Alaska has always been considered the “Last Frontier” and is one of the most remote places in the US. They are just as removed from the rest of the US in their treatment of gambling. With almost no form of legal gambling, Alaska is one of the strictest states when it comes to gaming, and residents have few options. With new legislation in the works, that could soon change.
Today, we’re going to take a look at the legal environment of gaming in Alaska, help you pick out real money Alaska online sportsbooks, and give you the tools to start placing your first bets. By the end of this article, you’ll be ready to start your sports betting career.
Top Alaska Sports Betting Sites
Below is our definitive list of the best real money Alaska sports betting sites. Our team of experts has spent hours combing through dozens of sites to find you the best possible online gambling experience. We used an extensive list of criteria to ensure that each site covers every critical aspect of the player experience. Underneath the list, you will find a few of the requirements that went into our selection process. Use this list as a starting point for evaluating any sports betting site that might be on your radar.
Our Alaska Betting Sites Ranking Criteria
Competitive Odds
One of the most crucial aspects of high-quality Alaska sports betting sites is the competitiveness of their odds. Sports betting odds are how a sportsbook expresses the payout that corresponds with a given bet. You want to play on a website that offers the best odds possible so you can maximize the value of your wins. Not all sports betting sites offer the same odds, and we’ve only selected those with the best.
There’s a good reason that odds are different from sportsbook to sportsbook, and that reason results in a benefit for the online bettor. Live sportsbooks have almost no direct competition since there is generally only one within a casino.
Looking at odds can also give you another critical piece of info. The size of a potential payout correlates with the risk involved with taking the bet, so looking at odds can also help you identify the probability of the bet coming to fruition. If the payout seems insane, that’s because the outcome you are betting on is highly unlikely. Use this info to help balance risk and reward.
Quick Payouts
Another critical factor is the speed of payouts on a win. You want to bet on a site that gets withdrawals processed quickly. Some sports betting sites will let payouts process for days, which can limit a player’s liquidity. Each of the sites we selected gets money to players much faster, with most of them clearing withdrawals within the day. Certain sites will even be able to get you cash in a matter of hours if you’re using the right withdrawal method.
Minimum Payouts
Closely related to payout speed is the minimum payout amount. This is another factor that can limit liquidity if it is too high. While low minimums may not matter for players with large bankrolls, for small stakes players and beginners, having access to your entire balance can be crucial. We focused on Alaska sports betting sites that have minimums that work for all players. In most cases, the sites on our list have minimums under $5.
Variety of Games and Betting Options Available
The next area of focus is variety. You must choose real money Alaska betting sites that have both an extensive range of sports bets and a plethora of casino-style gaming options. This variety will become vital if you get bored with the wagers you usually take or the games you typically play. Also, additional options will make it much easier to expand into new areas of betting when you are ready to learn some new skills.
One of the essential parts to developing as an online gambler is to build your skillset continually. Adding new games and new sports to your tool belt will give you a better overall understanding of strategy and make you more successful in the long run.
World-Class Customer Service
Finally, high-quality customer care is a must for top AK betting sites. Our team focused on sites offering 24/7 support, tons of positive reviews, and lots of contact options, including phone, chat, and email. Hopefully, you will never need to worry about customer service, but if you do, you can rest assured these sites will have you covered. Having a bad experience with customer service can quickly sour your online gaming, so make sure to select a site that puts players first.
Minimum and Maximum Bets
Playing on a site that offers minimum and maximum bets to fit your goals is essential. These are limits placed on betting by the casino to ensure their return on the low end and cap their risk on the high end. All the sites that made our list offer a full range of betting increments that will cover everyone.
- New players, you’ll want to look for low minimums, so you can play with minimal risk while you learn.
- Advanced players, look for higher maximum bets so you can push the value of your winnings.
Cryptocurrency
A new addition to the world of online gambling in recent years has been the usage of cryptocurrencies. These are a form of digital money that has exploded in popularity over the last few years. People like using them because they usually incur fewer fees than conventional currencies, they are easy to transfer, and they offer much more anonymity than a bank account or credit card. Each of the sites above supports a variety of crypto coins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Dogecoin. If you are into crypto, you’ll also be happy to learn that some Alaska online betting sites offer exclusive promotions for crypto players.
Live Betting
If sports betting is your thing, you’ll love the options these Alaska sports betting sites offer when it comes to placing live bets. The great thing about live betting is that it enables players to engage with their chosen event on a deeper level. Bettors are drawn into the action by being able to place bets in real-time as the event is unfolding.
You could put a bet on who will score the next touchdown in a football game or who will get the next penalty in a hockey game. These bets make everything about the sports satisfying, not just the outcome.
Live Dealers
On the casino side, there are neat live options as well. Live dealers can now bring the experience of playing the casino floor right into your home. Live dealers connect with players via webcam and deal a live game in real-time. The players can interact with the dealer as well as other players, which adds a more social aspect to this type of gaming. Each of the sites on our list offers a wide range of live games to fit any player’s needs.
Alaska Betting Sites Promotions
Promos are broader than new player bonuses, and these are open to all players. Both brick and mortar casinos and real money Alaska betting sites use promotions as a tool to help keep players engaged. They work by offering new ways to play, entries to drawings, or even cashback on losses. There are no limits to how creative casinos can get with promos. Participating in these can be both fun and rewarding. While the value and frequency of promos can vary, they will all add up over time so make sure to take advantage of them.
New Player Signup Bonuses
When first starting, you want to take advantage of as many freebies as you can. A common way of helping new players get started has become new player sign up bonuses. These perks are exclusive deposit matches given to new players on their first deposit. These matches can have a massive impact on your bankroll if appropriately used.
Say, for example, an Alaskan online sportsbook is offering a 100% match on the first $500 a player puts in their account. If that player puts in the full $500, the casino will give them another $500 to bet. This boost can buy you lots of time to learn and develop your strategy. Remember that these bonuses often only apply to the first deposit, so you may want to deposit a little more than you originally planned so you can get as much free cash as possible.
Platforms for Real Money Betting
In this age of technology, players are looking for a wide range of gaming options that expand beyond sitting at their computers. Consumers want and expect an experience that is seamless between all their devices. We think it’s vital that any AK sports betting website we recommend supports multiple platforms, including PC, mobile, and tablet. By offering this versatility, players are free to bet when they want, how they want, and where they want.
Website Security
Straightforward User Interface
A crucial supporting component of using multiple platforms is a quality customer experience at Alaska betting sites. Playing cross-platform is only a good thing if the experience is cohesive. We looked for sites that have invested in a high-quality player experience by developing platforms that are clean, straightforward, and beautiful. These are AK sports betting sites you will enjoy spending time on, and they are so easy to use that they will make your betting experience much less stressful.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Alaska?
Alaska has always been a fairly conservative state when it comes to gambling. There are currently no legal ways to gamble anywhere in the state. It wasn’t until the Alaska Gaming Reform Act of 2016 that Alaskans could even participate in raffles, bingo, and pull-tabs. There have been attempts to push gambling over the years, but all have met resistance. With such an aggressive stance toward commonly legal forms of gambling like the lottery and land-based casinos, the prospects for sports betting legalization would seem slim.
In 2018, the US Supreme court overturned PASPA, which effectively banned sports betting in most states. With this reversal, many states pushed legislation to legalize and regulate sports betting to generate an incremental source of tax revenue. As these states continue to test legalization, they have made a strong case for other states to consider legalizing sports betting as well.
Alaska, in particular, may stand to benefit from both the legalization of sports betting and online gambling. Their lack of land-based casinos means the untapped tax revenue could be much higher than in states that already allow some gambling. Also, their remote location lends itself to online gambling since any states with legal gambling are much harder to travel to.
In early 2020, there were two bills introduced to legalize sports betting using the lottery. This is a significant step as Alaska is one of only a few states that doesn’t already have a lottery. With HB 246 and SB 188, the state would create a lottery that provides gaming options for residents that would include sports betting. If these bills pass, this would be groundbreaking in the history of Alaska gambling law.
Steps to Start Betting Online in Alaska
Step one is taking a look at all the options and choosing which Alaska betting sites you want to play on. Start by using our list of criteria above to see which items matter most to you. Some players will want to prioritize odds, while others may be looking for one specific obscure sport. Regardless, you’ll be able to find something that works on our list.
Visit each of the sites for yourself and get a feel for them. Do you like how they are laid out? Do Alaska sportsbooks online have the main features you are looking for? Choosing the right site is very important because where you play will be one of the most significant determining factors in the quality of your online gambling experience. Once you’ve picked a winner, go ahead and register.
Signing up should be quick and painless. All you will need is basic info and a way to get funds into the account. For players using conventional methods, this means having banking details ready. If you are using a third-party application, make sure you’ve already created an account on their site and have your credentials ready. Also, keep in mind that some Alaska sports betting sites will require additional identity verification before trying to withdraw funds, so make sure you comply with all applicable requirements.
This step is skipped by a lot of new players when they first start. Most players just jump straight in and start putting down money. Before doing so, take some time to poke around the site and get familiar with everything your new sportsbook has to offer. Lots of sites will provide expert betting picks, analysis, and sometimes access to historical data. Be sure to leverage all the data available. Taking advantage of these tools and learning to maximize them can significantly increase the quality of your picks.
The time has come to put down some cash! Start by looking over all the available bets. Since all sports are different and not every game happens every day, you won’t be able to bet on all sports all the time. See which ones are upcoming and pick one that makes sense for you. We always recommend that new players start with small bets and work their way up over time as they gain more experience. This strategy will allow you to learn while minimizing your financial risk. Also, we recommend starting with a sport you know well. Doing so will increase your odds of success.
Now that you’ve placed that first bet, it’s time to think of the big picture. Taking steps now to understand and improve your betting strategy will pay massive dividends in the long run. Write down the bets you made, why you made them, then record the results afterward. Keeping a record of your bets will enable you to see patterns and identify areas that could use some improvement. This tool is used by pros to build a more robust strategy, is a big key to their success, and can help you rapidly improve your success rate.
Finally, now that you feel like you know all there is to know about your first sport, jump into something new. Find a sport that interests you, but you may know less about. Read up on strategy and start to formulate some theories around how to bet. Dry run your methods before putting down real money to get an idea of if you are heading in the right direction. Once you feel prepared, place some small bets. Just like before, starting small will enable you to learn and minimize risk.
Best Sports to Bet on in Alaska
If you aren’t a fan or you’re still unsure of where to start, here are a few pointers.
- First, not all sports are created equal. Odds will be different if you want to play obscure sports versus mainstream sports. The frequency of games will vary widely as well. Some sports are played daily, while others are less frequent. All of these types of factors make betting strategies different for each sport. You should start with a sport that fits your betting goals. If you want to bet a little every day, you might pick a different sport than someone who is looking to maximize payouts.
- Second, always remember that higher payouts are directly correlated with more risk. No Alaskan sports betting sites are going to offer you 100:1 on a bet you are likely to win. Your job as a sports bettor is to balance risk and reward. You want to minimize risk while maximizing payouts. Choose a sport that offers a balance that works for you.
- Finally, the best advice for beginners is to bet on what you know. If you have a solid knowledge base about a particular sport, you are much more likely to be successful betting on it. Start with a sport you know a bit about and place small bets. If you do decide to expand, do your homework first and learn the basics before putting down real money.
Final Words on Alaska Betting Sites
The state of Alaska has made many attempts over the years to legalize gambling, but none of them have thus far been successful. In 2016, they were able to pass a law allowing a few basic forms such as raffles and bingo, so they are moving in the right direction.
With this positive first step, they could move toward broader legalization in the future. The two bills being considered by lawmakers makes the prospects much brighter. In the meantime, residents can still play DFS or play online through any of the high-quality Alaska betting sites like the ones on our list.
Hopefully, you have learned a bit more about the legal landscape of gambling in Alaska, feel prepared to select online Alaska sportsbooks, and now feel confident placing your first bets. Check back on The Sports Geek as regulations change to see if Alaska has made any progress. Always gamble responsibly and never bet more than you can afford to lose. Have fun and good luck!
