The compact between the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation has been approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), allowing the tribes to offer sports betting at their Silver Wolf Casino in Wolf Point, Montana. This is the first time that an Indian tribe will be able to offer legal retail sports betting in the state.
Under the agreement, which was published in the Federal Register on January 29, the tribes can add retail sports betting immediately, though there is no word yet on when the tribes plan to open up a sportsbook.
The tribes own five gaming properties located in the northeast part of the state, near the Canadian and North Dakota borders.
According to the BIA, there are eight federally recognized tribes in Montana. Seven of them operate tribal casinos, but none currently offer sports betting, which was legalized in May 2019 and is operated by the state lottery. Video poker and video keno machines are available at bars, restaurants, and convenience stores across the state, but tribal casinos are the only entities authorized to offer slot machines and other Class III gaming.
Sports betting at brick-and-mortar establishments via kiosks and onsite mobile is legal in Montana, but the Montana Lottery exclusively offers it and is only available at participating taverns, with the practice geofenced to prevent betting outside of the approved areas.
Betting was first made available in Montana in March 2020 through the lottery-run Sports Bet Montana, which has garnered mixed reviews from consumers.
