Montana Sports Betting: Best Montana Sportsbooks December 2024

Is Sports Betting Legal in Montana?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Montana. Montana was one of the first states to legalize sports betting in 2019 after Governor Steve Bullock signed HB 725 into law. This legislation allowed the Montana Lottery to offer retail and online sports betting. Another sports betting bill, SB 330, was also proposed, which aimed to allow outside operators to offer their betting services in the state. However, Governor Bullock opted not to endorse this particular bill. 

The state has hundreds of in-person sportsbook locations, more than almost every other state, including bars, hotels, casinos, and restaurants. Any authorized lottery agent can also offer sports betting through designated kiosks supplied by Intralot. Only one sports betting app is available in Montana, operated by the state’s lottery. Bettors have to be at licensed locations to place bets on this platform. Montana also has gaming compacts with tribal casinos, which are permitted to offer sports betting separate from the lottery.

How to Get Started

Getting started and placing your first bet on a sportsbook is pretty simple. Just follow this guide that we’ve laid out for beginners:

1. Select a licensed sportsbook. First, ensure that you choose a legal and regulated platform in your state. In Montana, the only option is Sports Bet Montana.

2. Create an account. Then, you can start the registration process, where you’ll be asked for information like your name, email address, SNN, and password.

3. Verify your identity. Most sportsbooks will ask you to confirm your identity by submitting documents like your driver’s license, passport, or proof of address.

4. Claim your welcome bonus. At this stage, you can check if you need to opt in or use a promo code to receive your welcome bonus. Remember to thoroughly read the terms and conditions before claiming any offer. While almost all the best sports betting sites and sportsbooks have welcome bonuses, Sports Bet Montana unfortunately does have one. 

5. Deposit into your account. Find the cashier section, select how much you want to deposit, and fill out your payment information. The minimum is typically around $10 for sportsbooks.

6. Place your first bet. Now, for the fun part, you can explore the sports markets and decide what kind of bet to make. Simply click your bet, type in the stake and add it to your bet slip.

7. Withdrawing your winnings. If your bet is successful, then you can start the withdrawal process. The withdrawal time can vary depending on the method chosen and the sportsbook’s processing times.

Montana Sportsbook Promos

Sportsbooks have various promotions designed to create a rewarding and enjoyable experience for users. Welcome bonuses tend to be the most generous of the bunch, incentivizing newcomers to join the platform. Remember to always read the terms and conditions before claiming any bonus. Check out our list of the best sportsbook promos and bonuses for December.

Here are a few common welcome bonuses for sportsbooks around the US:

Bonus Bets

Bonus bets are betting vouchers or credits exclusively used to place bets. They can’t be exchanged for cash and can only be used for betting. When you win with a bonus bet, you only keep the winnings in the payout, not the value of the bet. 

These vouchers are offered with various bonuses, like the ones detailed below. A common welcome bonus involves receiving bonus bets, often between $100 and $200, in return for a small initial deposit and first bet, often just $5 or $10. I’m a big fan of this kind of offer and I always suggest it to beginners, as there’s a great reward for a low initial outlay.

Second Chance Bets

This offer gives you a safety net on your first bet. If your initial wager doesn’t win, the sportsbook will refund your stake up to a specific amount, in the form of bonus bets. So, you’ll either have a successful first bet or snag the bonus; it’s a win-win. It’s normally a pretty high limit too, such as $1,000, making this a great option for higher stakes bettors. 

Deposit Match Bonuses

In this case, the sportsbook will match a portion or all of your initial deposit up to a certain limit with bonus bets or site credit.

The principle is simple: with this bonus, the larger the amount you deposit, the bigger your bonus will be. It’s especially suited for those looking to make a large deposit from the get-go.

No-Deposit Bonuses

This bonus requires no deposit or bet on your part. All you have to do is register for the sportsbook. It tends to be smaller, ranging between $10 and $20. However, there might be certain conditions to meet before you can cash out any winnings, such as a future deposit.

What Mobile Sportsbooks Are Available in Montana?

Mobile sportsbooks offer an unbeatable level of convenience, as users can place bets from anywhere. This modern approach to betting eliminates the need to be at a computer or laptop, allowing bettors to place wagers at any moment. Sports Bet Montana has a mobile app that can be used to place bets at retail locations. However, it does have quite a few technical issues, as shown by its rating of 1.4/5 on the App Store and Google Play Store.

What Betting Markets Are Available in Montana?

Sportsbooks have a huge variety of sports and betting markers, which might seem a bit confusing if you’re new to betting. Let's take a look at most common betting markets available in Montana

Moneyline Bets

A moneyline bet is a popular wager where you predict which team or side will win a game. The potential payout for these bets is determined by the odds the sportsbook sets. Positive odds indicate the underdog, while negative odds represent the favorite. It can look like this:

• ARI Diamondbacks (-142)

• COL Rockies (+120)

It’s helpful to think in terms of $100 for moneyline odds. Here, the Diamondbacks are the favorites, so a winning bet of $142 would result in a $100 profit, for a total payout of $242. For the Rockies, if you’d made a bet of $100, it would make a profit of $120 if they win, resulting in a return of $220.

Point Spreads

In a point spread bet, you’re not just picking a winner but betting on the margin of victory. The favorite team needs to secure a win by more than the point spread set by the sportsbook (known as covering the spread), whereas a bet on the underdog can win either by winning the game or by not losing by a margin greater than the spread. Take a look at this example:

• ARI Diamondbacks -1.5 (+105)

• COL Rockies +1.5 (-125)

To win a bet on the Diamondbacks, they would need to win by 2 points or more. The Rockies would either have to win the game outright or avoid losing by more than 2 points. The odds for point spread bets normally are around -110 for both sides. 

Totals

This kind of wager involves guessing if the total score will be over or under an amount set by the sportsbook. For this reason, it is also called an over/under bet. Here’s how it might appear:

ARI Diamondbacks vs. COL Rockies:

• Over 12 (-118)

• Under 12 (-102)

Prop Bets

Prop bets consist of placing wagers on particular events in the game, which don’t necessarily relate to the game's outcome. These bets can be about almost anything: how a player or team performs in certain statistical categories, in-game events, or other novelty situations. For example, in a football game, you can predict who will score the first touchdown, the number of passing yards for a quarterback, or total field goals. Major championships like the Super Bowl will have novelty prop best like the outcome of the coin toss or bets on special guest appearances in the halftime show.

Futures

A future bet is placed on an event scheduled far into the future. These kinds of wagers often revolve around significant events or championships, like betting on winner of the Super Bowl or NBA Championship. Given the uncertainty surrounding these bets over a long season, they usually offer attractive odds if placed in advance. They can be placed at any time of the year and ramp up the excitement before the sporting season.

Parlays

Parlays merge several separate bets into a single ticket. For a parlay to win, every individual wager has to be successful. There’s a much higher level of risk but also the potential for a high payout, since the odds of each individual bet are multiplied together. A teaser bet gives you a bit of insurance for your parlay, as you can adjust the point spreads or totals to your advantage within it. Of course, this does come with a reduced payout.

Live Betting

Live betting immerses you directly in the action as you place wagers on the game as it is happening. Traditional betting requires you to place all wagers before the game starts, whereas live betting allows you to bet according to the ongoing events of a match. The odds are constantly updated to reflect the action. Most sportsbooks have a dedicated live betting section; some even have live streaming and real-time stats.

What Can’t You Bet On in Montana?

Montana sports betting is subject to the following restrictions:

• It is illegal to bet on politics. 

• You cannot bet on entertainment events.

• DFS has been banned.

• eSports betting is not allowed.

Betting on College Sports in Montana

College sports betting is legal in Montana, and there are no restrictions on betting on in-state teams or events.

The list of NCAA Division 1 College Programs in the state:

• Montana Grizzlies 

• Montana State Bobcats

Montana Sports Betting Facts

How Does Montana Sports Betting Compare to Other States?

Montana has a total betting handle of $189 million, which is among the lowest of US states, since it launched sports betting in May 2019. For context, it is a small state in terms of population, with around 1.1 million people.

It is difficult to compare to other states, given its unusual retail sports betting model and only one online sportsbook. Rhode Island is a good point of comparison because it also only has a single online sportsbook, the same population size, and legalized sports betting in September 2019. Despite having two retail sportsbooks, Rhode Island has generated a total handle of $2 billion. This suggests that Montana’s retail model is less profitable than standard in-person betting. 

Montana's retail tax rate is 8.5%, which is lower than that of other states. The state’s online sportsbook is not taxed as it is operated by its own lottery. The average tax rate is around 19%, but it can be as high as 51% for states like New York and Pennsylvania and as low as 6.75% in Nevada.

Montana Sports Betting Updates

Sports betting became legal in Montana in May 2019, not long after PASPA was overturned. Since then, hundreds of locations in the state have been approved to offer sports betting through kiosks. Online sports betting is still heavily restricted and can only be provided by the Montana Lottery.

Here is a timeline of key events in Montana sports betting:

• Feb. 13, 2024 - The Montana Lottery reports that sports betting revenue dipped to $5.9 million in January 2024.

• Feb. 12, 2024 - It is announced that Silver Wolf Casino will be the first casino in the state to offer retail sports betting.

• Jan. 11, 2024 - Montana's sports betting intake of $6.2 million is reported to have decreased by 15%. 

• Nov. 11, 2023 - The state releases figures from the previous year, revealing that Montanans placed bets totaling $46 million.

• March 25, 2021 - Governor Greg Gianforte enacts HB 193, removing restrictions on bets and winnings.

• March 11, 2020 - Montana welcomes Sports Bet Montana, a new betting service from the state lottery.

• March 9, 2020 - The Montana Lottery rolls out Sports Bet Montana betting kiosks throughout the state.

• June 10, 2019 - Despite efforts, the legislative push to override the Governor’s veto of SB 330 failed, so it did not become law.

• May 3, 2019 - Governor Bullock officially sanctions HB 725, legalizing sports betting in Montana. He also vetoes SB 330.

• April 25, 2019 - The legislative journey for HB 725 advances significantly when House Speaker Greg Hertz endorses it, forwarding it to the Governor’s desk.

Is Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Montana?

DFS is illegal in Montana, one of the few states that specifically bans it. You cannot access or use any DFS platforms in the state.

Sports Teams in Montana

Although Montana has no major league teams, you can find support for teams near the state, like the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Utah Jazz, and the Colorado Rockies.

Montana Sportsbook Partnerships

As Montana has no major league teams, no sportsbook partnerships with professional teams exist.

Getting Help: Responsible Gambling in Montana

Montana has support and resources for individuals seeking help with gambling problems:

• The Montana Council on Problem Gambling offers treatment and resources for those struggling with gambling issues. They have a 24-hour helpline at (406) 438-1276.

• The Montana Problem Gambling Helpline can be contacted at (888) 900-9979 for immediate assistance.

Sportsbooks also have specific tools that can manage your betting activity:

• Deposit/wager limits: Set limits so that you can control your spending.

• Time alerts: Provides notifications for the time spent on betting.

• Time-outs/self-exclusion: Prevents access to a platform for a specific time or indefinitely.

WSN also has its own extensive responsible gambling center where you can find ways to combat and identify gambling problems, as well as to whom to turn for help. All of our responsible gambling guides have been written by health and responsible gambling experts Daniel Umfleet and Pat Eichner.