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North Dakota legislators have rejected a proposal to let voters decide on legalizing sports betting in the state. The state House of Representatives voted 70-24 against House Concurrent Resolution 3002, which aimed to place the measure on the 2026 general election ballot.
Lawmakers opposing the resolution cited the risks of gambling addiction and its impact on society. Rep. Alisa Mitskog, D-Wahpeton, shared a story of a waiter burdened by $250,000 in sports betting debt, highlighting the dangers of unchecked gambling. Rep. Lawrence Klemin, R-Bismarck, also expressed concern about the ease of online sports betting, noting that mobile devices make gambling accessible anytime, anywhere. He warned that such accessibility could encourage impulsive and hidden betting behaviors.
The resolution sought to amend the state constitution to regulate sports betting on professional and collegiate sports. Proponents argued that legalizing sports betting could generate $25 million to $30 million annually in tax revenue, which would benefit K-12 public schools.
Rep. Scott Louser, R-Minot, urged lawmakers to give North Dakotans the chance to vote on the issue. “North Dakotans have never had the chance to vote on this themselves,” he said. Rep. Greg Stemen, R-Fargo, echoed this view, emphasizing that lawmakers should be curious about public opinion on sports betting and give residents a voice.
Despite these arguments, opponents remained firm. Klemin raised additional concerns about the potential harm to college athletes, citing data that showed one in three high-profile athletes have faced harassment from bettors.
Although the proposal was rejected, sports betting is still available in tribal casinos under existing agreements. Some tribes have amended their compacts to allow in-person sportsbooks, which remain unaffected by the legislature’s decision.
Rep. Louser criticized the opposition, pointing out that many North Dakotans already place bets through out-of-state platforms. He suggested the rejection of the resolution could be hypocritical. “If it’s really our position as a Legislature that we’re opposed to gaming, I hope we’re going to see a delayed bill to ban all gambling in North Dakota this session,” Louser said.
Public interest in legalizing sports betting can still be pursued through citizen-initiated ballot measures, a process that has been used in other states. However, the next opportunity for a legislative referendum won’t come until 2028.
Efforts to legalize sports betting in North Dakota have faced repeated hurdles. A similar resolution narrowly passed the House in 2023 but failed in the Senate. Earlier attempts in 2019, 2021, and 2023 also fell short, while a 2022 proposal for tribal exclusivity was vetoed by Governor Doug Burgum.