Idaho Sweepstakes Social Casinos: Regulations and History

Idaho is a state with harsh restrictions on both online and real-world gambling. Despite having an on-and-off relationship with betting and casino games over the years, the state currently takes a stricter stance.

It is part of an exclusive “club” alongside Washington state, where sweepstakes casinos are completely banned. In fact, Idaho’s restrictive gaming legislation goes out of its way to close the loopholes most social casinos use to get around restrictions. In this article, we discuss the exact regulations keeping players from enjoying these casinos and the history of sweepstakes in Idaho.

Are sweepstakes social casinos legal in Idaho?

No, sweepstakes social casinos are not legal in Idaho. That makes it one of two states where social casinos are illegal, the other being Washington.

Can I win real money playing at Idaho social sweepstake casinos?

No, you cannot. While social casinos let you redeem your winnings for vouchers or cash prizes, the option is not available to Idaho residents since these websites are still illegal in the state.

Can I claim bonuses at Idaho sweepstakes casinos?

In general, sweepstakes casinos do not offer bonuses. Instead, players are treated to occasional discounts on coin packages, letting you get them at a lower cost. Other benefits social casinos provide are loyalty programs, tournaments, and refer-a-friend offers.

Sweepstakes Laws in Idaho

The growing popularity of sweepstakes social casinos is due to their ability to exist in a grey area. The way they’re set up helps operators avoid regulation targeting actual gambling sites. However, Idaho’s constitution puts a stop to such attempts by clearly outlining what is and isn’t allowed.

The state permits state lotteries, pari-mutuel betting, bingo and raffle games operated by qualified charitable organizations. However, Idaho explicitly bans all forms of casino games, such as slots, roulette, poker, blackjack, and more. The restriction also applies to electronic imitations and simulations of these games.

This is the clause that prevents sweepstakes casinos from operating in Idaho. This limitation even applies to land-based tribal casinos, limiting them to electronic bingo machines.

History of Sweepstakes in Idaho

While the Gem State has never been lenient on gaming, its initial rules weren’t nearly as watertight as they are now. Because of that, illegal joints continued into the early 1900s until state legislature made its laws more specific and local law enforcement started to crack down on them.

Sweepstakes wouldn’t see their time in the sun until 1986. That is when the citizens’ initiative gathered enough support to propose a new lottery. This was opposed by lawmakers, who wound up shutting down the proposal. However, growing demands from the local populace led to Idaho eventually giving the people what they wanted. As a result, the state lottery was established in 1988.

Since then, sweepstakes have remained under the same restrictions. There haven’t been many attempts at overturning or loosening these restrictions like in other states, leaving Idaho residents unable to enjoy social casinos. If you’re craving casino games, land-based tribal casinos are the best possible option you can choose.