Although North Dakota lawmakers have considered online poker regulation proposals in the past, this activity remains unregulated in the Peace Garden State. In other words, no real-money sites are licensed to offer poker games to North Dakota residents.
Still, this doesn’t mean you don’t have any options available. North Dakota players can legally sign up with sweepstakes sites and play with virtual currencies. If you’re only looking to play with real money, you can also enjoy this option by registering with an offshore platform.
Big welcome bonus
33% rakeback
Action packed games
Leading crypto site 
Very soft games
Free SC every day
Legal in the US
Trusted brand 
Super-soft games
5% instant rakeback
Quality web-based software
Great casino offer No matter which of these two options you’re more interested in, this page has you covered. Read on as we discuss the best online poker sites in North Dakota and take a close look at the current legislation and its future potential.
Can I Play Online Poker in North Dakota?
Yes, you can play online poker in North Dakota on sweepstakes sites that use virtual currencies or offshore poker platforms that allow real-money play. That being said, there are currently no state-licensed poker sites in North Dakota.
North Dakota Online Poker Facts
| Available options | Sweepstakes operators & offshore sites |
| State-regulated poker sites | Not available |
| Age limit for North Dakota online poker | 21+ |
| Best ND poker site | CoinPoker |
Best Online Poker Sites in North Dakota
As North Dakota online poker players can play on both sweepstakes and real-money poker sites, we’ve combined the two in the ultimate top list, offering the best of both worlds. Here are our top three selections for the best online poker sites in North Dakota:
#1. CoinPoker – The Best Pick for North Dakota Players
For all North Dakota online poker players looking for real-money games, CoinPoker is currently the best pick. This offshore cryptocurrency-based poker site offers a large player base, fairly soft competition, and a great selection of games and tables across all stakes.
The site offers a rewarding 150% welcome bonus worth up to $2,000. For its regulars, CoinPoker has prepared a 33% rakeback offer that utilizes the platform’s CHP coin. The site also offers daily cash game leaderboards with $1,000 prize pools and monthly tournament leaderboards with $15,000 prize pools.
#2 ClubWPT Gold – Great Software and Strong Brand
If you’re looking for a legal sweepstakes site that offers an online poker-style experience in North Dakota, ClubWPT Gold is one of the more trustworthy names. Backed by WPT, this fairly new brand has already gained great popularity and established itself as an excellent site for casual and recreational players.
ClubWPT Gold offers 8-max and heads-up tables with games ranging from NL10 to NL1000 available at almost any time. The platform’s in-depth software supports features such as optional straddles, built-in player stats like VPIP and PFR, a convenient table-switching option, and top-up for ring games.
#3. Stake US – Top Sweepstakes Cryptocurrency Option
Stake US operates on the same sweepstakes model as our previous pick. However, what makes it different from ClubWPT is that it only supports cryptocurrency transactions. This enables faster, more private transactions.
The site also has a very low prize redemption limit of only 46 SC. This makes it a very convenient choice for players with smaller bankrolls who prefer small-stakes tables.
Stake US usually has a solid lineup of promotions for both new and regular players. It currently offers up to 55 SC to all new signups. Players who decide to stick with the platform long-term can enjoy a very solid 5% rakeback offer.
Free Poker vs Real-Money Games
Sweepstakes poker sites offer a creative legal alternative to traditional real-money poker. In real-money poker, players deposit and wager actual funds, which are subject to strict gambling regulations.
Sweepstakes poker, on the other hand, uses virtual currencies, such as Gold Coins for fun play and Sweeps Coins for promotional play that can be redeemed for prizes. This setup allows players in states without online poker legislation, like North Dakota, to enjoy authentic poker gameplay online without violating gambling laws.
Sweepstakes Model Explained
The sweepstakes model is based on promotional contest law rather than gambling law. Players buy a package of Gold Coins, a virtual currency used for entertainment play, and receive bonus Sweeps Coins as part of a promotional offer. These Sweeps Coins can then be used in poker games, and winnings may be redeemed for cash prizes.
For example, let’s say you purchase $20 worth of Gold Coins and receive 20 bonus Sweeps Coins. You can play with those, win more, and later redeem them for real money. Because no direct wagering occurs, this system stays compliant with U.S. sweepstakes regulations.
Regulation Landscape in North Dakota
North Dakota permits live poker through licensed tribal and charitable casinos, but no laws currently authorize internet-based poker for real money, nor are any in the plan. In other words, we aren’t expecting any changes on this front in the foreseeable future.
Efforts to change that have appeared before, including a 2021 proposal that aimed to put online poker legalization to a statewide vote, but it failed in the Senate. Since then, lawmakers have shown limited interest in revisiting the issue.