The coronavirus pandemic didn’t stop the North Dakota gambling industry in 2020. According to the recent report, North Dakotans wagered around $881 million on gambling in fiscal 2020. It was an increase of more than 50 percent from the previous year.
The state shut down casinos for a month last year to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the temporary closure didn’t affect the gambling industry. Leading the sector are electronic pull tabs, which mimic slot machines.
According to pay per head sportsbook reports, the popularity of electronic slots in North Dakota accounted for around $711 million of the handle in 2020. It grew ten times in two years. Discount Pay Per Head expects the gambling handle to reach the $1 billion mark in the current fiscal year that ends on June 30.
North Dakota Gambling Industry
Lawmakers approved gambling in 2017. However, they launched it in August 2018. At present, there are now at least 3,300 machines across North Dakota. The only county without any electronic pull tabs is Sioux County, which hosts a casino.
North Dakota earned more than $13 million in taxes from its gambling industry in 2020. It was at least four times the amount received in 2018. Also, charities’ share from the taxes was around $95 million, increasing 25 percent from the previous year. The money goes to programs for the need and youth sports.
However, the proliferation of legal gambling in the state led to adverse effects as well. Some people are concerned about its impact on American Indian casinos and gambling addiction. According to a problem gambling counselor, 25 people sign up each week for their program. Also, the number was constant even before the games went online.
Most people who signed up for treatment said that electronic tab pull machines were the reason for their gambling problem.
Also, North Dakota doesn’t have a legal sports betting market. Thus, some people are looking for ways on how to be a bookie outside of the state. Also, they can’t offer their services to North Dakotans.
