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What's legal
Montana made sports wagering lawful through the state lottery, under section 23-7-104 of the Montana Code, which came from HB 725 in 2019. Sports Bet Montana went live in March 2020. Unlike most states, there is one product run by the Montana Lottery, not a field of private apps. You must be 18 or older.
Betting happens on lottery machines and through a mobile app, in licensed, geofenced locations only. In practice that means bars, taverns and casinos that hold a sales-agent license. The Lottery's figures from a March 10, 2026 presentation to a legislative committee show 568 licensed locations, 28,461 app account holders and $314 million wagered since launch, with $275 million paid out. You can open an account from anywhere in Montana, but the app steers you to a location to place the bet.
Crypto and offshore sites
Sports Bet Montana is built around dollar accounts and wagers placed at the venue, and no Montana rule lets you bet with crypto. If you hold crypto, you would sell it for dollars first, which can be a taxable event.
An online sportsbook that accepts bets from your couch is not the state product. Offshore crypto sportsbooks are not licensed in Montana or in any other US state, so no state regulator stands behind your balance or your payout. The Lottery's model keeps the licensed market inside venues, which is why Montana is classed here as retail rather than online.
What's changing
Montana's legislature meets in odd-numbered years, so the next regular session is 2027. The Lottery's March 2026 report said all available equipment was in market, new locations were on a waiting list, and more machines were due in the first quarter of its 2027 fiscal year. On prediction markets, the Montana Department of Justice's Gambling Control Division sent Kalshi a cease-and-desist letter in March 2025, calling its sports event contracts illegal gambling. After a second letter on April 6, 2026, Kalshi sued Attorney General Austin Knudsen in federal court, arguing federal law overrides the state's authority.
Tax on winnings
Gambling winnings are part of your Montana income. For 2026 the state uses two brackets, 4.7 percent and 5.65 percent, on top of federal tax. Keep records of wins and losses and ask a tax professional about your own return.
Common questions
Can you bet on sports online in Montana?
Only partly. You can register in the Sports Bet Montana app, but a wager is accepted only while you are at a licensed, geofenced location.
How old do you have to be to bet in Montana?
You must be 18 or older to play Sports Bet Montana.
Is crypto sports betting legal in Montana?
The only licensed option is the state lottery's Sports Bet Montana, which runs on dollar accounts and venue wagers. Offshore crypto sportsbooks hold no Montana license.