A renewed push to legalize online sports betting in Alaska has officially begun with the reintroduction of House Bill 145 in the 34th legislative session.
Aiming to make Alaska the 40th state to regulate sports betting, the bill, sponsored by Representative David Nelson, proposes a framework for up to 10 licensed operators to offer online platforms to residents aged 21 and older.
Regulatory Framework and Revenue Goals
If enacted, the legislation would impose a 20% tax on revenue, a rate notably higher than the 10% recently adopted by Missouri. Each operator would be required to pay a $100,000 licensing fee. Oversight would fall under the Alaska Department of Revenue, with Commissioner Adam Crum authorized to issue three-year renewable licenses.
“Alaska needs more diverse sources of revenue, and legalized sports betting is a simple solution for a market that already exists in the state,” noted Rep. Nelson during the bill’s early advocacy. His comments are backed by data from GeoComply, which previously tracked hundreds of thousands of attempts by Alaskans to access regulated sportsbooks in neighboring jurisdictions.
Filling the Gap with Prediction Markets
While traditional sports betting remains illegal in February 2026, Alaskans have gained access to prediction markets. In late December 2025, Alaska was one of the first five states to launch FanDuel Predicts, a platform developed with CME Group allowing users to trade event contracts on sports and financial indicators. Residents also currently utilize platforms like Kalshi, Polymarket, and DraftKings Predictions to wager on real-world outcomes.
Lessons from Missouri’s Launch
The debate comes as Missouri released its first full-month results after launching in December 2025. Despite a massive $543 million handle, Missouri only collected $521,200 in taxes due to heavy promotional deductions by major operators like FanDuel and DraftKings. Alaska’s proposed 20% tax rate is intended to avoid such a shortfall and ensure significant contributions to state coffers.
