for-all. Operators would need to track betting irregularities and report anything suspicious. They must verify customer identities and store betting data securely. Responsible gambling tools must be front and centre on every platform.
Advertising to under-21s is strictly banned. The bill also makes it clear that betting must happen within Alaska or through future cross-state partnerships. A recent SiGMA News article showed that when analysing their data to help lawmakers understand the unmet demand for sports betting in Nebraska, geolocation security and fraud prevention specialists, GeoComply, noticed unusually high betting activity in a remote cornfield in Iowa.
Every applicant must pass a criminal record check. It’s another safeguard to keep the market honest and limit entry to trusted operators.
Uncertain odds, clear intent
So what’s allowed? Almost everything. The bill supports single bets, parlays, teasers, in-play wagers, and futures. Even bets on college sports and the Olympics are fair game. The only glaring omission? Daily fantasy sports—no sign of regulation there — not yet.
The state fixes tax at 20 percent of adjusted gross revenue. That puts Alaska roughly in the middle of the pack compared to other states. But let’s not forget that Alaska has no state income tax. So, this might look like an easy win for public coffers.
And yet, the population is small. There are no major sports franchises to fuel local engagement. And unlike Vermont and Wyoming, also small states that legalised mobile betting, Alaska faces unique geographic and logistical challenges. Governor Mike Dunleavy has previously backed sports betting as a way to boost the budget. That political history matters — it might just give HB 145 some legs.
Sceptics might argue this is all a long shot. It’s not the first time Alaska’s flirted with sports betting — past attempts didn’t make it past the starting line. In 2020, legislators blocked a lottery-based bill. In 2022, HB 385 fizzled out before it gained traction. But HB 145 feels different. It’s focused, it’s clear, and it’s mobile-first. That matters. With HB 145 headed to the House Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees, lawmakers will decide if this bill fares any better.
Alaska may not be a market giant, but it doesn’t have to be. The real win here might be in showing that even the quietest states fancy a flutter.
