North Dakota Poker - North Dakota Poker Legal Laws

Is Poker Legal in North Dakota?

North Dakota may have the shortest set of gambling laws out of any state in the country. With only a few definitions, and then a handful of specific laws, they clearly and quickly explain what is legal. To get the full explanation, read on, but by the time we are done here you will probably agree that North Dakota has a pro-poker stance and only has one, real restriction.

You can find out which poker sites accept players from North Dakota and check out our US poker sites guide.

Does North Dakota Allow Home Poker Games?

There are only two lines in the North Dakota Penal Code that deals directly with the issue of playing in home poker games: Lines 1 and 2c of Section 12.1-28-02. These laws pretty much say that you can gamble in private as long as you keep your limits reasonably low. Read the full text below.

“1) It is an infraction to engage in gambling on private premises where the total amount wagered by an individual player exceeds twenty-five dollars per individual hand, game, or event.
2c) Engage in gambling on private premises where the total amount wagered by an individual player exceeds five hundred dollars per individual hand, game, or event.”

So if you can keep your home poker games to low limits (probably $1/$2 or $2/$4) you will have no problem staying within the $25 per player, per hand maximum. Should you go over $25 at any point, it is a misdemeanor. If you should ever exceed $500 in any given hand, then you have committed a felony according to North Dakota’s laws.

Does North Dakota Have Casinos?

If $25 hands are too low for your taste, then you might want to check out some of North Dakota’s casinos. While they don’t explicitly allow casinos legally, the Native American Tribes are sovereign entities and they are not bound by the state’s laws. Because of this distinction, they are free to offer all of the casino action that you could ever hope for.

The casinos in North Dakota vary widely. Most have slot machines, video poker, and table games like roulette and blackjack. While some of these casinos are on the smaller side, the larger establishments do have full poker rooms. Because of the tribes’ legal situation, they can offer poker games with any limits.

Is Online Poker Legal in North Dakota?

North Dakota caps it all off by not making any statements about online gambling. In fact, it doesn’t even discuss the topic of gambling with the use of a telephone or other electronic method. This final element, combined with North Dakota’s hands off approach to gambling, makes for a poker-friendly state; one that does not lend itself to future restrictions or allowances.

Considering the fact that federal law has resisted the temptation to criminalize online poker, and the state of North Dakota seems content to cater to poker players, this may end up being one of the best states for gamblers. It’s not perfect, but unless you are just dying for higher stakes, there isn’t much more you could ask for.