The Montana Lottery Commission has reportedly announced that it intends to launch kiosk-based sportsbetting from early next month so as to subsequently allow punters to place wagers on a wide range of events including the upcoming NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

According to reports from SBC Americas and Legal Sports Report, Montana became the American first state to legalize sportsbetting last year after Democratic Governor Steve Bullock signed House Bill 725 into law in May. The giant western jurisdiction later awarded the operating contract for its Sports Bet Montana service to prominent gaming and lottery solutions innovator Intralot SA before licensing some 100 sales agents already vending Montana Lottery products.

Definitive date:

Jennifer McKee, Communications Manager for the Montana Lottery, reportedly told SBC Americas that the state intends to begin rolling out sportsbetting kiosks to approximately 1,400 locations already holding alcohol and lottery licenses from March 9. She purportedly detailed that these units will be able to offer a range of wagers including over/under, proposition, money-line, parlay, in-game and future bets on collegiate and professional baseball, football, soccer, basketball, ice hockey, tennis, motor sports, boxing and golf.

McKee reportedly stated…

“We are in the home stretch of our planning and testing. We are really looking forward to getting Sports Bet Montana in the market and we’re as excited as Montanans are for betting to begin.”

Mobile limitations:

For its part and Legal Sports Report explained that sportsbetting aficionados will only be able to use their mobile device to place wagers in ‘The Treasure State’ if they are ‘within a close range’ of one of the Sports Bet Montana kiosks. Although technically a roaming service, the real-world limitations of this facility purportedly mean that punters will simply only have the ability to remain on their barstool while placing a wager.