For Alaska, the sports betting debate is less about building a massive new industry and more about creating a first regulated online lane in a state where most legal gambling still runs through charities and limited tribal operations. House Bill 145, sponsored by David Nelson, was introduced in 2025 and carried into the 2026 session, where it remains in committee.
The bill is narrowly framed in that it only targets mobile sports wagering. Online casino, poker, or broader commercial gambling is not proposed.
A Market Dominated by Charities and Class II Tribal Gaming
The majority of all legal gambling activities in the state are licensed under the Alaska Department of Revenue’s charitable gaming permits in Alaska.
According to the state’s 2020 charitable gaming report, gross receipts for pull tabs totaled $242.0 million last year. Bingo receipts came in at about $38.3 million. It adds that the state collected roughly $2.15 million in taxes and fees paid by charitable gaming during the year.
Aside from charitable gaming, Alaska tribal casinos are limited. According to an American Gaming Association presentation, only two Class II gaming facilities related to the Metlakatla and Klawock Indian tribes produce 582 jobs and bring about $149 million in annual economic impact, along with approximately $12 million in taxes.
What the Bill Would Change
HB 145 proposes to provide up to 10 mobile sports wagering licenses, with a fee of $100,000. A 20% tax rate applies to adjusted revenue after assessing gross revenue generated by mobile sports wagering. In the bill, there is a requirement for players to be 21+, while regulation is by the state revenue department.
From a practical standpoint, the measure would establish the state’s first regulated market for mobile sports gambling, albeit a small one by population figures. Notably, due to the novel nature of the topic being regulated, its structural significance cannot be overstated.
Final Notes
As Alaska’s gambling economy continues to revolve around charities and restricted tribal structures, without the presence of the state lottery tradition, the situation doesn’t offer the best place to venture. As prospects for the introduction of a controlled alternative to the offshore market exist, the most frictionless place to begin is with the restricted mobile sports. However, the outlined bill formulation, which has the restrictive license limit, stiff tax rate, and restricted sports-only definition, does not point to the growth of igaming anytime soon.
