Legal Online Poker in Alaska

One would think that the biggest US state by square miles wouldn’t hesitate to legalize online poker and other forms of gambling. Nevertheless, Alaska’s population of just over 700,000 spread around all that land apparently isn’t persuasive enough to make the state legislators regulate the world’s most popular card game.

The Last Frontier doesn’t feature classic Vegas-style land-based casinos where one could find a poker table, and even all Class III games, like slots, table games, and the lottery, are banned. The only legal games are bingo and pull tabs in gambling halls on Native American land.

• Is Poker Legal In AK
• Best Online AK Poker Sites
• How To Signup On A AK Poker Site
• Where To Play Poker In AK
• Resources
• FAQ

Considering that poker isn’t even mentioned in Alaska Statutes, players have found ways to enjoy their favorite game, and we’ll tell you how and where you can do the same.

Is Online Poker Legal in Alaska?

Alaska’s current gambling laws have no mention of online poker whatsoever. The state’s gambling code doesn’t refer to online poker as legal, nor it addresses the matter in any way, which could lead us to think that playing poker on the web is against the law. Additionally, the fact that Alaska doesn’t have any state-approved online poker rooms confirms the legal status of this game in the Last Frontier.

Nevertheless, some argue that the total absence of online poker regulations leaves online poker legality in the gray area. In practical terms, such a view implies that one can’t be punished for playing this card game on international sites as they are licensed outside the state and don’t adhere to US gambling regulations.

Therefore, if you want to play poker online from Alaska, offshore poker rooms offer a great deal of real-money games, and we listed the best operators on this page for you to choose from.

Poker Laws

Alaska doesn’t have many gambling regulations and deems most forms of gambling illegal. No laws regulating online poker have been drawn yet, and it seems they aren’t on the horizon.

The only regulated option to play poker in Alaska includes charity or social home games that don’t require any real-money entrance fees, and no one takes a rake.

Also, players from Alaska who want to go around strict gambling laws and take a seat at a poker table often take tours on ships cruising in international waters where AK poker laws aren’t valid.

If you’re interested in details about gambling, check the gambling offenses part of Alaska Statutes. The document was last updated in 2016, but the change meant nothing to poker aficionados as it didn’t apply to the legality of the game.

Best Legal Poker Rooms in Alaska

Alaska gambling laws prohibit games of chance, and according to legislators, poker falls under that category. Therefore, you’ll find no land-based or online poker rooms in the northernmost US state. Furthermore, gambling regulations forbid the operation of both brick-and-mortar and online casinos, leaving players little chance to come across a legal poker table in Alaska.

Still, different law interpretations ultimately placed online poker in the so-called gray area and enabled Alaskans to try the game as described below.

My list of the best US poker sites which I consider to be the best rooms to play in 2023:

1. BetOnline Poker
2. Ignition Poker
3. Everygame Poker
4. Juicy Stakes Poker
5. Americas Cardroom
6. Bovada Poker
7. BlackChip Poker
8. SportsBetting Poker

How to Register at a Legal Online Poker Site in Alaska

Here’s what you need to do to join a poker platform from AK:

Land-Based Casinos With Live Poker

Casino gambling and Class III games are still illegal in Alaska, so there are no commercial casino venues within the state. The only gambling establishments legally built on the AK land include several Native American gambling halls, but they only offer bingo and pull-tab games. Since there aren’t any poker tables in these locations, players from Alaska will have to visit other states for in-person poker gameplay.

Other Resources

Final Thoughts

Online poker still isn’t officially legal in Alaska, and the picture doesn’t look bright for upcoming years either. However, players from AK can join offshore casinos or poker sites and play their favorite game since no laws explicitly say such action is prohibited.

If you’re into poker, stick to this page, as we’ve found websites with top poker titles and rewarding tournaments you can join. Follow our instructions to successfully join any international poker site and have fun while AK gambling regulators take care of the current status of poker within the state.

FAQ