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PTPoker Tournaments in Montana in 2024 – MT Poker Tournaments Schedule & Results
Read on and learn about the biggest poker tournaments in the Treasure State
Montana may have a small population, but there are more than enough gaming options thanks to its liberal laws. The state permits almost all gambling forms, so you won’t have trouble finding where to play poker. That said, internet gaming is off-limits, and Montana is among the few states that explicitly forbid online gambling.
So, can Montanans play poker online? Will they be penalized if caught playing on offshore sites? Continue reading to find answers to these and many other questions as we discuss the gambling laws in the Treasure State.
Poker Tournaments in Montana
Poker roots in Montana can be traced back to the mid-19th century when miners started playing it along with many other table games. However, the turn of the century brought a growing sense of morality and religion to the state, which resulted in a ban on all gambling activities.
During the Great Depression, the legislature enacted the Hickey Act in 1937, allowing counties to legalize card games independently. But it wasn’t until 1972 that poker saw the light of day. It was the year the voters approved the referendum that opened the door to charitable gaming in Montana. The lawmakers sanctioned a number of games, including raffles, bingo, sports pools, poker, and other card games.
The following decades saw the legalization of video poker machines, tribal casinos, and sports betting. Currently, Montanans can enjoy the following activities:
- Tribal casino gambling
- Charitable gaming (poker is in this category)
- Horse racing
- Social gambling
- Sports betting
- State lottery
Since poker is among the allowed games, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy it in the Big Sky Country. The following paragraphs will examine gambling regulations along with online and brick-and-mortar poker tournaments in Montana.
Online Poker Tournaments in Montana
Montana hasn’t legalized online gambling and poker rooms yet. However, compared to most US states governed by outdated laws that don’t explicitly address online poker, MT Penal Code specifically covers internet gambling.
It is defined as a legal or illegal gambling operation employing communication technology that enables someone to transmit information to a computer using money, credit/debit cards, paper checks, e-checks, electronic money transfers, or any other payment instrument to place a bet or wager.
Conversely, Montana legislators have not recently considered legislation allowing online poker or other forms of online gambling. State laws were only amended in 2005 to prohibit internet gambling. Nevertheless, this refers to interstate online casinos and poker sites, meaning enforcement targets the operators of such platforms, not individual players.
On the other hand, Montana online poker players can access offshore platforms and their favorite poker game without fear of government prosecution. This is because the state does not have the means to enforce its legal strictures on them. Another option is to visit sweepstakes sites, but keep in mind that they operate on an entirely different business model.
Many international poker platforms are happy to welcome players from Montana. Aside from being reputable and licensed, they offer many more game variations than any other land-based cardroom and an array of enticing promotions to boost players’ bankrolls. Furthermore, they host frequent poker tournaments.
Land-Based Poker Tournaments in Montana
Playing live poker in Montana is legal only if you do it in properly regulated venues. In fact, it is pretty easy to find poker action in the state, considering that many land-based halls feature this game.
But compared to other US states where players must visit commercial or tribal land-based establishments to play live poker, MT tribal casinos mainly offer bingo and electronic slot machines. Moreover, the biggest source of poker action in Montana comes from bars and saloons, as they host a plethora of charity poker tournaments each year.
There are two dozen cardrooms in the state and numerous poker-authorized businesses. However, as of the third quarter of 2017, there were only 203 permitted live card tables throughout the state, meaning that each venue contains only a few of them.
There were also other issues — the total pot size was limited to $300, buy-ins were also limited, and the tournament could only be held on specific dates. Things changed for the better in 2013 when the legislature passed the bill which raised the pot limit to $800 for the first time since the 1980s and allowed cardrooms to host daily poker competitions.
Although the situation has improved, the venues that wish to host poker tournaments must pay a fee for either a small or a large stakes competition permit. The former allows a maximum buy-in of $80 and a single buy-in per player, while the buy-in for the latter is $1,875, including reentries and rebuys.
How to Register for an Online Poker Tournament in Montana
If you want to participate in online poker tournaments, you must first set up an account with a casino. Although the entire process is a breeze and won’t take you more than a few minutes, we have composed a list of steps to follow before you start playing for real money.
Find a reputable gambling site
There is no shortage of offshore online sites that accept players from Montana. Since some of them are rogue and only want to scam you, we have tested many of them and singled out only the top-rated ones. You just have to pick the one you like, click on the provided link, and it will take you directly to the operator’s website.Create an account
Press the Join/Sign Up/Register button once you open the website. Then, complete the registration form by providing your email, phone number, and address.Not every poker room requires you to Verify your account, but most of them do. To activate your account, open the email the operator sent you and click on it. Alternatively, you can receive a verification code on your mobile device. Once this step is complete, you can log in.
Deposit & Play
Before the poker room allows you to play real money games, you must top up your account. Head to the Cashier/Banking section, check out the payment options and choose the one that works for you. Input the amount you wish, confirm the request, and wait for the transaction to clear. This won’t take more than a few seconds.Navigate to the Bonus page and check for any welcome promotion worth claiming. Also, familiarize yourself with the playthrough requirements attached to the offer.
Operators usually have a separate section dedicated to Tournaments. Browse the available competitions and read the rules carefully before enrolling. Good luck!
Montana Land-Based Casinos With Poker Tournaments
As mentioned, cardrooms in restaurants and saloons are hotbeds of poker activity. These poker rooms are not very large, so the playing atmosphere is intimate, but they offer the best games.
The Treasure State has 23 of them, but nine are temporarily closed. However, some of the busiest are Bugz’s Cardroom, Queen of Hearts Club, Montana Nugget, Cat’s Paw Cardroom, VFW Poker Room, and The Poker Parlor at Gold Dust Casino. They are located in Missoula and Kalispell, Billings Area, and Bozeman Area.
VFW Poker Room and The Poker Parlor at Gold Dust Casino are the biggest, with four tables each, while the others usually have one or two. Currently, only The Poker Parlor offers regular $50 No Limit Hold’em tournaments. Additionally, players can also enjoy pot-limit Omaha, limit Omaha or Better, and limit Hold’em with spread tables at this place.
Other cardrooms also feature Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha 8 or Better, and other poker variations. The buy-ins usually range from $1 to $20. It’s worth noting that VFW Poker Room and Bugz’s Cardroom occasionally host poker competitions, so we advise you to check their schedules for updates.
If you want to participate in tournaments or are on the lookout for some poker action, this is where you can find the most popular poker rooms in Montana:
| Poker room | Address | Number of poker tables |
| Bugz’s Cardroom | 1341 Main St, Billings, MT 59105 | 2 |
| Queen of Hearts Card Club | 101 North 28th Street, Billings, MT 59101 | 3 |
| The Poker Parlor at Gold Dust Casino | 1310 15th St W, Billings, MT 59102 | 4 |
| VFW Poker Room | 245 W Main St. Missoula, MT 59802 | 4 |
Montana Poker Tournaments Schedule
With many tribal casinos and online gambling platforms, MT players are spoiled for choice regarding poker tournaments. Our table below contains all ongoing and upcoming poker competitions in the Big Sky State. Keep an eye on it if you want to stay in the loop for the newest MT poker competitions.
No Events Currently
Check back again, An event maybe on its way soon
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Final Thoughts
Industry experts debate that Montana won’t legalize the online gambling sector any time soon. The reason for this can be the state’s small population or the governmental casino opposition. Players might see bills moving through the legislative corridors of power in Montana if the legislators realize that regulating online gambling would be a profitable move.
Until this pipe dream becomes a reality, poker players can visit brick-and-mortar gambling establishments for some live poker action or head to offshore casinos offering frequent tournaments and even greater game selections. Check out our list of providers above and start playing straight away.
FAQ
Does Montana have any legal online poker tournaments?
Since Montana hasn’t legalized online poker, you won’t find any state-licensed poker tournaments. Conversely, the state doesn’t forbid playing at offshore poker rooms and joining their tournaments.
Can I participate in online poker tournaments in MT?
Of course. Many offshore poker rooms cater to MT players and invite them to join their tournaments. Still, you must be 18 or older to be eligible to play.
What is the best online poker room in MT?
We cannot answer this question since the answer solely depends on your preferences and what you expect from an operator. We did our best to conduct research and put many poker rooms to the test so that we could recommend only the very best. Thus, scroll up and pick the one that suits your needs the most.
Does the Treasure State prosecute online poker players?
As far as we know, no player has been prosecuted or pursued for playing online poker. However, given the specificity of the law, law enforcement may be able to do so if they choose to. Again, it is up to the player to decide if taking that risk is worth it.