Alaska House Bill 145 Proposes Online Sports Betting Framework

Bill Structure and Key Elements

The Alaska Department of Revenue would oversee the process, with its commissioner issuing and renewing licenses. The bill caps mobile sports betting licenses at 10, each costing operators $100,000 annually, plus potential handling fees for initial or renewal applications.

Licenses run for one year. A 20% tax would apply to operators’ adjusted gross revenue, their take after payouts and deductions.

Operators face strict entry rules. They must already hold mobile betting licenses in at least three other U.S. states and pass a criminal background check. Bettors need to be 21 or older, with operators required to verify identities and block underage marketing.

The bill covers a range of bets: single-game wagers, parlays, teasers, in-game bets, prop bets, and futures. Players must be physically in Alaska or in states with cross-border betting agreements. If passed, HB 145 takes effect January 1, 2026, assuming at least three licenses are active, otherwise, it waits.

Consumer and integrity measures fill out the framework. Operators must use software to track betting patterns, spot suspicious activity, and exclude banned players. They’re also on the hook for clear terms, responsible gaming notices, and data security.

Fines up to $10,000 per violation enforce compliance, with repeat or severe breaches risking license suspension or revocation. The Department of Revenue would notify operators 14 days before launch, ensuring at least three are ready by the deadline.

Legislative Background and Status

HB 145 marks Alaska’s latest stab at sports betting. Past efforts floundered: Governor Mike Dunleavy’s 2020 pitch tied it to a state lottery package, but lawmakers shelved it. That plan aimed to fund state coffers amid oil revenue dips, targeting $5-$10 million yearly, per early estimates.

It lacked traction, stalling in committee. HB 145 shifts focus to mobile-only betting, skipping retail outlets or broader gambling, and stands as the state’s most detailed proposal yet. Nelson’s bill hit the House Labor and Commerce Committee and Finance Committee by March 21, 2025, with no set hearing date.

Alaska’s gambling scene is thin. No casinos or racetracks operate legally, and charitable gaming, like bingo and pull-tabs, dominates, pulling in $30 million annually, per 2024 state data. Sports betting’s illegal now, pushing bettors to offshore sites, estimated at $50-$100 million yearly in wagers, per industry guesses.

HB 145 could tap that cash, though Alaska’s small market, with no pro teams or Division I college programs, caps its scale. Neighboring states like Washington (retail-only betting) and Oregon (mobile via lottery) offer contrast, but Alaska’s remote setup leans on online access.

The 20% tax rate aligns with states like Maryland but tops Oregon’s 13%. Revenue projections are unstated, Alaska’s 735,000 residents (2024 census) suggest a modest haul, maybe $2-$5 million yearly, based on per-capita betting trends elsewhere. The bill’s mobile-only angle fits the state’s spread-out population, 80% live outside Anchorage, per state stats. Still, getting to 10 operators might stretch interest, given the market’s size and $100,000 fee.