Idaho Sports Betting May Never Be Legalized

Ever since the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a total of 40 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have legalized some form of sports wagering. Among those exceptions is The Gem State. Not only is Idaho sports betting still technically illegal, but the subject seldom pops up on the legislative radar.

This apparently isn’t changing anytime soon. In fact, many are wondering if it will change at all.

Sure, the prevailing assumption is that sports betting in the United States will at some point be universally legalized–present, in some form, across all 50 states. But while many of the holdouts are at least discussing the industry’s merits and potential pitfalls, Idaho is among those that have not even shown a willingness to entertain it.

This by itself is a red flag for any Idaho sports betting supporters. It does not just imply that sports betting in The Gem State is further away than many might think without digging deeper beneath the surface. It suggests that sports betting in Idaho could actually never be legalized.

That sounds hyperbolic on its face. And look, it just might be. But the latest insight into the matter does little, if anything, to shift the sentiment.

Idaho Sports Betting Legalization Ranks Among the Least Likely Possibilities

Ryan Butler of Covers recently ranked the remaining states by how likely they are to legalize sports betting in the near and distant future. The No. 1 spot resprents the state furthest away from offering their stamp of approval.

For what it’s worth, the Idaho sports betting timeline does not snag that top slot. But it comes pretty darn close, checking in at No. 2 overall. Here is what Butler has to say on the matter:

Few states have become more conservative and against gambling [than Idaho].

Reasons why it could [legalize sports betting]: ‘Free market’ Republicans, even in conservative western states such as Wyoming, have legalized sports betting, overcoming social and moral concerns.

Reasons why it won’t: Those groups don’t have much influence in Idaho as the state has become a bastion of conservative politics. In 2018, voters rejected historic horse racing terminals, one of the few instances in recent years of a gaming measure losing on the ballot. Three years later, Idaho politicians withdrew from the international Powerball lottery. Some lawmakers opposed participation because they feared revenue generated through the lottery in other counties could be used to support gun control measures.

The more you find out about why Idaho sports betting is not legalized, the more you start to realize The Gem State feels further away from changing their stance than they did back in 2018. In particular, their withdrawal from the international Powerball lottery is telltale.

Primary Concerns Over Sports Betting in The Gem State May Not Be as Advertised

It always seems like Idaho policymakers steered clear of sports betting legalization because of market size, because of its adverse impacts on problem gambling, and because tribal presence in the state isn’t as proliferated as it is elsewhere. And make no mistake, all of these reasons are part of the equation.

Still, as Butler notes above, lawmakers appear massively concerned about Idaho sports betting revenue being used to facilitate more liberal and democratic political agendas. If this is not the case, they wouldn’t have pulled out of the Powerball lottery for fear of funds being used to promote gun control.

The merits of gun control are a topic for another time and place. But this (purported) anxiety over Idaho sports betting profits being used as a vessel for liberal agendas verges on hysterical.

Most states direct a majority of their revenue to programs that border on apolitical. Everything these days is of course political. But profits tend to be allocated toward educational funding, state roadwork and construction and problem gambling resources. These are not beneficiaries that incite a ton of push-back. And they certainly aren’t programs and departments that materially shift political affiliations and agendas.

Is Sports Betting Simply Not Worth the Logistical Hurdles to Idaho?

This is a more pressing question, as far as we’re concerned. There is a lot of legwork associated with the legalization of Idaho sports betting. The list of bulletin items and questions that must be weighed include:

Setting up a regulatory infrastructure
Figuring out how sports betting will be deployed
- Will online wagering be included?
- Will it be on-site only?
- If Idaho online sports betting is allowed, will commercial sportsbooks be independently licensed, or must they partner with one of the state’s federally recognized tribes?
How many licenses will be allowed
What will be Idaho sports betting tax rate?
How much can The Gem State expect to make each year?

This is just a quick overview. It barely even scratches the surface of everything involved. And before even considering what happens after sports betting legalization, you first have to find out if the voting population even wants it.

With just the 38th largest population in the United States and zero pro sports franchises in the market, you can understand why Idaho sports betting continues to fall by the wayside. At the same time, if the Wyoming sports betting scene can get off the ground, there’s no reason to think The Gem State can’t follow suit. It’s just a matter of whether they want to.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: