North Dakota Sports Betting Bill Tracker
North Dakota has tried multiple times since 2019 to expand sports betting beyond tribal retail casinos. Every effort has failed — defeated either in the legislature or never reaching the ballot. This page tracks every meaningful sports betting bill in ND with status updates as of 2026.
Bill History
| Bill | Year | Status | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 1295 | 2019 | Failed | Early post-PASPA bill to authorize statewide sports betting. Did not pass committee. |
| HB 1254 | 2021 | Failed (Senate 38-7) | Most prominent expansion bill of the post-PASPA era. Passed ND House, defeated 38-7 in the ND Senate. |
| Senate expansion | 2023 | Failed | Senate-side expansion attempt. Defeated. |
| HCR 3002 | 2025 | Rejected (Jan 22, 2025) | Constitutional amendment proposed to place online sports betting on the November 2026 ballot. Rejected by ND House. |
| SB 2358 | 2025 | Study Bill | Proposed a sports betting study task force as a lower-stakes alternative to a constitutional amendment. |
| TBD 2027 session | 2027 | Pending | Next ND legislative session is 2027 — likely venue for renewed expansion efforts. |
The Pattern
Three observations from a decade of failed bills:
- Senate is the graveyard. The ND House has shown willingness to expand, but Senate votes have repeatedly killed bills (HB 1254 lost 38-7 in 2021).
- Constitutional path is hard. A simple statute would not be enough — the ND constitution prohibits all gambling outside the lottery, charity gaming and tribal compacts. Bills have to amend the constitution, which requires either supermajority legislative support or a successful voter petition.
- Tribal interests are the gatekeeper. Any expansion needs to either align with tribal nations (who currently hold a monopoly on retail sports betting) or risk derailing the underlying gaming compact.
What to Watch in 2027
The next regular ND legislative session begins in January 2027. Likely items:
- Renewed constitutional amendment effort to put online sports betting on a 2028 ballot
- Potential tribal-state compact amendments enabling on-premise mobile statewide
- Study task force outputs from SB 2358 if that legislation produced findings
For full background see our ND Sports Betting Laws page.
ND Legislation — FAQ
When does the next ND legislative session meet?
North Dakota has biennial legislative sessions. The next regular session begins in January 2027. Special sessions can occur between regular sessions.
Whats the most likely path to expansion?
Three paths: (1) on-premise mobile sports betting at tribal casinos under existing compact authority — does not need constitutional change; (2) tribal-state mobile compact extension — would still need constitutional clarity; (3) full constitutional amendment via 2/3 legislative supermajority or voter petition. The third is hardest.
Why did HCR 3002 fail?
The resolution would have placed a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot. It was rejected by the ND House on January 22, 2025 — opponents cited concerns about online gambling expansion broadly and the impact on tribal casino revenue. Supporters argued ND was missing tax revenue going to neighboring states.
Are tribal nations supportive of mobile expansion?
Mixed. Some ND tribes have signaled openness if their existing retail sportsbooks are protected. The 2026 Kambi-MHA Nation deal explicitly contemplates on-premise mobile, suggesting tribal interest in mobile-adjacent expansion.