Public to Voice Opinions on Regulation of Sports Betting in Montana Laws & Regulations

Montana Asks the Public for Their Opinion on Sports Betting Regulations

By Lisa Spencer Senior Editor Updated: 10 October 2019

Lisa Spencer Senior Editor

As a Senior Editor at Betting.US, Lisa Spencer is a valuable member of our expert team. With a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, Lisa is adept in gambling theory and analyzing odds. She contributes by writing online sportsbook reviews and finding competitive markets to help our readers make an informed choice.

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The Montana Lottery (the regulator in charge of drafting legislation to legalize sports betting in the state) has launched a major public consultation. This will allow residents of the state to give their comments and thoughts on new sports wagering rules.

Speaking about the public consultation, Lottery Director Angela Wong stated:

“The sports wagering law passed in May and we’ve been working hard ever since to build something Montanans will be excited about. We’ve got a lot to share with Montanans, but the first step is making sure their voices are heard as we move forward.”

Last week, the Montana Lottery released an official proposal which outlines some of their key takeaways that would be incorporated into sports betting regulations. This was published in the Montana Administrative Register. According to the regulator, more than 1,400 gambling operators are expected to apply for a license to begin offering sports betting facilities within the state, if and when sports betting is officially legalized.

According to the Lottery, any vendor that currently holds a valid gambling license or is licensed by the Lottery Commission (along with those who hold an alcohol beverage license) will be eligible to submit an application. This will then be reviewed by the Lottery team.

How Will Sports Betting Work in Montana?

Montana has already announced that they’ll be running their sports betting operations slightly differently to what we’ve seen done in some other states. For example, rather than offering the standard on-site betting counters (as are commonly found in land-based casinos and betting shops), the state will require operators to run approved betting kiosks. This means that bettors will need to physically visit one of these kiosks in order to place bets – and they will regularly be audited by members of the Montana Lottery, to ensure that they’re compliant with relevant regulations.

The Lottery has also announced their plans to introduce online gambling facilities in the future. Like we’ve seen in a number of other states, this will allow punters from within Montana to place bets online – from their computers, laptops and mobile devices. While the plans for these online gambling sites are yet to be announced, it’s highly likely that punters will need to open an online betting account from within a physical location – to help prevent underage gambling.

An Emphasis on Responsible Gambling

The Montana Lottery has said that they will be requiring all sports betting operators to place a strong focus on responsible gambling. For example, one of the ways in which this will be achieved is by ensuring that punters are given the chance to limit the amount of money they’re able to wager on each bet. This is similar to tools we’ve seen in Europe. It’s also likely that we’ll see deposit limit tools implemented in the future too.

The Montana Lottery also plans on holding a public consultation, scheduled to take place on the 28th of October, and it will allow residents to voice concerns, or give their support. Their comments will be taken on board by the regulator before they come to a final decision surrounding sports betting regulations in the state.