North Dakota lawmakers have once again decided against legalizing online sports betting. In a vote held on Wednesday, the North Dakota House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected a resolution that would have placed the issue on the statewide ballot in 2026. The final vote was 63 in opposition and just 24 in favor, making it clear that the state’s lawmakers are not yet ready to embrace the expanding industry.

Proponents push for voter input:

The resolution, known as House Concurrent Resolution 3002, was introduced by Rep. Scott Louser, a Republican from Minot. According to North Dakota Monitor, Louser argued that allowing the public to vote on the issue would give North Dakota citizens the power to decide whether they wanted to legalize online sports betting. He highlighted that legalizing the industry could generate significant revenue for the state, which could be used to support K-12 public schools. This differs from a similar bill proposed in 2023 that failed to gain traction. Louser’s proposal, however, aimed only to place the issue on the 2026 ballot and did not immediately legalize sports betting.

Louser pointed out that North Dakota residents are already engaging in online betting, but the revenue generated from those activities is not benefiting the state. He argued, “Friends, family living in other states — you send them money through Venmo, they place the bet, you win, they send money back. But the revenue is being kept in other states.” Despite these concerns, the House decided against moving forward with the resolution.

The rejection of the resolution was influenced by the concerns of several lawmakers who fear that expanding gambling in the state could lead to harmful social consequences, particularly for younger people. Rep. Alisa Mitskog, a Democrat from Wahpeton, expressed concerns that sports betting would target young men, who are at a higher risk for developing gambling addictions. “Polls show young men in the US are more at risk of becoming addicted to gambling,” Mitskog said, as reported by Prairie Public. “And young college students are using their student loans to place bets on sports.”

Opponents also voiced concerns about the potential negative impact on college athletics. With college sports becoming an increasingly popular target for betting, fears have grown over the integrity of the games and the protection of athletes. The NCAA has called for stricter regulations on college sports betting, and the ongoing investigations into potential betting scandals at universities have only fueled these concerns.

Challenges for smaller states without major sports teams:

North Dakota’s situation is reflective of a larger national debate over the legalization of sports betting. In several states, including Missouri, the drive for legalization has been backed by professional sports teams that see it as a revenue opportunity. Missouri, for example, successfully passed a sports betting ballot initiative with the help of professional sports teams. However, North Dakota lacks major professional teams, meaning there is no large-scale financial backing for similar initiatives.

While proponents of online sports betting argue that the decision should ultimately lie with the people, they face an uphill battle. As seen in Wednesday’s vote, lawmakers have shown reluctance, and without significant backing from powerful local entities, it remains unclear when the issue will be revisited.

For now, North Dakota will continue to allow retail sports betting through tribal casinos, but online betting remains off the table. Proponents of legalization are determined to keep pushing for change, but they won’t have another opportunity for a public vote until at least 2028. Until then, the state’s legislative body will continue to wrestle with the competing interests of economic potential, social risks, and the evolving landscape of sports betting across the United States.